Kinchega Woolshed

Kinchega Woolshed
Kinchega Woolshed
Location	15km south-west of, Menindee, Central Darling Shire, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates	32°28′31″S142°20′36″E / 32.4754°S 142.3432°E Coordinates: 32°28′31″S142°20′36″E / 32.4754°S 142.3432°E
Built	1875–1875
Owner	Office of Environment and Heritage
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name	Kinchega Woolshed
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	995
Type	Woolshed/Shearing Shed
Category	Farming and Grazing
	Location of Kinchega Woolshed in New South Wales

Last updated September 05, 2021

Kinchega Woolshed is a heritage-listed former shearing shed located 15km south-west of Menindee township, Central Darling Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was built from in 1875. The property is owned by the New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.^[1]

History

Originally an early West Darling property named "Menindel", it was first held by the explorer John McKinlay in the 1850s. By 1860 it was taken up by Peter McGregor and it had become known as "Kinchega". Burke and Wills visited it in 1860 and Kinchega's manager, William Wright, accompanied them as third in command and was blamed almost entirely for the tragedy that befell the expedition after he failed to meet the party on its return to Cooper's Creek.^[1]

In 1870 the station was sold by George Urquhart to Herbert Bristow Hughes. Hughes had two river steamers built in England to service the station named the "Jandra" and the "Nile". Steam engines were installed in 1875, by which year "Kinchega" was running 75,000 sheep and its boundary extended beyond the southern end of the Barrier Ranges. It is during this period that the present shed came into being. Kinchega Station remained in the Hughes family for almost a century. In 1883 when Kinchega was at its peak the property was running 160,000 sheep and employed 73 men.^[1]

In 1967 Kinchega Woolshed became part of Kinchega National Park, by that time it is estimated that six million sheep had passed through the shed.^[2]^[1]

The woolshed was restored in 1993.^[1]

Description

Kinchega Woolshed is a very large linear building constructed of timber frame with corrugated iron cladding. It consists of 26 stands and is built upon a low sandy hill close to the Darling River. The main structure is constructed of trimmed river gum trunks, sawn roof frames and flooring raised well clear of the ground and a wide pitched roof, skillions and walls sheeted with corrugated iron. A notable feature of the building is the pavilion of sweating pens at the southern end; its light stud-frame construction contrasts with the heavier timber of the original section of the shed.^[1]

Nearby are a cluster of small corrugated iron clad buildings containing the shearer's quarters, cookhouse and stores buildings.^[1]

Kinchega Woolshed witnessed the evolution in shearing technology that was seen throughout the wool industry during the nineteenth-twentieth centuries. Blades were replaced by mechanical handpieces and the steam traction engine that first powered the machinery stands outside the building. A boiler also is located here. Team was in turn replaced by kerosene and then diesel powered shearing gear. Finally the handpieces were powered by electrical equipment. In addition to the traction engine, the shearing machinery is also present, as is the wool press, wool cranes, a cart and buggy and other equipment.^[2]^[1]

It was reported to be in good physical condition with medium archaeological potential as at 17 September 1997.^[1]

Heritage listing

Dating from 1875, Kinchega Woolshed is associated with the early pastoral history of the far west of New South Wales. The building illustrates the huge size of pastoral holdings in the arid areas of Australia and is a good example of a large scale shearing shed. The shed is of notable design, the sweating pens being an important feature of the building. Owing to its site and large dimensions, it is a prominent feature in the arid surrounding landscape and is a visual symbol of the grazing history of the outback. It helps to show the major developments in shearing technology during the century since its construction.^[1]

Kinchega Woolshed was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales.

Dating from 1875, Kinchega Woolshed is associated with the early pastoral history of the far west of New South Wales. The building illustrates the huge size of pastoral holdings in the arid areas of Australia and is a good example of a large scale shearing shed of traditional timber construction.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.

The shed is of notable design, the sweating pens being an important feature of the building. Owing to its site and large dimensions, it is a prominent feature in the arid surrounding landscape and is a visual symbol of the grazing history of the outback.^[1]

The place has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

It helps to show the major developments in shearing technology during the century since its construction.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural or natural places/environments in New South Wales.

It is perhaps the largest woolshed of its type remaining in the Western District and also one of the better examples.^[2]^[1]

Related Research Articles

The Willandra National Park is a protected national park that is located in the Far West region of New South Wales, in eastern Australia. The 19,386-hectare (47,900-acre) national park is situated approximately 580 kilometres (360 mi) west of Sydney and comprises flat grassy plain bounded to the north by Willandra Creek, which is a tributary of the Lachlan River.

Menindee, New South Wales Town in New South Wales, Australia

Menindee is a small town in the far west of New South Wales, Australia, in Central Darling Shire, on the banks of the Darling River, with a sign-posted population of 980 and a 2016 census population of 551. Menindee was the first town to be established on the Darling River. There are two distinct theories for the derivation of the township’s name: (a) from the Barkindji word "minandichi" for the shallow ephemeral lake north-west of the present-day township; (b) from the Barkindji word 'milhthaka', meaning "yolk of an egg".

