We make tools & equipment available to our community

Our mission

To give the Canberra community the means to create, have fun, try a new hobby and make homes more liveable and, in doing so, reduce waste.

What is Community Toolbox Canberra?

Community Toolbox Canberra is a community-led, volunteer-run tool and equipment library in Canberra, ACT, operating with the support of the local sustainability non-profit SEE Change.

The Toolbox is membership based. For less than it would cost to buy a drill, members can borrow a wide range of tools and equipment for activities such as DIY, craft, cooking, home projects, leisure activities and more. Check out our inventory and how you can become a member.

One of the goals of the Toolbox is to put the tools and equipment languishing in sheds, garages and cupboards around Canberra into the hands of the wider community. Find out how you can donate items.

Why buy when you can borrow?

Most people only need a hole in the wall, not the drill. It doesn't make sense to own a piece of equipment when you only need to access it infrequently. It is more affordable and more space- and resource-conscious to share tools and equipment within the community.

Better use of resources
The average drill only sees 13 minutes of action before being discarded. Having a shared pool is a better way to manage resources.

Save money
For the cost of about one tool each year, you can borrow hundreds from the Toolbox.

Low risk
Never buy the wrong tool again - you can borrow what you think you need and then bring it back. If you find that an item is useful enough for you to own, you can do so with confidence.

Save space
Whether you live in an apartment, have downsized or simply don't want so much stuff in your space, borrowing is perfect.

More sustainable
The sharing model keeps tools and equipment in circulation at their highest value for as long as possible, maximising the intensity of use and reducing waste.

If that sounds good to you, you can join here.

A bit of background

The ​Community Toolbox Canberra has been on the drawing board since 2019 when founder Kathy Ehmann moved to Canberra and needed a pipe spanner. She went to the hardware shop to buy one but thought, "I will only use this once. If only there was a way to make this available to more people."

People have been sharing resources since the beginning of time. The first known formal tool library was launched in Michigan in 1943. Tool libraries work in parallel with informal arrangements among friends and neighbours, Buy Nothing etc to foster community and maximise access to the sharing economy.

Kathy could not let go of the idea of a tool library for Canberra. She began what turned out to be a long search for premises and to build a team to make this idea a reality. In 2021, she was approached by SEE Change to discuss collaboration on the project. This was a turning point for what would become Community Toolbox Canberra. SEE Change agreed to auspice the pilot. Now in its fourth year and the pilot a resounding success, the Toolbox continues to enjoy support from SEE Change.

In July 2021, Community Toolbox Canberra started a crowdfunding campaign and raised over $16,000 to launch. It was clear that a tool and equipment library was something that the Canberra community wanted and was prepared to support.

After a short delay due to COVID-19 lockdown and restrictions in the ACT, Community Toolbox Canberra opened its doors to members in the Spring of 2021 on the grounds of Youth with a Mission in Watson.

In 2024, planning for a mobile tool library promised much broader access to our stock of tools and equipment. We’re hoping to make the first loop around the Canberra region in mid-2025.

About SEE Change

SEE Change is delighted to be supporting the Toolbox as one of our volunteer groups.

SEE Change is a grass-roots non-profit organisation founded in 2008 and we focus on empowering our community members to take collective action for a more sustainable Society, Environment and Economy. SEE Change supports around 15 volunteer groups across the ACT and region. Some of our projects include a community solar farm, repair cafés, biodiversity education, revegetation of urban parkland and soil regeneration, community education on reducing waste, an electric bike library and e-bike bulk buys, sustainable house tours and more.

We are a registered environmental charity and receive funding from the ACT government, various grants and donations, and of course our membership fees. Your Toolbox membership automatically includes membership of SEE Change. As a SEE Change member, you will receive our fortnightly newsletter, access to discounts through our bulk buys, and join a community of like-minded people working for a better future. We won’t share your personal details with anyone else unless you tell us it’s okay.

If you are interested in learning more about SEE Change or volunteering, more information and contact details are available on our website www.seechange.org.au.