2025 - Moonlight Flat,
Chewton, Victoria

Uncle Rick’s Shed and Bush Tucker Farm - Stage 2

Location: Djaara Country, Moonlight Flat, Chewton, Victoria
Project Start: September 2025
Completed: December 2025

Soon after Bower Studio had helped expand ‘Uncle Rick’s Community Shed’ in 2024 the Nalderun community asked for support to extend and connect the shed’s eastern veranda to a new pavilion shelter above the shipping container. A 1:50 scale model was used as a basis for consultations for both projects and has developed incrementally over this time as the clients and designers have worked through various possibilities. The model is cut from recycled timbers and forms a flexible ‘kit of parts’ to explore the advantages of various roof pitches and shading devices that reference cultural stories of Waa’s wings.

Prior to the student team’s arrival in November 2025, a local team had excavated the space to the northwest of the container and begun constructing a steel structure to support a retaining wall. This was a huge headstart to a construction program that then required three steel beams to support timber rafters, battens and steel roof. This work ran in parallel with projects such as decking, completing the retaining wall, backfilling, paving and painting the container mural. Where possible materials were sourced from The Salvage Yard in Castlemaine where design details can be developed after examining a treasure trove of recycled materials.

The construction crew included both the Nalderun mob and Bower Studio crew working together over three weeks with eight days of intense construction. The Bower team camped on-site during this time which helped our deeper understanding of the country where we were working. This helped underpin both the videos prepared by students and their design responses.

The mural design on the shipping container was prepared by local artist Grace Coff and the paint was donated by Dulux (thanks Michelle). It took a lot of work to remove the rust and old stickers from the container and prepare it for the mural. Painting the corrugated sides of the container was also a challenge!!

The schedule provided many opportunities for the students to yarn with the local mob. These conversations are a key part of the student’s experience testing how their architectural thinking might support community aspirations. The four excellent videos and design proposals prepared by the students attest to their capacity to listen and co-design with community.