Cordillo Downs Shearing Shed

Submitted: Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 00:25

ThreadID: 99684 Views:4313 Replies:4 FollowUps:10

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Cordillo Downs

This is the main route from Innamincka to Birdsville. The track is about 420km and conditions vary greatly. The countryside is a seemingly endless gibber plain but this is Australia's prime cattle

Cordillo Downs

Section: Treks

This is the main route from Innamincka to Birdsville. The track is about 420km and conditions vary greatly. The countryside is a seemingly endless gibber plain but this is Australia's prime cattle

Humpty

G'day - does anyone know where I can get a survey/floorplan/dimensions of the Cordillo Downs Shearing Shed????

Or even better, interior/exterior detail photos beyond what can be found online (all very general as found via WWW)?

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Reply By: Member - John and Val - Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 07:18

Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 07:18

Top right on this page, under the moving banner is a very good search facility. Type in "Cordillo" to get a big list of blogs, places and links that may help.

Cheers

John

J and V
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
- Albert Einstein

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AnswerID: 501193

Follow Up By: Humpty - Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 at 00:40

Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 at 00:40

Thanks John - will check it out - people look like they have amazing adventures into this part of the world!

FollowupID: 777318

Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 09:20

Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 09:20

Can I ask the purpose of this interest?
Couple of months ago....

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome

AnswerID: 501200

Follow Up By: Humpty - Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 at 00:45

Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 at 00:45

Peter - see below on purpose.
This was apparently one of the largest unsupported spans built at the time, and to have done it 1000 miles from civilisation really brings it home how well it was made.
This building holds intrigue - always had a thing for the old brewery in Melrose as well - built well, last forever.
Nothing is made like that anymore.

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Reply By: Lyn W3 - Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 14:22

Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 14:22

Did a little research on the the Cordillo Downs shed and several places it claims to be the biggest in the world.

I always was told that the shed at Warrah Station/Windy Station was the biggest shed in Australia.

Which is correct?

AnswerID: 501207

Follow Up By: bluefella - Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 15:48

Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 15:48

Isis Downs is the biggest with 52 stands,i'm lead to believe there was one at Corowa bigger not sure.

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Follow Up By: bluefella - Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 15:53

Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 15:53

sorry humpty that info did'nt help you much mate.

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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 23:22

Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 23:22

Cordillo Downs had 120 stands at its peak in the 1890's. In one year they shorn 82,000 sheep by hand. But Cordillo Downs predated Isis Downs by a considerable number of years, so maybe we're not comparing apples with apples?

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Follow Up By: Humpty - Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 at 00:42

Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 at 00:42

Any info is good info - gives me something to do while the cricket is off!

and seriously - 82,000 sheep by hand???? They don't make people like that anymore!

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Follow Up By: Lyn W3 - Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 at 07:13

Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 at 07:13

Phil, hard to see how they would fit 120 stands into a shed that size.

Have never been to Cordillo Downs but am quite familiar with the Warrah Woolshed and they shorn 200,000 sheep with blades after hand washing them.

I wonder if any photos exist of the shed in action with associated yard setup.

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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 at 08:34

Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 at 08:34

Hi Lyn,
I'll keep a lookout for photos but I guess photos were fairly rare in the outback in the 1890's. Found this little collection from the 1930's:
http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/cordillodowns.htm
And some history:
http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/cordillo.htm

Humpty,
Many of the shearers travelled there by bike as well!

FollowupID: 777326

Reply By: Humpty - Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 at 00:38

Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 at 00:38

Thanks for the info - am looking for a single span, open plan building design to use as a basis for a house design.

Thick walls, curved roof and something a little different from the average 5br brick/tile box found all over the place.

While looking for "curved roof" on Google, a picture of this amazing building appeared.

As much as I would love to visit, to drag the 100 series and 4 daughters there with a tape measure and a sketch book may well get me hung by the Minister for Treasure and Pleasure!

I was able to get a ball park size by counting iron sheets on the roof, and using the current width for corrugated iron (762mm, overlap 1.5 ripples), ended up with about 60m x 14m External - but nothing beats visiting I guess!

There was also a couple of humans in some photos, which let me get a door height of about 2.4m, meaning the walls are about 9ft high......and apparently 3ft thick!

Thanks to you all for the replies - first time forum attempt - will get the hang of it eventually.

AnswerID: 501239

Follow Up By: Lyn W3 - Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 at 06:48

Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 at 06:48

You may get some help from a greenhouse designer/manufacturer as to the loads and stresses of unsupported spans. Maybe even try one in the USA or europe where they have to consider winter snow loads.

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Follow Up By: Rockape - Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 at 07:24

Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 at 07:24

Humpty,
have a look at w.w.2 aircraft hangers. They also were very strong and the plans should be available.

There is a semi that backs up to the building and rolls the roofing sheets in one piece.

RA.

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