510:
202:
375:
230:
31:
367:
of one big pillar 30 feet above the ground and sunk to about five feet below, would provide a clear space of about 70 feet to cover shearing board, tables, bins etc". The design allowed for 52 shearing stands around the semi-circle, with the sheep-yards on the immediate exterior. On the flat, far side of the building were the wool bins and presses. A separate engine room provided its own electricity, with the lighting supplemented by
398:. From there, the steel was carted to the property and installed under the supervision of the property manager, Mr Frank Luck. Construction commenced in 1913 and by April the foundations were well advanced; however, completion was delayed due to the late arrival of the steel. The shed was not complete by the 1913 shearing season, forcing the owners to make temporary alternative arrangements.
523:
pens located between the bays and the exterior wall. The current motors are modern upgrades but an example of an original motor survives within the shed. The large open space between the central pillar and the bays was used to sort and class the fleeces. Wool presses are located on the rear edge of the timber floor and extend down to the narrow concrete ground level.
347:, appears to have owned Isis Downs for 6 years from 1877, but let it go. Clarke's long standing business partner, RS Whiting, was a wealthy Melbourne based solicitor. The Clarke-Whiting partnership acquired vast land holdings in Queensland, including Isis Downs, Avington, Emmet Downs, Stockbury, Brynhyfryd, and Bellevue/Kiama in the Isisford area, Sedgeford near
237:
209:
839:
336:. Following the taking up of pastoral properties throughout the area, a town was founded by William and James Whitman in 1877 to provide essential services for the district. It had various early names including Whittown, Wittown or Whittington, but in 1897 was officially named Isisford, as it was near to a ford and not far from Isis Downs Station.
634:
The powerhouse is important in demonstrating the generation of non-grid electricity in remote and regional
Queensland prior to World War I. The introduction of both hydraulic and electrical generating systems specifically for a shearing shed was only possible at the largest and most progressive sheep
531:
Immediately abutting the curved wall of the woolshed is a series of timber let-out pens. The pens lead into "counting-out" yards that surround the curved face of the shearing shed. The larger series of holding yards extending beyond the "counting-out" yards are not included in the heritage boundary.
438:
By April 1914 the shed itself had been completed and the machinery installed, but the external pens had not been completed and the shorn sheep chutes had not arrived. The external pens were designed to hold thirty thousand sheep, with an anticipated daily tally of five thousand sheep during the peak
670:
The Isis Downs
Woolshed is an innovative approach to design of large-scale pastoral infrastructure in Queensland. The use of prefabricated steel for the superstructure, unusual semi-circular shape, the provision for light and ventilation, is a unique attempt to address the functional, financial and
652:
The Isis Downs
Woolshed Complex is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a large, early twentieth century shearing operation, comprising shearing shed (completed with mechanical shearing motors and wool presses), holding yards, powerhouse (with an extensive array of associated
606:
The bale hoist was used to load bales of wool onto transports and is located on the rear eastern side of the woolshed, adjacent to the powerhouse. The hoist is made from steel and consists of a vertical upright with a horizontal arm at the top. The arm is supported by decorative steel bracing. Part
366:
By
December 1912 the owners had commissioned Melbourne engineers Kay, MacNicol and Company to design a new shearing shed. A number of designs were considered but by late December the current structure was chosen as the "cheapest and simplest form of construction". The designers argued that "the use
661:
Although designed as a utilitarian structure, the size and semicircular layout of the shearing shed at Isis Downs makes a dramatic visual impact against the flat, unwooded landscape. The use of corrugated iron cladding coupled with the setting of the Isis Downs
Woolshed Complex within a flat, open
464:
Environmental and economic factors led to varying stock numbers over the years. In the late 1950s only 60,000 head of sheep were grazed on the station, but by the 1990s stock numbers had risen to 100,000, due in part to the acquisition of surrounding properties. Stock levels eventually declined as
522:
radiate out from the central pillar over a clear space of 70 feet (21 m). The trusses terminate at supporting steel posts, which frame the 52 shearing bays that follow the curve of the semicircle. Mechanical shearing motors are mounted on the tally boards above each bay, with smaller holding
517:
Internally, the woolshed has two levels - the main floor, high-set, of timber construction, and semi-circular; and a much smaller ground level floor, of concrete, along the rear, straight wall. There are no internal wall or roof linings, leaving the shed structural components clearly visible. The
493:
The dominant feature of the complex is the woolshed. A large, high-set semi-circle with a low-set section along the rear wall, the woolshed's curved exterior faces the property entrance. The whole is clad in corrugated iron and crowned by a three-tiered roof. The upper two levels of the roof are
460:
approximately 150 permanent staff and numerous seasonal workers were employed at Isis Downs, undertaking the variety of tasks necessary to run the property, including the outstations. Increasing mechanisation drastically reduced permanent staff levels, which had a negative effect upon the local
552:
The powerhouse has two internal sections: a boiler room and a generating room, and still contains an extensive array of the machinery used during the woolshed's operation. The boiler room contains a wood-fired boiler and a high pressure water pump. External to the boiler room is a hydraulic
607:
of the hydraulic power network, the hoist had a single cable that operated through a series of sheaves; the lower sheave is now missing. Historical evidence suggests a ball weight was mounted above the hoist hook, which was heavy enough to pull the cable to the ground and force the
485:(completed with mechanical shearing motors and wool presses), holding yards, powerhouse (with an extensive array of machinery and infrastructure) and a stand-alone bale hoist, located in close proximity to each other, and which were used conjointly to clip and process the fleeces.
