Duncan Hill Real Estate has announced the winners of their Best Shed Competition that celebrates the craftsmanship of shed owners across Kiama and the Southern Highlands.

The competition invited entries from tool-filled man caves to peaceful garden hideaways, creative studios and backyard bars, spaces where “human endeavour takes precedence over human comfort”.

Taking first place for the Southern Highlands category and winning a $500 Bunnings gift card was Peter’s shed, with his carefully planned and executed workshop. Built entirely by Peter himself, the shed shows thoughtful consideration both structurally and functionally.

Peter designed the shed with its view from the house in mind, making sure it fit in well with his garden. Inside Peter’s shed, Duncan Hill describes it as “a place for everything and everything in its place”, with the space set up to be as comfortable and efficient as possible.

The shed is completely ply lined, in order to eliminate drafts, with a window above the work bench that offers a view of an orange tree and the sky. Peter has set up a good quality music system to listen to the radio while he works on household projects.

Seven Marks Gallery took home second place, earning a $250 Bunnings gift card, with a shed that is a stark contrast to Peter’s workshop. Originally approved as a shed in 1964, this project took 50 years to complete, resulting in a large structure that is divided into two spaces with opposed functions.

Seven Marks Gallery. Photo: Madeleine Scarfe

The first space functions as a gallery, it’s intentionally empty, still, and meditative as to not to detract from displayed artworks. The second serves as a workshop, filled with boxes, tables, machinery, half finished works, tools, bits of metal, furniture, beer, and kilns, representing potential and ongoing projects.

Madeleine Scarfe was the judge of the competition and stated that entries needed to be a building separate from a house that involved activities that are messy, noisy, smelly, or take up too much space, otherwise why wouldn’t you do it inside a house?

All entries shared this common thread whether they were garden sheds, potting sheds, milking sheds, workshops, or storage sheds.

Both winning sheds exemplify what Madeleine describes as “love and care and personal commitment” shown through their execution and ongoing use.

“Both are essentially Colorbond boxes, graceful in their simplicity and both beautifully represent the function of a shed - a place you can go to do the things you are driven to do, where you occupy your mind and your hands,” she said.

Duncan Hill Real Estate expressed their gratitude to all participants including Peter, Sandra, Coby, Chick and all the other entrants who shared their personal workshops and sheds for the competition.