Kingaroy Peanut Silos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kingaroy Peanut Silos |
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2005
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| Location | 117-131 Haly Street, Kingaroy, South Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1938 |
| Architect | Thomas Robinson & Son, Macdonald Wagner Consulting Engineers |
| Official name: Kingaroy Peanut Silos | |
| Type | state heritage |
| Designated | 8 October 2010 |
| Reference no. | 602764 |
| Significant components | silo |
| Builders | Kell & Rigby |
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The Kingaroy Peanut Silos are a group of large concrete buildings in Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia. They are listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. These silos were built between 1938 and 1951. Their main job was to store peanuts before they were processed and sold.
These tall structures stand out in the Kingaroy skyline. They are widely known as symbols of the peanut industry in Queensland. This industry grew a lot in the South Burnett area, with Kingaroy as its main hub.
Contents
The Story of the Kingaroy Peanut Silos
Kingaroy's Beginnings
The Kingaroy area first saw settlers in the 1840s. But the town of Kingaroy really started because of the railway. In 1904, the Kilkivan branch railway reached the area. This made Kingaroy a busy railway stop.
Soon, shops, hotels, and other buildings appeared. Kingaroy quickly became an important service center for the surrounding farms.
Peanuts Come to Queensland
Peanuts have been grown in Queensland since the 1870s. By the early 1900s, some farmers in the South Burnett started growing them. They sold these peanuts to shops in bigger cities like Brisbane.
Around 1920, more and more land in the South Burnett was used for growing peanuts. This was a big change for farmers.
Growing the Peanut Industry
In 1921, a company in New South Wales started buying many peanuts from the South Burnett. This helped the peanut industry grow a lot. Other companies also started making peanut products like peanut butter.
By 1924, peanut production had increased a lot. But merchants didn't want to pay a good price for all the peanuts. So, the farmers decided to work together. They formed the Queensland Peanut Marketing Board in 1924. This Board helped farmers get a fair price for their peanuts.
The Need for Storage
As more peanuts were grown, the farmers needed places to store them. Silos were important to keep the peanuts dry and safe from pests. They also helped control how many peanuts were sold at one time.
At first, the Peanut Board rented local barns. But they soon decided to build their own storage. Farmers paid a small fee on their peanuts to help pay for this. In 1928, the first timber silo (Silo No. 1) was built in Kingaroy. A large shed was also built to clean and sort the peanuts.
Expanding the Silos
The peanut industry kept growing. By 1937, the amount of peanuts grown was huge. This meant more storage was needed.
In 1938, a new, much larger concrete silo (Silo No. 2) was built. It cost a lot of money, but it could hold many peanuts. This silo was designed by special engineers and built by Kell & Rigby. They also built the Kingaroy Shire Council Chambers across the street at the same time.
The Kingaroy Peanut Silos were officially opened on 1 December 1938. This was a big day for Kingaroy, showing how much the town and its farming industry had grown.
Growth and Changes Over Time
During World War II, peanut production grew even faster. By 1947, farmers were growing a record amount of peanuts. This led to even more storage problems.
To solve this, two more concrete silos were planned. Silo No. 3 was finished in 1948, and Silo No. 4 was completed by 1951.
In 1951, a fire destroyed the first timber silo (No. 1). The other silos were damaged but repaired.
By the 1980s, Queensland was producing almost all of Australia's peanuts. Kingaroy and the South Burnett area were still the main peanut-growing region.
In 1992, big changes happened. The way peanuts were marketed in Queensland changed. The Peanut Marketing Board became the Queensland Peanut Growers' Co-operative Association Ltd. Later, this became the Peanut Company of Australia (PCA).
Today, PCA is a top supplier of peanuts in Australia. They handle everything from growing to selling peanuts. The Kingaroy Peanut Silos remain a strong symbol of the peanut industry and the South Burnett region.
What the Silos Look Like
The Kingaroy Peanut Silos are three tall, separate buildings. They stand on Haly Street in Kingaroy. They are part of a larger peanut processing plant.
Each silo building has many levels. Inside, there are groups of storage bins. These bins are where the peanuts are kept. There's also an elevator tower that lifts the peanuts up.
The silos are made of white concrete and brick. They have round bins that are about 20 feet (6 meters) wide and 85 feet (26 meters) tall. There are also star-shaped bins in between the round ones.
At the top of each silo, there's a shed with a high roof. This shed holds the conveyor belts that drop peanuts into the bins. At the bottom, other conveyor belts move the peanuts out when they are ready to be sent away.
The elevator towers have stairs and the machinery that lifts the peanuts. The working house of Silo No. 2 is a concrete building with many windows. It holds more machinery and a passenger lift.
Many of the original steel-framed windows are still there. These windows help light up the different levels inside the silos.
Why the Silos are Important
The Kingaroy Peanut Silos are listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means they are important to Queensland's history and culture.
- Showing History: These silos show how much the peanut industry grew in Queensland. Since the 1920s, the South Burnett area has been the main center for peanuts. The silos were built as the industry kept getting bigger. They also show the long history of the Peanut Company of Australia, which has been in Kingaroy since 1927.
- Great Examples: The silos are excellent examples of large storage buildings. They are very well preserved and still look much like they did when they were built. Their design, with round and star-shaped bins, and their location near the railway line, make them special.
- Beautiful to Look At: These silos are about 42 meters (138 feet) tall. They stand high above Kingaroy and can be seen from far away. They are a landmark in the South Burnett area. When the sun rises or sets, they look amazing, like giant sculptures. Pictures of the silos are often used to promote tourism in the region.
The Kingaroy Peanut Silos are a strong symbol of Kingaroy and the Australian peanut industry. They are a distinctive and easily recognized landmark for people in Queensland.