679:
The Isis Downs
Woolshed complex has a special association with the business partnership of Sir Rupert Clarke and Robert Whiting who played a significant role in the development of the region and were known nationally as major figures in the Australian pastoral industry.
501:
In the centre of the front curved wall is a central double-door entry that is met by the holding yard ramp. The sliding doors are rectangular and clad entirely in corrugated iron. Ten smaller sliding ventilation shutters of similar design are evenly spaced in the curved
653:
machinery and infrastructure) and bale hoist. The place was and remains one of the largest and most intact early twentieth century shearing complexes in
Queensland, of exceptional value in contributing to our understanding of early mechanised shearing in Queensland.
362:
structure with a central arched spine. Erected in the late nineteenth century, it contained 100 shearing stands and was larger than the current shed, but it was destroyed by fire in
September 1912, immediately after the close of the shearing season.
439:
season. Accessing sufficient timber for the construction of the pens was a major logistical issue, as the nearest natural supply was 25 miles (40 km) away. The shed, yards and powerhouse were finally completed in July 1914, at a total cost of
480:
The Isis Downs
Woolshed complex is located on the Isisford-Blackall Road approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) east of the township of Isisford, within the homestead complex of the Isis Downs Station. The complex consists of the shearing
405:
was constructed to supply electric and hydraulic power for the various machines used in the clip. The interior of the Isis Downs powerhouse contained both a boiler room and a generating room. The generating room accommodated an
Austral Otis
643:
The large and distinctive semi-circular prefabricated shearing shed is the only example of its type in Australia. The collection of associated machinery within the complex is also "unique" in terms of its composition and condition.
544:
roof located at the rear of the woolshed, in the north-eastern corner of the complex. With the exception of a small number of windows and fixed louvres, the powerhouse is clad almost entirely in corrugated iron. A tall metal
297:
The current Isis Downs Woolshed was completed in 1914. A prefabricated steel structure clad with corrugated iron, the shed was designed by Kay, MacNicol and Company Engineers for the then property owners, Sir
426:
for the Falkiner Boll shearing machines and hydraulic power for the wool presses, bale dump and hoist. Power was transmitted via a power-board in the powerhouse and a distribution-board in the woolshed. A
868:
631:
The Isis Downs Woolshed Complex (constructed 1913-1914) is important in demonstrating the evolution of sheep shearing processes in Queensland, and in particular of early mechanised shearing.
358:
By 1910 Isis Downs had grown to over 200,000 hectares (490,000 acres) and carried a similar number of sheep. At that time the shearing shed on Isis Downs was a rectangular-shaped timber and
494:
progressively smaller raised semi-circles that sit in the centre of the roof and do not extend back to the rear wall. These provide light and ventilation to the large interior space via
453:, dug a 192 kilometres (119 mi) network of bore drains and introduced a 110-horsepower road train (imported from England). Their descendants held the property until 1979.
465:
the current owners moved toward cattle grazing. As sheep numbers fell, the shearing season became smaller and the final clip was made in May 2004 with less than 30,000 sheep.
317:. Pastoralists followed explorers in opening up the land for utilization and by 1860 wool had become the primary export earner for the newly established colony of Queensland.
302:
and Robert Selmon Whiting. Although smaller than the previous shed that had burnt down, the current shed's design is unique, creating a large semi-circular internal space.
518:
woolshed has a steel superstructure, with a central pillar that sits directly under the apex of the roof; located at the mid-rear point of the top roof tier. Steel web
549:
extends out of the north-eastern corner of the roof and is supported by four cable ties. A smaller corrugated iron skillion shed extends from the northern corner.
469:
446:
Whiting and Clarke were known as innovators and had a substantial impact upon the station. In addition to the shearing shed, they built the homestead, sank 3
201:
873:
826:
506:, five on either side of the double doors. At the rear ground level of the woolshed is another central double sliding door, clad in corrugated iron.
