In the heart of Huskisson is a co-working space with possibly the best view around, reliable internet, private meeting rooms, a handy kitchen and a flexible space for one person or up to 35 people. Jervis Bay Weekend spoke to the Greenhouse-keeper, Jamie McAinsh about this unique space.
As far a co-working spaces go, the Greenhouse in Huskisson has one of the most spectacular views on offer. The enormous front windows overlook the sparkling turquoise waters of Jervis Bay and the soft white sands of the Myola Spit, and you can set up right there in the window with your laptop and cuppa and get on with the business of remote work. It’s so beautiful, you may wish you never had to set foot back in your usual office ever again.
The Greenhouse is also a very flexible space. It can offer a desk for a day, a room for a zoom, an inspiring space for an off-site team event, theatre-style seating for a presentation, or even a photographic studio. The furniture in the large, bright, airy space can be configured in many different ways, to suit many occasions. It’s located right upstairs from the 5 Little Pigs café on the main strip of Huskisson, with everything you need on the doorstep.
Marketing consultant Jamie McAinsh set up the Greenhouse when working from home with two small kids – plus the lack of collegiate company – became tricky. Jamie says his vision for the space is much more than renting a desk. He wants individuals and groups who need somewhere to “do their thing” to think about using the Greenhouse.
“We have set up for clubs, creative groups, not-for-profits, government departments, art classes, a men’s mental health group, a drum-making workshop and even a photography shoot,” says Jamie.
“Essentially it’s a co-working space but it’s also intended to be a community space. It’s intended for anyone who needs a space to use.” The space has recently hosted off-site events for teachers from the local schools, and a 3-day workshop for South Coast farmers.
Some of the Greenhouse’s ‘regulars’ are using the desk space to extend their time in Jervis Bay by, for example, working here on Fridays and Mondays, and their ‘usual’ office Tuesdays to Thursdays.
Jamie wants visitors to the area to consider, especially during the kids’ long summer holidays, how the Greenhouse can help them extend their time in Jervis Bay, while still ‘connecting’ to work for the essentials.
He says having a good desk and reliable internet, and the company of other people in the same headspace, might mean avoiding a trip back to Canberra or Sydney while still being productive. Then heading out for a paddle or a swim to unwind, and enjoying dinner with family and friends, feels like a good balance.
Recently, Jamie has organised a social gathering for small businesses, freelancers and sole traders to gather for an evening at the Greenhouse. He says it’s less “networking” and more “getting to know” some of the other people and businesses in the area. His first gathering attracted 25 people from all kinds of businesses – from adventure mountain biking tours to boat building – and everyone was keen for more such events.
The ability to be in the heart of Jervis Bay and get some serious work done is unique to the Greenhouse. Jamie says, “We are in an amazing spot. I don’t think the Greenhouse would be the Greenhouse if we were located anywhere else – we are in the middle of Husky, everything’s so easy to get to with restaurants and cafes and bars downstairs, we’ve got the view and a peaceful environment where you can be really productive.”
Jamie moved with his young family to the Jervis Bay area around a decade ago and started his own business, a virtual marketing consultancy that worked with people located all over the place. With two small kids at the time, working from home was becoming tricky.
“Having worked in big organisations with hundreds of people, I was lacking the kind of community of a busy creative environment, the home office wasn’t doing it for me. I wanted a place that was conducive to creative thinking and also from a mental health perspective, to have more people around. I mentioned it to a friend and he said, I’m in. He was experiencing the same. So we started with a small shared office space to test the concept.”
The idea gathered momentum with people who wanted to spend more time in Jervis Bay but had to be in “work mode” at times, and needed an appropriate place for that – rather than a community hall or club meeting room that just didn’t convey the right professional image.
The pilot space worked so well that Jamie took the plunge when a bigger space became available. His philosophy was to keep it simple with the furnishings and décor, with a focus on flexibility, good internet of course, and great location. Jamie has a few large monitors that people can rent, when the laptop screen becomes a challenge, and he can also help to arrange catering for any occasion, having great relationships with the local businesses.
For around $60 for a desk for a day, the Greenhouse is a great option this summer. Jamie encourages anyone to get in touch to discuss their ideas for use of the space, and to be added to the list for future social gatherings. The hours are also flexible, with a keypad entry making it suitable for anyone working in different time zones or wanting to get a few hours of work in super early before spending the day out exploring Jervis Bay.
