About SHACC

Sustainable Housing for Artists & Creatives Co-operative (SHACC) is a vibrant, artist-led housing initiative committed to providing long-term, affordable homes and workspaces for professional artists and creatives in Fremantle. Our vision is to grow into a fully artist-owned and operated community asset.

SHACC is a not-for-profit, non-distributing co-operative registered under the Co-operatives Act 2009 and operates as SHAC Cooperative Ltd. We collaborate with Housing Choices (formerly Access Housing), a prominent affordable housing provider, to ensure secure and sustainable living and working environments for creatives. Based in the WGV eco-development, SHACC nurtures a supportive and collaborative artistic community through its Artist Run Initiative model.

We manage two unique spaces:

CoLab 1 – A ground-floor, wheelchair-accessible community workshop, open Thursday to Sunday, 10am–6pm during workshops, and available for hire at other times.
CoLab 2 – A first-floor gallery space (not wheelchair accessible), open Thursday to Sunday, 11am–4pm or by appointment, showcasing exhibitions, performances, and creative events.

Pic by Pic Tim

In response to the economic pressures faced by many in the arts, SHACC offers stable, affordable housing and studios to help sustain artistic careers and support financial resilience. Our members—active professional artists and creatives—bring a wealth of experience across artistic, cultural, and community-based projects.

The SHACC site includes a mix of one- to three-bedroom townhouse-style dwellings and two communal areas, designed to support both living and creative practice. Our mission aligns with Fremantle’s enduring reputation as a city that champions its creative community. SHACC emerged from a shared desire to keep Fremantle accessible to artists being priced out of the area. The original collective began in a shared house on Stevens Street in White Gum Valley—a long-time haven for creatives. For six years, the house served as both home and creative hub, providing space for storage, project work, and collaboration. When it was sold, the group sought a permanent solution—leading to the creation of SHACC.

Interested in joining SHACC?
We’re always open to welcoming new members who share our vision of a sustainable, creative future. Find out about our membership criteria and how you can be part of this exciting initiative by contacting SHACC.

The following organizations helped make SHACC a reality and partnered on events :-