66:
339:
Isis Downs changed hands a number of times before Robert Selmon Whiting and Sir Rupert Clarke acquired it in 1910. The eldest son of a prominent
808:
675:
The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history.
858:
229:
509:
343:
family, Sir Rupert Clarke was the 2nd Baronet of Rupertswood and held vast pastoral holdings across the Australian colonies. His father,
790:
355:. Of all their holdings, both in Queensland and elsewhere in Australia, Isis Downs was regarded as their "masthead" sheep station.
371:. Large, rectangular ventilation shutters were spaced around the curved facade of the building providing more light when open.
299:
843:
863:
577:
278:
117:
763:
620:
286:
129:
374:
666:
The place is important in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular period.
648:
The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of cultural places.
435:
annex; these systems were eventually superseded in the 1970s with the introduction of 240 volt electric power.
382:
Steel was ordered from Dorman Long and Co. of Melbourne in January 1913, the same company that later built the
431:
was eventually installed, followed by a belt driven set which was powered by a twin cylinder motor within the
611:
into position for the next lift. The vertical upright of the hoist is supported by two angled steel braces.
564:
329:
812:
352:
758:
383:
598:
The powerhouse also retains much of the associated infrastructure such as pipes and the power board.
532:
A large timber forcing-up ramp gives access from the yards into the central opening of the woolshed.
411:
395:
340:
266:
45:
818:
800:
794:
581:
344:
325:
320:
Isis Downs was one of the first properties to be established in the Isisford District of far west
419:
386:. The steel could not be produced in Australia at that time and therefore had to be shipped from
368:
321:
553:
accumulator and nearby, a ship's tank. Identified equipment within the generator room includes:
639:
The place demonstrates rare, uncommon or endangered aspects of Queensland's cultural heritage.
558:
348:
30:
447:
440:
428:
270:
49:
359:
627:
The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history.
390:(England) to Melbourne to be cut and prepared as per the design. It was then shipped to
407:
306:
468:
In recent years the Isis Downs Shearing Shed has been used to host events such as the
852:
432:
402:
387:
314:
310:
262:
588:
457:
415:
333:
822:
804:
391:
789:
495:
450:
274:
53:
472:
Symphony Orchestra (2003) and the Outback Opera in the Shearing Shed (2005).
456:
Isis Downs had substantial impact upon the development of the region. Before
81:
68:
282:
838:
811:
on 8 October 2014). The geo-coordinates were originally computed from the
423:
570:
546:
519:
608:
592:
503:
410:(which was coupled to an external accumulator) and a single cylinder
541:
508:
373:
563:
240 volt, KW HP 12, continuous current generator manufactured by
328:, W St John Holberton and W B Allen. The run was named after the
482:
324:. The initial lease commenced on 1 January 1867 and was held by
623:
on 18 September 2008 having satisfied the following criteria.
557:
Southern Cross Mark YEB engine, 1200 RPM, manufactured by the
657:
The place is important because of its aesthetic significance.
671:
logistical issues associated with a large shearing shed.
281:
and built from 1913 to 1914 by Dorman Long and Company (
540:
The powerhouse is a simple rectangular building with a
332:
in England, which is actually the upper reaches of the
793:
This Knowledge (XXG) article was originally based on
305:
The Queensland wool industry commenced in 1840 when
869:
Agricultural buildings and structures in Queensland
178:
168:
160:
152:
144:
136:
127:
113:
105:
97:
60:
40:
23:
569:Lister alternator manufactured by Higgs Motors of
140:Isis Downs Woolshed Complex, Isis Downs Woolshed
662:landscape, evokes a strong sense of isolation.
216:Location of Isis Downs Woolshed in Queensland
8:
759:"Isis Downs Woolshed Complex (entry 602544)"
236:
208:
619:The Isis Downs Woolshed was listed on the
309:and his brother Walter Leslie established
29:
20:
814:"Queensland heritage register boundaries"
825:licence (accessed on 5 September 2014,
689:
753:
751:
749:
747:
745:
743:
741:
739:
737:
735:
733:
731:
729:
727:
725:
723:
721:
719:
717:
715:
713:
18:Historic site in Queensland, Australia
711:
709:
707:
705:
703:
701:
699:
697:
695:
693:
394:and moved by rail to Malverton, near
177:
167:
159:
151:
143:
135:
126:
7:
589:The Austral Otis Engineering Co. Ltd
565:The British Thomson-Houston Co. Ltd
279:Kay, MacNicol and Company Engineers
118:Kay, MacNicol and Company Engineers
807:licence (accessed on 7 July 2014,
796:"The Queensland heritage register"
14:
587:a hydraulic pump manufactured by
874:1914 establishments in Australia
837:
788:
277:, Australia. It was designed by
235:
228:
207:
200:
244:Isis Downs Woolshed (Australia)
182:Dorman Long and Co. (Melbourne)
578:Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies
1:
767:. Queensland Heritage Council
859:Queensland Heritage Register
764:Queensland Heritage Register
621:Queensland Heritage Register
576:a generator manufactured by
287:Queensland Heritage Register
174:1910s-2000s (historical use)
130:Queensland Heritage Register
401:Adjacent to the woolshed a
265:at Isisford-Blackall Road,
890:
513:Interior view, circa 1925
470:Queensland Conservatorium
194:
190:
186:
123:
101:1914 - 1919 (World War I)
28:
418:that was attached to an
378:New round woolshed, 1915
44:Isisford-Blackall Road,
461:economy and community.
