Collection 11: Wheat silos in the Riverina, Orana and Central West Slopes areas, 2005, 2007 / photographs by Hal Pratt

PXA 1001/Box 4/168-185

sub-fonds

27 September 2005; 15-17 March 2007

Graphic Materials, Photographs

826017

18 photographs - silver gelatin photoprints - 20.3 x 25.2 cm. and 25.2 x 20.3 cm.

168. Neilrex. Dubbo to Binnaway line. Location only in scrub country interspersed with paddocks. Well maintained line. The bulkhead is a 'D' depot D150 (15,000 tonne capacity) built in 1969. 72 of these depots were erected between 1965 & 1970. 27/9/05

169. Merrygoen. Dubbo to Binnaway line. On outskirts of village. The silo is a S027 (2,700 tonne capacity) built in 1935. Within the 4 main bins are 10 smaller bins for storage of smaller amounts of different grains. 27/9/05

170. Mendooran. Dubbo to Binnaway line. Access by dirt road on outskirts of town. Original silo is a S027 (2,700 tonne capacity) built in 1935. The D150 bulkhead (15,000) tonnes) was erected in 1966. The waggons are being loaded from a hopper at the bulkhead. 27/9/05

171. Elong Elong. Dubbo to Binnaway line. Located in village in gently undulating country with crops alternating with scrub. Two small bulkheads built in late 1950s or early 1960s. 27/9/05

172. Muronbung. Dubbo to Binnaway line. Locality only, in gently undulating cropping country. Original silo is a S027 (2,700 tonne capacity) built in 1935. The tall bins were added in 1961 with a capacity of 6,800 tonne. 27/9/05

173. Ballimore. Dubbo to Binnaway line. Located between village and the highway. A 'D' depot bulkhead i.e. D150 (15,000 tonne capacity) built in 1970. 72 of these depots were built between 1965-1970. They are the most common type of storage except for the on-ground (bunker) facilities. 27/9/05

174. Old Junee. Junee to Narrandera line. On outskirts of small village about 8 km from Junee. Still in drought. The freight train has been in 'store' for months according to rail workers. A Metcalf S095 silo built in 1922. 52 of this silo type were erected between 1918 & 1922. It has a capacity of 9500 tonnes. 15/3/07

175. Marrar. Junee to Narrandera line. On edge of small village in flat cropping coutnry. Obviously very active silo & bulkhead in the past but after the long drought the complex is deserted. Original silo is a Metcalf S095 (9500 tonne capacity), was built in 1922. 15/3/07

176. Coolamon. Junee to Narrandera line. Small town with wide main street, quite active. Cafe at station but no longer a regular stop. A Metcalf S095 silo (9500 tonne capacity) built in 1922. Two bulkheads downline from silo, one is a 'D' depot D150 (15,000 tonnes) built in 1967. 72 of these depots were erected between 1965-1970. 15/3/07

177. Brushwood. Junee to Narrandera line. Location only in flat cropping coutnry, some scrub. Grain waggons 'stored' at silo during the long drought. The silo is a Metcalf S041 (4,100 tonne capacity) erected in 1922. The large bulkhead is a late addition. 15/3/07

178. Ganmain. Junee to Narrandera line. Located on edge of small town in flat cropping country. Silo is a Metcalf S068 (6,800 tonne capacity) built in 1922. 52 of these silos were built between 1918 & 1929. Metcalf was an American designer, also involved in the Sydney terminal design. 15/3/07

179. Matong. Junee to Narrandera line. Small village in flat scrubby country. School still operating. No sign of silo being used recently due to extended drought. A Metcalf S054 silo (5,400 tonne capacity) built in 1922. Also nearby a 'D' depot bulkhead D150 (15,000 tonne capacity) erected in 1968. 15/3/07

180. Grong Grong. Junee to Narrandera line. Small town on the Newell highway. Waggons parked at silo. Flat cropping country. Original silo is a Metcalf S082 (8,200 tonne capacity), was built in 1922. In that year 7 of these large silos were erected on the Junee to Narrandera line (on a 80km stretch of railway). The steel silos are a recent addition. 15/3/07

181. Narrandera. Junee to Narrandera line. Large town on the main melbourne to Brisbane road link (Newell Highway). An 'A' depot silo on edge of town. It is an A191 (19,100 tonne capacity) built in 1964. 24 of this silo type were built between 1955 & 1968. The steel silos are a recent addition. 16/3/07

182. Yanco. Yanco to Roto line. Outside of town of Yanco which also has an agricultural school. Bulkhead probably dates from the 1960s. The concrete silos with metal roofs are a later construction. 16/3/07

183. Whitton. Yanco to Roto [i.e. Hay?] line. Small town named after the 'father of NSW railways'. Disbanded line very much overgrown. Small bulkhead similar to those erected between 1959-1960 (e.g. 'B' depot).

184. West Wyalong. Temora to Wyalong line. On outskirts of town - a major sub-terminal. In the distance the original S095 (9,500 tonne capacity) is known also as a 'Metcalf', after its designer. It was built in 1922. Two large bulkheads & on-ground storage were added later. 17/3/07

185. Yiddah. Temora to Wyalong line. Location only. A 'Metcalf' S054 silo (5,400 tonne capacity) built in 1922. 52 of these silos were erected between 1918 & 1929 of varying capacities. The name 'Metcalf' comes from the American designer who was involved in the design of thte Sydney Terminal. 17/3/07

Reference
Library Correspondence File

Chronological

Copyright status:: In copyright - Life of photographer plus 70 years.

Titled by photographer.

Dated by photographer.