A Letter from Nick Atkins
Victorian Wooden Boat Centre
Dear Friends,
As I sit down to pen this message, I am filled with a deep sense of nostalgia and contemplation. Our journey, which started with my grandfather Brian founding The Wooden Boat Centre in 1985, has been rich and fulfilling. Today, The Victorian Wooden Boat Centre stands at a significant crossroads. From our original location on central pier in Docklands to our current home on North Wharf, also in Docklands, we've been a sanctuary for the joys of wooden boat building.
Our centre has thrived on facilitating a wide array of programs and projects– from youth justice initiatives to hands-on boat-building experiences in Queenscliff. When I took over in 2016, my aim was to honour, extend and continue this legacy. However, the challenges of recent years, particularly the COVID lockdowns and escalating business costs, have forced us to re-evaluate and adapt our operations. Increasing rents have been a significant factor in this shift. Our future has been rendered uncertain by developments beyond our control, particularly regarding our location. The originally envisioned development of a new facility on the wharf, which would have allowed us to continue and expand our community projects, is no longer proceeding as planned. The focus has shifted towards building parks to complement the apartment towers. Compounding the challenges we face is our license agreement with Development Victoria. This annually renewed agreement, accompanied by a 30-day eviction clause, has introduced a level of instability that is difficult to navigate. Our interactions with Development Victoria have been fraught with a lack of communication about the future of our area. There are now strong indicators that our license may not be renewed at the end of this financial year. Development in the area has accelerated, and sales off-the-plans have progressed rapidly. If our license is extended, it is likely only for an additional six months, as Lendlease has stated they plan to take over the area in 2025.
The closure of our current location means the end of The Victorian Wooden Boat Centre as we know it. There will never be another opportunity to recreate what we have here and keep it viable. We will wind down the VWBC until its lease ends, at which point it will close permanently.
For those of you who may wonder what we will do next, we are considering three options:
- New Business Venture: Myself, Ethan, and my tooling may be retained to start a new business, operating from a smaller factory away from our current location. Here, we will continue undertaking commissioned works, cnc cutting services and other projects, though the exact nature of this venture is still under consideration.
- Merger with Another Business: We are exploring the possibility of merging our talents and resources with another in-industry business. This would entail ceasing our operations and becoming employees within another organisation.
- Liquidation and Career Change: The final option is to liquidate and seek full-time employment in a different industry. Perhaps it's time to explore the world of caravan making?
Before these permanent changes take effect, we will fulfil our existing commitments with utmost dedication, striving to build a new future amidst these challenges. However, urgent operational modifications are necessary. Starting in February, The Victorian Wooden Boat Centre will shift focus to exclusively work on commissioned works and projects. We will no longer accommodate owner-builder projects in the workshop, marking a departure from the DIY and assisted-building model and no longer providing DIY services, access to facilities, or tooling. Cold storage services will continue at our North Wharf location for as long as possible. We plan to stay at Shed 2 until we are either required to leave or can arrange an alternative that lets us transition on our own terms. For those of you with ongoing projects in our workshop, you are welcome to continue them under your own steam, but be mindful of the uncertainty surrounding our location. We encourage you to continue your work, but also to prepare for alternative arrangements should we need to vacate. This period is not just an operational shift but a personal one as well.
The sustained challenges of business have led me to prefer seeking professional employment elsewhere after the closure of the centre. A period of rest and contemplation of new paths awaits. "We had a good run" – this sentiment deeply resonates as I reflect on our shared experiences. Your support, passion, and involvement have been fundamental to our story, and I am profoundly grateful. If you have any questions or need more details about our current projects or the upcoming changes, please feel free to let me know. We remain committed to delivering the highest quality of work as we navigate through these changes. Thank you for your understanding, support, and for being an essential part of our journey.
Warm regards,
Nicholas Atkins
Images from VWBC Facebook page