The hut was opened last week at Oak Tree Retirement Village Tamworth.

Manager Rod Sawtell said the residents were thrilled to officially open the shed.

"They are looking so forward to using it," he said.

"They've been waiting for it to be handed over.

"It's beneficial for their physical and mental health ... with the COVID pandemic and the lockdown aspect, this was a great way to get the residents out into the gardens and things."

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The hobby hut has been decked out with storage spaces, shelving and benches.

Some residents have donated tools to be kept at the shed, while others will store and use their own equipment to do whatever it is they love.

Mr Sawtell said there are residents at the village keen on pottery, woodwork, metalwork and art, and there's room for all of them in the new communal space.

He said there's also everything they might need to help out in the gardens near the hobby hut.

"It's for the residents to get in there and tinker around," he said.

"We've got one gentleman who makes wooden chopping boards and they're just amazing."

It might have only been opened recently, but Oak Tree villagers are already making social plans at the hut, in a COVID-safe way.

"They're already organising a chopping board day - Brian is going to teach some of them how to make one," Mr Sawtell said.

He said others are planning on making propagation stations at the shed for the gardens.

Mr Sawtell said the opening was celebrated with a sausage sizzle.

The idea came about close to six months ago, when Oak Tree Retirement Village Tamworth had a design change and some extra space was created.

"In conversation with the directors of the company, we decided a communal shed would be really beneficial for the residents to have some extra space to potter around," Mr Sawtell said.

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