The year-long project came as a result of collaboration between community members who wanted to create an exciting new community space. With design and transformation of the two 40-foot shipping containers undertaken by artist Tom Ripon, the Art Factory is a piece of art in itself.

Vaughan Brown, vice president of Clunes Neighbourhood House, said it had been based out of the Lee Medlin Home of Bottles for five years and during that time it had been trying to create extra spaces for the community to use.

Ripon said he had been involved since the community gathered with butcher’s paper and sticky notes to work out how the town could be bettered. He said the workshops were “a fantastic addition”.

“Two years ago we built the playground and facilities and in the past year, we have managed to build four artists workshops. People feel safe in a Neighbourhood House – it is a place where people can walk in with an idea and it will happen.”

The space between the two workshops was built with the idea that it could house a stage or cinema screen. Currently, the space is being used by creatives and the youth group. 

“It was our idea to create this space where locals could interact with visiting artists and creatives,” Mr Brown said. “All this is about trying to fight social isolation so people not only have somewhere to go, but also so they meet people out of their normal social circles.”

Next on the to-do list at the Neighbourhood House is the establishment of a community garden.