The St Albans Judo Club was established in 1954, making it one of the earliest judo clubs in Victoria’s western suburbs. The club itself notes that its first 25 years (1950–1975) are the least documented, though surviving photographs show active competition and club championships by the 1960s. The club has long operated from the St Albans Community Youth Club, 309A Main Road East — the same “Tin Shed” that has been central to youth sport and community activity since the 1950s. The club’s longevity makes it an important part of St Albans’ sporting heritage: It is one of the oldest martial arts institutions in the Brimbank area. Its connection to the Tin Shed links it to the broader history of youth sport, migration, and community building in St Albans. Its survival from the 1950s to today mirrors the suburb’s transformation from a semi‑rural outpost to a major multicultural centre.5880.01 - St. Albans Judo Club - Brothers Go For Gold.jpg Hamish and Clancy Freemantle 5880.02 - St. Albans Judo Club - St. Albans Pair Stars.jpg Wilby and Van Geli 5880.03 - St. Albans Judo Club - Champion Team.jpg Madeline Rooney, Sasha Sommeling, Liam San Jose, Tynneka Vangeli, Gina Vangeli, Bridget Sommeling 5880.04 - St. Albans Judo Club - Judo Gold.jpg Tynneka Vangeli, Clancy Freeman, Madeline Rooney 5880.05 - St. Albans Judo Club - Team Wins Judo Kudos.jpg Madeline Rooney, Sasha Sommeling, Liam San Jose, Tynneka Vangeli 5880.06 - St. Albans Judo Club - Judo 1994.jpg 5880.07 - St. Albans Judo Club - Judo At The Tin Shed.jpg 5880.08 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Judo.jpg 5880.09 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Judo.jpgst. albans judo club, st. albans tin shed, main road east, st. albans, st. albans community youth club

The St Albans Community Youth Club began in the early 1950s, operating out of a small tin shed on Main Road East. This was during the explosive post‑war population boom, when St Albans lacked basic services such as sports clubs, libraries, and youth facilities. As membership grew, the original shed was replaced with a recycled Quonset Army Hut, a curved steel structure typical of post‑war surplus buildings. The hut was adapted by volunteers and became the heart of the centre. From the 1950s onward, the Tin Shed hosted an extraordinary range of activities, including: Judo (including the long‑running St Albans Judo Club) Table tennis Marching girls Gymnasium and fitness classes Scouts and Guides Drama and concerts Boat‑building and woodwork Preschool and playgroups Tai Chi, yoga, and lifelong learning programs Police Youth Club Country Women’s Association Food relief and community support services (more recent decades) This diversity made the Tin Shed one of the most important social anchors for newly arrived migrant families.The St Albans “Tin Shed” is one of the most important community-built institutions in Melbourne’s west, a post‑war, migrant‑era youth hub that grew from a tiny, corrugated shed into a major social centre.Only the 1st twenty photographs have been uploaded to Victorian Collections 5881.001 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Drama StCYC 1992.jpg 5881.002 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Edna Cooper and Lorna Cameron.jpg 5881.003 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Edna Cooper StACYC 1980's.jpg 5881.004 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Elfie and Lorna at the 50th Anniversary.jpg 5881.005 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Ellie, Lorna and Kon 2005.jpg 5881.006 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Floor plan.jpg 5881.007 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Gathering 1994.jpg 5881.008 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Ingrid and Samantha selling home made jewellery.jpg 5881.009 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Jack Sheridan and Lorna Cameron 1994.jpg 5881.010 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Jean and Sylvia StACYC 1992.jpg 5881.011 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Jenny watering at the Youth Club 1993.jpg 5881.012 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Karla Montalvo.jpg 5881.013 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Kerry, Elfie, Angela, Lorna Marilyn, Jennifer and Edna.jpg 5881.014 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Kim and Mal, Sunshine Council 1994.jpg 5881.015 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Les Cameron.jpg 5881.016 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Lorna and Nick Szwed 2005.jpg 5881.017 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Lorna at the Tin Shed.jpg 5881.018 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Lorna Cameron and Edna Cooper August 1994.jpg 5881.019 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Lorna Cameron and John Ribarow.jpg 5881.020 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Lorna Cameron and Thea Dukic.jpg 5881.021 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Lorna Cameron with her Renault 1970's.jpg 5881.022 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Lorna presented with certificate.jpg 5881.023 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Mary and Vicki.jpg 5881.024 - St. Albans Tin Shed - May 1993.jpg 5881.025 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Mosaic dedication 1994 1.jpg 5881.026 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Mosaic dedication 1994 2.jpg 5881.027 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Mural damaged 1.jpg 5881.028 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Mural damaged 2.jpg 5881.029 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Play group 1994.jpg 5881.030 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Play Group.jpg 5881.031 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Ray and Ken 1994.jpg 5881.032 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Ray, Helen and Willy. Mosaic 1994.jpg 5881.033 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Remembering Lorna.jpg 5881.034 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Return of the ring.jpg 5881.035 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Roy Cameron book launch 2025.jpg 5881.036 - St. Albans Tin Shed - StACYC drama 1992.jpg 5881.037 - St. Albans Tin Shed - StCYC mosaic 1994.jpg 5881.038 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Steve Thorpe, Lorna Cameron and Ruth Frede 1994.jpg 5881.039 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Sunshine Council workers 1994 Photo 01.jpg 5881.040 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Sunshine Council workers 1994 Photo 02.jpg 5881.041 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 01.jpg 5881.042 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 