“They were just offering a community space and getting together a whole bunch of resources, just for the sake of building community in a small part of Tallinn,” Tim Evans, founder of The Commons, said. 

“We strongly felt Newcastle was lacking places and resources for creatives, and other people in the community, to connect outside the capitalist space, outside the sporting space. There seemed to be this hole.”

Mr Evans and his partner Caitlin O’Reilly saw the opportunity to do something similar to the Tallinn project in Newcastle.

“We were really excited and inspired and thought let’s get something happening,” Mr Evans said. 

The Commons first drew breath in 2012 in the disused first floor of the Uniting Church building at 150 Beaumont Street, Hamilton. 

“They gave us the space rent-free for a number of years,” Mr Evans said. 

“Originally we thought we would have a coffee shop and a community library.

“It’s been really amazing, the slow snowballing of what this is, as people have come out of the woodwork of Newcastle.”

This year, The Commons moved to the ground floor of the Beaumont Street building. The space includes a coffee shop, dinning area, bulk foods co-op, workshop space, kitchen and performance areas. 

“There is a lot more exposure being on the street level,” he said. “I feel people might have been afraid to walk up those stairs. 

“Currently there is a whole bulk organic goods co-op happening, which is exciting … anybody can come and get what they need.

“Most things are only marked up 30 per cent on wholesale prices. The idea is not only to help people reduce use of packaging, but to provide really healthy options at a low cost.”

The Commons has also taken off as a music venue. 

“We started running gigs five years ago,” Mr Evans said. “We have had acts from all over Australia and some international acts too, performing upstairs. We called it Friday Night Unwind. 

“That has expanded over the past 18 months to include music on all different nights of the week.

“It has a house concert vibe. It has a very homely feeling. It provides a different space where the audience is really connecting to the music.

“The other thing that has happened is there has been a whole bunch of younger people who have found this space. Newcastle has been lacking a youth space since The Loft shut down. 

“It’s been amazing to rock up at those gigs … through the hard work of dedicated 15 and 16 year olds.”

Mr Evans said the vision of The Commons was to “grow community”. 

“Not just growing this space, but the network and the movement around The Commons. We don’t like to think of it as just a building,” he said. 

“This is a movement towards getting resources out of government or individual ownership and getting it into community ownership.” 

The Commons runs on the juice of about 50 volunteers. To find out more about what is happening visit the website: thecommons.org.au, or Facebook page: facebook.com/TheCommonsCafe.