Tucked away in the back blocks of Glendale in the suburbs on Newcastle, a small shed – once known as the “Goat Shed” – is buzzing with the sounds of clattering bumpers, flashing lights, and the ding-ding of old pinball machines being brought back to life.
Here, Graham, Kim and Kyle spend their days restoring, repairing, and tinkering with vintage pinball machines. What started as a personal passion has grown into a thriving hobby that not only keeps them busy but also connects them with people from across Australia and even overseas.
Graham’s love for pinball goes back to his youth in the 1960s, sneaking across the road from football practice to play the machines. Over time, he taught himself how to repair them, often buying whole machines just for parts when spares were impossible to find. Despite health setbacks, his passion never wavered, and today he’s still fixing machines most days of the week. Kim’s journey began after retiring from 45 years in the office machine industry. What started as curiosity about a friend’s broken machine soon turned into a new vocation. Together with Graham, he’s built a reputation as a pinball expert, even sharing their knowledge through online tutorials watched around the world. Kyle, the youngest of the trio, joined after bringing his own broken machine to the shed. Fascinated by their work, he never left – calling Graham and Kim his mentors and pinball family.
Between them, the team have seen pinball rise, fall, and rise again. They also play a big part in Pinfest – Newcastle’s annual pinball expo, which showcases machines old and new and attracts enthusiasts from across the country.
For these men, pinball isn’t just a game. It’s a way of connecting across generations, passing on skills, and keeping a piece of cultural history alive. And if you’ve got an old machine gathering dust in the corner, chances are they’d love to help you get it singing again.
If you’re interested in following what they get up to, join their Facebook group of over 5000 followers here