02.jpg 5881.043 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 03.jpg 5881.044 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 04.jpg 5881.045 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 05.jpg 5881.046 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 06.jpg 5881.047 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 07.jpg 5881.048 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 08.jpg 5881.049 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 09.jpg 5881.050 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 10.jpg 5881.051 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 11.jpg 5881.052 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 12.jpg 5881.053 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 13.jpg 5881.054 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 14.jpg 5881.055 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 15.jpg 5881.056 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 16.jpg 5881.057 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 17.jpg 5881.058 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 18.jpg 5881.059 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Anniversary cake Photo 19.jpg 5881.060 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 60.jpg 5881.061 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 61.jpg 5881.062 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 62.jpg 5881.063 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 33.jpg 5881.064 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 64.jpg 5881.065 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 65.jpg 5881.066 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Judo Photo 66.jpg 5881.067 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 67.jpg 5881.068 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 68.jpg 5881.069 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 69.jpg 5881.070 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 70.jpg 5881.071 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 71.jpg 5881.072 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 72.jpg 5881.073 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 73.jpg 5881.074 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 74.jpg 5881.075 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 75.jpg 5881.076 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 76.jpg 5881.077 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 77.jpg 5881.078 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 78.jpg 5881.079 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 79.jpg 5881.080 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 80.jpg 5881.081 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 81.jpg 5881.082 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 82.jpg 5881.083 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 83.jpg 5881.084 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 84.jpg 5881.085 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 85.jpg 5881.086 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 86.jpg 5881.087 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 87.jpg 5881.088 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 88.jpg 5881.089 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 89.jpg 5881.090 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 90.jpg 5881.091 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 91.jpg 5881.092 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 92.jpg 5881.093 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 93.jpg 5881.094 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 94.jpg 5881.095 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 95.jpg 5881.096 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed Photo 96.jpg 5881.097 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed cheers 50 years of goodwill.jpg 5881.098 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tin Shed still place to be.jpg 5881.099 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tonnes of tons 2010.jpg 5881.100 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Val, Shea, Ken Steve and Louise 1994.jpg 5881.101 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Volunteers Required The Advocate 16 November 1999.jpg 5881.102 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Weekly time table.jpg 5881.103 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Bill Shorten at the Tin Shed.jpg 5881.104 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Book dream lives.jpg 5881.105 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Errington Reserve 1994.jpg 5881.106 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Errington Reserve sculpture 1.jpg 5881.107 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Errington Reserve sculpture 2.jpg 5881.108 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Facelift for an old tin shed.jpg 5881.109 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Fifty years on, the Tin Shed stands tall.jpg 5881.110 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Gravesite of Alice Errington, Footscray.jpg 5881.111 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Joe Ribarow and Lorna 2005.jpg 5881.112 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Judo 1994.jpg 5881.113 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Judo at the Tin Shed.jpg 5881.114 - St. Albans Tin Shed - Tom Rigg.jpgst. albans tin shed, main road east, st. albans, st. albans community youth club

The St Albans Youth Club football team refers to the junior football competition that grew out of the St. Albans Community Youth Club in the 1950s–60s. It was not a formal senior club like St. Albans Saints (soccer) or St. Albans Football Club (AFL), but a local youth sporting program that helped launch organised junior football in the suburb. The clearest historical reference comes from Les Cameron’s account of growing up in St. Albans in the 1950s–60s. He states that the St. Albans Community Youth Club was central to community life and it "Nurtured a variety of other groups, including the junior football competition.”The St. Albans Community Youth Club was central to community life in St. Albans from the post‑war population boom of 1950's and onwards. The club supported many different groups, including the junior football, judo, table tennis, gymnasium, scouts, guides, playgroups, etc. These photographs are a rare example of the club's early sporting history.5886.01 - St. Albans Youth Club Football Team 1955.jpg 5886.02 - St. Albans Youth Club Football Team 1956.jpg 5886.03 - St. Albans Youth Club Football Team 1956.jpg 5886.04 - St. Albans Youth Club Football Team 1958.jpgst. albans youth club football team, football, st. albans community youth club