East Warrah Woolshed facts for kids

The East Warrah Woolshed is a very old and important building in Warrah Creek, New South Wales, Australia. It's a special kind of shed where sheep were shorn (their wool was cut off). This historic woolshed was designed by Samuel Craik. It was built between 1863 and 1864. Today, it is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, which means it's protected because of its historical value.

History of East Warrah Woolshed

Who Lived Here First?

The land where the East Warrah Woolshed stands was originally home to the Kamilaroi people. They were an Aboriginal nation. They lived off the land by hunting animals and gathering plants. They also had strong connections with other Aboriginal groups, like the Wonnarua people.

The Kamilaroi were known for protecting their land. They had a rich culture and spoke the Gamilaraay language. When European settlers arrived, the Kamilaroi people faced many challenges. Their traditional way of life changed. Many later moved to government reserves like Caroona or St Clair.

How the Area Was Settled

Explorers like Benjamin Singleton and John Howe first explored this region in the early 1800s. They found it suitable for raising sheep. More settlers came to the Upper Hunter and Liverpool Plains areas. This led to many changes for the Aboriginal people living there.

The Australian Agricultural Company (AACo)

The Australian Agricultural Company, or AACo, was formed in 1824. It was created to help grow the fine wool industry in the New South Wales colony. The company was given a huge amount of land by the British government. Their goal was to become a major wool producer.

At first, the AACo struggled. The land they chose at Port Stephens wasn't great for sheep. In 1831, they decided to swap their land for better areas. They chose two large properties: Warrah Creek and Goonoo Goonoo. These places were much better for raising fine-wool sheep.

Building East Warrah Station

Developing the Warrah land was slow at first. The AACo also focused on its coal mining business. But in 1862, they decided to invest in sheep farming again. They chose Warrah as their main wool production center.

Samuel Craik, the Stock Superintendent, designed the new woolshed. It was built at East Warrah in 1863-1864. It was ready for shearing the sheep in 1864. The number of sheep at Warrah grew quickly. By 1875, over 92,000 sheep were shorn there.

The Warrah Woolshed first used "blade shearing." This is where shearers cut the wool by hand. In the 1880s, new machines were being invented. The AACo tried out John Suckling's air-powered shears. This made Warrah Woolshed one of the first sheds in NSW to try machine shearing. However, these machines didn't work well. The shed went back to blade shearing.

The woolshed continued to grow. By 1896, it had 64 shearing stands. It could hold 6,000 sheep at one time. It also had new equipment to press and bale the wool. Other buildings were added nearby, like a bakehouse and a new homestead.

Over time, parts of Warrah Station were sold off. The AACo gradually moved its focus to other properties. Today, cattle are raised on Warrah Station.

What the Woolshed Looks Like

The East Warrah Woolshed is a very large building. It was built in 1864 using timber from the property. It has several parts:

• Catching pens: These are large areas where sheep were held before shearing.
• Shearing boards: These are the long platforms where the sheep were shorn.
• Wool room: This is a big area where the shorn wool was sorted and prepared.

The roof was originally covered with wooden shingles. Later, these were replaced with corrugated iron. In the 1890s, new sections were added to the woolshed. These included more pens for the sheep. A long bridge connects these new pens to the main woolshed.

Condition and Changes

The East Warrah Woolshed is still in good condition today. It has been changed a few times over the years:

• 1886: Machine shearing equipment was installed.
• Around 1888: The machine shears were removed.
• 1894: The shingle roof was covered with corrugated iron.
• Around 1894: New sweating pens were added. The wool room roof was rebuilt.
• Around 1990: The wool room was changed to hold bull sales.

Why East Warrah Woolshed is Important

The East Warrah Woolshed is very important to the history of New South Wales. It shows how the fine wool industry grew in Australia.

• A Key Part of History: It was the main working center for the AACo. This company was the first private business to focus on growing fine wool in NSW. The woolshed's size shows how big and important this industry was. It is one of the largest woolsheds built before the 1870s.
• Connected to Important People: The woolshed is linked to the AACo and its leaders. This includes people like E. C. Merewether and Samuel Craik, who helped develop the company.
• Learning About the Past: The woolshed can teach us a lot. It shows how large sheep stations operated in the past. It also shows how wool shearing technology developed. For example, it was one of the first sheds to try machine shearing. Even though the experiment failed, it helped improve later shearing machines.
• A Rare Example: This woolshed is a rare example of a large woolshed from the 1860s. It might even be the oldest one still standing from that time. It represents the big investments made in the wool industry by the AACo.