Fab9, a makerspace, officially opens in Footscray's Dream Factory
Summary
A former factory in Footscray has returned to its maker roots, with the official opening of the Fab9 makerspace a place where, for a monthly fee, creators can use high-end machines and technology to bring their inventions to life.Fab9, on the sunlit ground floor of the Dream Factory on the banks of the river at 90 Maribyrnong Street, is the brainchild of Silicon Valley survivor and chief executive Hans Chang. In 1939, Bradford Cotton Mills purchased the building and, for the next period, the space housed a variety of commercial and office activities.There is a range of prototyping and manufacturing equipment on offer. Photo: Supplied Mr Lock said when IIG bought it, they knew they had to find tenants for a 6500-square-metre building that was not, at that point, a well established office market. When you see all the machinery in there, particularly when there are people on the tools, you can actually see prototypes of things coming to life.Established in 2016, LaunchVic is a Victorian government initiative designed to support the startup ecosystem in Victoria. Fab9s slogan was at first empowering inventors but they found this did not feel inclusive so it is now empowering makers as, Mr Chang says, more people relate to being a designer or maker.Fab9 has a range of memberships, hosts courses on how to use the equipment, and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm, and until 9pm on Wednesday and Thursday for people who may have full-time jobs and they come after work, said Mr Chang.
Funding
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