Sheep shearing is the process by which the woollen fleece of a sheep is cut off. The person who removes the sheep's wool is called a shearer. Typically each adult sheep is shorn once each year. The annual shearing most often occurs in a shearing shed, a facility especially designed to process often hundreds and sometimes more than 3,000 sheep per day.

The Willandra Lakes Region is a World Heritage Site in the Far West region of New South Wales, Australia. The Willandra Lakes Region is the traditional meeting place of the Muthi Muthi, Nyiampaar and Barkinji Aboriginal tribes. The 240,000-hectare (590,000-acre) area was inscribed on the World Heritage List at the 5th Session of the World Heritage Committee in 1981.

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Jondaryan Woolshed is a heritage-listed shearing shed at Evanslea Road, Jondaryan, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1859-60 to replace an earlier, smaller woolshed on the former Jondaryan pastoral station, which was at one stage the largest freehold station in Queensland. The woolshed was the scene of significant labour conflict in the late 1880s and early 1890s, as the station became a test case for the new Queensland Shearers Union in the lead-up to the 1891 Australian shearers' strike.

Jondaryan Homestead is a heritage-listed homestead at Evanslea Road, Jondaryan, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. It was the base of the former Jondaryan pastoral station, which was originally taken up in 1840, and at one time was the largest freehold station in Queensland. The site contains the current house, which was built after the original was destroyed by fire in 1937, the original kitchen dating from 1844, and a kitchen, butcher's shop, shearer's quarters, stables, dairy, toilet block and store, many dating from the 1860s. It also contains the remains of horse stalls, a slaughterhouse, hide store, and Chinese gardener's glasshouse. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Nindooinbah Homestead is a heritage-listed homestead at Nindooinbah Connection Road, Nindooinbah, Scenic Rim Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from c. 1858 to 1907. It is also known as Nindooinbah House. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

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Isis Downs Woolshed is a heritage-listed shearing shed at Isisford-Blackall Road, Isisford, Longreach Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Kay, MacNicol and Company Engineers and built from 1913 to 1914 by Dorman Long and Company (Melbourne). It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 18 September 2008.

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The Avoca Homestead Complex is a heritage-listed former station homestead and station facilities and now catered accommodation and visitor attraction at 1122a Low Darling Road, Wentworth, in the Wentworth Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was built between 1871 and 1879. It is also known as the Avoca Station Homestead and outbuildings. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 8 April 2016.

Cliefden is a heritage-listed homestead at 1521 Belubula Way, Mandurama, Blayney Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It is one of a group of historic sites labelled the Ben Hall Sites for their association with bushranger Ben Hall, along with Ben Hall's Death Site, the Bushranger Hotel, Escort Rock, the Grave of Ben Hall and Wandi. It was built from 1842. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 8 October 2010.

Old Errowanbang Woolshed is a heritage-listed shearing shed at Errowan Park, Old Errowanbang Lane, Errowanbang, Blayney Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Watt and built in 1886. It is also known as Errowanbang Woolshed. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 23 June 2006.

Mulwala Homestead is a heritage-listed homestead at North Road, Mulwala, New South Wales, Australia. It was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004.

The Yarralumla Woolshed in the Australian Capital Territory is a building of historical significance and is listed on the Act Heritage Register. It is a symbol of Canberra's growth from pastoral town to major city. The shed was built in 1904 by Frederick Campbell who at that time owned Yarralumla Homestead which is now Government House. Today the woolshed is owned by the ACT Government and is an important community social centre and a venue for folk concerts, bush dances and is available for weddings.

Windy Station Woolshed is a heritage-listed shearing shed at Windy Road, Pine Ridge, Liverpool Plains Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Fred B Menkens and built in 1901 by Thomas and William Cowan. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 19 January 2018.

East Warrah Woolshed is a heritage-listed shearing shed at Merriwa-Murrurundi Road, Warrah Creek, Liverpool Plains Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Samuel Craik and built from 1863 to 1864. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 August 2018.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Kinchega Woolshed". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Office of Environment and Heritage. H00995. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
1 2 3 Sheedy 1983

Bibliography

National Parks (2007). "Kinchega National Park".
Tourism NSW (2007). "Kinchega Woolshed".
National Parks & Wildlife Service. National Parks & Wildlife Service Section 170 Register.

Attribution

This Wikipedia article was originally based on Kinchega Woolshed , entry number 00995 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales and Office of Environment and Heritage 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence , accessed on 2 June 2018.

External links

Media related to Kinchega Woolshed at Wikimedia Commons

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[nswshr-995-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Kinchega Woolshed". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Office of Environment and Heritage. H00995. Retrieved 2 June 2018.

[nswshr-995-1484-2] 1 2 3 Sheedy 1983

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