2026 - Moonlight Flat,
Chewton, Victoria

Uncle Rick’s Shed and Bush Tucker Farm - Stage 3

Location: Me-Mandook Galk Bush Tucker Place, Djaara Country, Moonlight Flat, Victoria
Project Start: February 2026
Stage 3a (Dookie) Completed: April 2026
Stage 3+ (Moonlight Flat): Under construction

Uncle Rick’s Community Shed, at the Me-Mandook Galk Bush Tucker Place, was opened in November 2025 by the Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation as part of their development aspirations at Moonlight Flat. Previously Bower Studio has twice been invited to partner with the community to improve an existing steel shed and remake it as a place for a variety of cultural learning activities. The completion of Stage 1 (2024) and Stage 2 (2025) have encouraged the Nalderun team to consider relocating their administration activities to Moonlight Flat. However, this would require support structures such as kitchens and toilets. After some thought we decided it best to start with ‘out’ rather than ‘in’ and the construction of a toilet has been prioritised.

While the broader Nalderun project is to develop classrooms and an early learning centre at Moonlight Flat, this is unlikely to be completed before 2029. An appropriate temporary toilet is required now and it must conform to appropriate standards. Nalderun asked the Bower team for support to construct a mobile structure compliant with local regulations.

An ageing tandem trailer donated to the community forms the base for a mobile toilet. A 1:10 scale model was prepared with community approval and a team of university students from the architecture school contributed to the workforce to construct a wheelchair accessible toilet from a mix of recycled and new materials.

The construction crew included both the Nalderun mob and students working half days to make the kit of parts. At the beginning of day four the structure was temporarily assembled before then being packed up and sent as a ‘flat pack’ to Moonlight Flat.

Our future projects will include disability access, pathways, screening, gully bridge and replanting. Watch this space!!