Lithgow Women’s Shed Video, Building with Hempcrete for Community

The Lithgow Women’s Shed video gives a behind-the-scenes look at one of the projects we’re most proud to have been part of. This community hub is more than a building. It’s one of Australia’s first government-funded hempcrete projects, commissioned by Lithgow City Council, designed by Envirotecture and built with materials from our partners at the Australian Hemp Masonry Company (AHMC).

From the ground up, our team worked to make this vision a reality: slab, framing, roofing, and the cast in situ hempcrete walls that form the heart of the building. Over 100 cubic metres of hempcrete were installed in just four weeks, creating 300mm-thick breathable walls that deliver thermal comfort without the need for plasterboard or added insulation. It’s a practical, sustainable, and beautiful response to the climate challenges faced by regional communities.

The shed itself is designed to be flexible and future-focused. It includes a workshop and tool room for the Women’s Shed group, a large public meeting space, accessible amenities, a semi-commercial kitchen, and two office spaces for community use. But beyond its functions, the building represents something bigger: collaboration.

This project brought together architects, suppliers, builders, volunteers, and local government to create something enduring. Watching it take shape was inspiring, and this video captures that journey.

We’re excited to share it, and as we await funding for the final stage of completion, this video is a reminder of what’s possible when people come together with vision and purpose.