G’day, I’m Jimmy, the bloke behind Common Garage in Black Hill.
Owning a home and running a small business seem like they used to be achievable goals. With the cost of living crisis, housing affordability at an all-time low, and duopolies dominating every industry, it’s becoming harder for individuals to enjoy the quality of life we deserve and for independent operators to carve out their own space.
That’s why I bought this decommissioned petrol station and milk bar in Ballarat and have been working tirelessly to turn it into Common Garage—a space that blends home and business. It’s unconventional, but it’s my attempt of tackling the cost-of-living challenges we all face in my own way.
I searched long and hard for a home that could also generate revenue and be a place that could help bring some lifelong dreams to life. The goal? To create a life that could sustain itself and build something valuable for the wider community. I chose a space that I could live, that has the potential to create additional income while also supporting other small businesses, social enterprise and grow community. Be the change you want to see, and all that jazz.
Common Garage is my way of challenging the status quo—starting with food trucks and coffee vendors. The idea is to create a space where small businesses can operate and thrive and for the community to enjoy. Rather than leaving this corner as nothing more than a party house, dumping ground for broken-down cars and the occasional street fight (so I’m continuously told).
The good news that finally – Common Garage is open! Come down and meet Jimmy who will be operating a coffee trailer named Alice, that will be permanently operating on site.
Always start with coffee…. The process and hoop jumping that’s been required to get this project up and running, to make the venue viable, Jimmy has decided to operate a coffee trailer on site full-time. The aim is to be consistent fixture for the community. The soft launch process is to iron out any kinks and find some rhythm.
Up to three food trucks in operation with a variety of cuisines that provide a depth of options and hopefully regular fresh produce providers to operate on a steady basis, selling local goodies from fruit and veggies to artisan breads, cheeses, and other locally sourced products—creating a hub for fresh, high-quality food that supports regional growers and producers
Priority will go to operators with a social enterprise focus—those who support local producers, minimise waste, employ disadvantaged groups, or reinvest in the community, ensuring great food also creates a meaningful impact.
This process has dragged on far longer than I ever expected. Who knew getting approval for a food truck on the corner of an old petrol station would take so long?
For months—actually, years—I’ve been battling bureaucracy, banks, and red tape, trying to get approvals and raise capital the traditional way, mostly in vain. The system isn’t built for people trying to create something outside the “traditional” framework.
Despite all the setbacks, I’m still standing, still building, and still moving forward – working a full time job in addition to finding a way to keep this dream alive.
But the reality is, the process has take so long, now funding remains the biggest hurdle. Unconventional ideas need unconventional solutions. In addition to seeking launch partners for this project, I’ve written a book over the time that process has dragged on… But it is a story worth telling!
Rather than launching a GoFundMe and asking for a hand-out, or a crowd-sourcing campaign I’ve taken a different approach.
I’ve written a book, a revisionist history of alcohol—Who’s under the Influence?—to help fundraise and bring this vision to life.
If you want to support Common Garage and get something in return – that you’ll hopefully enjoy – pick up a digital copy today!
Alcohol’s history is a cocktail of stories about mankind—incessantly shaking up traditions, mixing definitions, straining symbols of devotion, and pouring them into new vessels to match the tastes of the day. It’s often refreshing, sometimes sweet, and occasionally bitter. Although change is the only constant, spirited origins linger—hidden in every glass, diluted, and sometimes hard to swallow.
Want to support this project? Learn more about the book via the link.
