Collection 13: Wheat silos in country New South Wales, 2004-2007 / photographed by Hal Pratt

PXA 1001/Box 5/203-220

sub-fonds

9 August 2004 - 8 September 2007

Graphic Materials, Photographs

867112

18 photoprints - silver gelatin - 21 x 26 cm

203. Calleen, Wyalong to Lake Cargelligo line. Location only in alternating farmland & scrub. Siding line still in use. The SO68 silo (6800 tonne capacity) was built in 1922. Also known as a Metcalf silo after it's designer J.S. Metcalf. 52 of these designs were built between 1918 & 1929. they varied in capacity depending on the number of bins. 9/8/2004
204. Girral, Wyalong to Lake Cargelligo line. Located near a few houses & one old shop front. A Metcalf SO68 silo (6800 tonne capacity) built in 1922. 9/8/2004
205. Maimuru, Demodrille to Cowra line. Located in rolling country a few kilometres north of Young. The original concrete silo is a type SO41 (4100 tonne capacity) built in 1927. The D150 bulkhead was added in 1969 with a capacity of 15000 tonnes. These "D" depots are the most common type of storage. 10/8/2004
206. Harden, main southern line. Located in the town. Siding line still in use. Harden & Murrumburrah only 2km apart but have separate silos. This recent bulkhead is adjacent to the railway station. 10/8/2004
207. Yass Junction, main southern line. Located downline from the large railway station. Small bulkhead similar to a D150 (15000 tonne) but less capacity, perhaps a D120 (ie 12000 tonne capacity) built between 1965 & 1970. Now operated by a private company on disused siding line. 10/8/2004
208. Merriwa, Muswellbrook to Merriwa line. Concrete silos located on disused line on edge of town. Steel bands around concrete bins. The D150 (15000 tonnes) bulkhead alongside was built in 1969. 72 of these depots were erected between 1965 & 1970. 6/9/2007
209. Aberdeen, main northern line. Small town straddling New England Highway. Corrugated steel silos near railway station. No sign of recent use at the "Graincorp" silo. 6/9/2007
210. Westdale, West Tamworth to Barraba line. Location only on outskirts of Tamworth. The operating line ends about 0.5 km north of the silo but once went to Barraba. At time of photographing the line "stored" a km of wagons. Original SO27 (2700 tonnes) silo built in 1934. 26 of these silos were built between 1934 & 1936. Alongside is a D150 bulkhead added in 1966. 7/9/2007
211. Gidley, West Tamworth to Barraba line. Location only on abandoned line in rolling country. A SO27 type silo (2700 tonne capacity) built in 1934. 26 of these silos were built between 1934 & 1936. A sign "Authorised entry only" suggests the silo is now in private hands. 7/9/2007
212. Appleby, West Tamworth to Barraba line. Site only of SO27 concrete silo (2700 tonne capacity) built in 1934. Site & demolished remains now on the property "Oakleigh", in Evans family since 1898. Ted Evans could not accurately date demolition or the reason for demolition. A similar SO27 silo still stands 5km away at Attunga. 7/9/2007
213. Attunga, West Tamworth to Barraba line. Located on the edge of the small town. The SO27 (2700 tonnes) silo was built in 1934. Within the 4 main bins are 10 smaller bins for storage of smaller amounts of different types of grains. The SO27 was also known as the "New 90" (ie 90000 bushels) so as not to confuse it with the earlier SO24 (also 90000 bushels). 7/9/2007
214. Manilla, West Tamworth to Barraba line. Located in town on disused line. The original silo is a SO41 (4100 tonnes) built in 1934. 23 of these silos were built between 1926 & 1941. Nearby is a BO67 bulkhead (6700 tonne capacity) erected in 1959 and D150 (15000 tonne) bulkhead added in 1970. 7/7/2007
215. Barraba, West Tamworth to Barraba line. Location well out of town. Concrete silo and steel bulkhead. Construction date of silo unknown. The D150 (15000 tonne capacity) bulkhead was constructed in 1968 by "R & N Steel", Newcastle. The complex is fenced off, still displaying a "Graincorp" sign. 7/9/2007
216. Delungra, Moree to Inverell line. 7/9/2007
217. Mount Russell, Moree to Inverell line. Located in village which has seen better days. The original concrete silo is a type SO41 having a capacity of 4100 tonnes, erected 1934. The scalloped concrete silo was added in 1955 having a capacity of 28500 tonnes. 24 of these were built between 1955 and 1968 with varying capacities. 7/9/2007
218. Inverell, Moree to Inverell line. Located on the edge of very active town. The original SO41 (4100 tonne capacity) silo is dwarfed by later additions in 1968, with a capacity of 17150 tonnes. Consistent with other silos in the district the original facility was built in 1934. 7/9/2007
219. Delungra, Moree to Inverell line. Located away from town on a disused line. Original concrete silo is a type SO41 with a capacity of 4100 tonnes, built in 1934. Today it is dwarfed by a long steel bulkhead (date unknown). Also a pair of steel silos was added later (date unknown)
220. Warialda rail, Moree to Inverell line. These silos are 7 km south west of Warialda town. Nearby are a few scattered houses & a pub. Down line is a disused railway station on the abandoned line. The original concrete silo is a type SO16 (1600 tonne capacity) built in 1934. Twin silos next door were erected in 1960 along with the elevated superstructure on the first silo. This added a further 6000 tonne of storage. 8/9/2007

Reference:
Library Correspondence File

Chronological

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

Titled by photographer.

Dated by photographer.