285:). It was added to the
514:
422:. The system produced
379:
289:on 18 September 2008.
219:Show map of Queensland
148:state heritage (built)
846:at Wikimedia Commons
829:on 15 October 2014).
512:
498:windows and louvres.
384:Sydney Harbour Bridge
377:
261:is a heritage-listed
247:Show map of Australia
864:Isisford, Queensland
844:Isis Downs Woolshed
819:State of Queensland
801:State of Queensland
345:William John Clarke
326:Charles Lumley Hill
259:Isis Downs Woolshed
82:24.219°S 144.6275°E
78: /
35:Isis Downs Woolshed
24:Isis Downs Woolshed
515:
420:electric generator
380:
369:clerestory windows
351:, and Albina near
322:Central Queensland
169:Significant period
161:Reference no.
842:Media related to
817:published by the
799:published by the
591:of Melbourne and
559:Toowoomba Foundry
256:
255:
156:18 September 2008
87:-24.219; 144.6275
881:
841:
792:
777:
776:
774:
772:
755:
615:Heritage listing
429:diesel generator
271:Longreach Region
248:
239:
238:
232:
220:
211:
210:
204:
93:
92:
90:
89:
88:
83:
79:
76:
75:
74:
71:
50:Longreach Region
33:
21:
889:
888:
884:
883:
882:
880:
879:
878:
849:
848:
835:
786:
781:
780:
770:
768:
757:
756:
691:
686:
617:
604:
538:
529:
491:
478:
360:corrugated iron
313:Station on the
295:
252:
251:
250:
249:
246:
245:
242:
241:
240:
223:
222:
221:
218:
217:
214:
213:
212:
173:
132:
86:
84:
80:
77:
72:
69:
67:
65:
64:
36:
19:
12:
11:
5:
887:
885:
877:
876:
871:
866:
861:
851:
850:
834:
833:External links
831:
785:
782:
779:
778:
688:
687:
685:
682:
616:
613:
603:
600:
596:
595:
585:
574:
567:
561:
537:
534:
528:
525:
490:
487:
477:
474:
408:hydraulic pump
307:Patrick Leslie
294:
291:
254:
253:
243:
234:
233:
227:
226:
225:
224:
215:
206:
205:
199:
198:
197:
196:
195:
192:
191:
188:
187:
184:
183:
180:
176:
175:
172:1910s (fabric)
170:
166:
165:
162:
158:
157:
154:
150:
149:
146:
142:
141:
138:
134:
133:
128:
125:
124:
121:
120:
115:
111:
110:
107:
103:
102:
99:
95:
94:
62:
58:
57:
42:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
17:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
886:
875:
872:
870:
867:
865:
862:
860:
857:
856:
854:
847:
845:
840:
832:
830:
828:
824:
820:
816:
815:
810:
806:
802:
798:
797:
791:
783:
766:
765:
760:
754:
752:
750:
748:
746:
744:
742:
740:
738:
736:
734:
732:
730:
728:
726:
724:
722:
720:
718:
716:
714:
712:
710:
708:
706:
704:
702:
700:
698:
696:
694:
690:
683:
681:
677:
676:
672:
668:
667:
663:
659:
658:
654:
650:
649:
645:
641:
640:
636:
632:
629:
628:
624:
622:
614:
612:
610:
601:
599:
594:
590:
586:
583:
579:
575:
572:
568:
566:
562:
560:
556:
555:
554:
550:
548:
543:
535:
533:
527:Holding Yards
526:
524:
521:
511:
507:
505:
499:
497:
488:
486:
484:
475:
473:
471:
466:
462:
459:
454:
452:
449:
444:
442:
436:
434:
430:
425:
421:
417:
413:
412:reciprocating
409:
404:
399:
397:
393:
389:
388:Middlesbrough
385:
376:
372:
370:
364:
361:
356:
354:
350:
346:
342:
337:
335:
331:
327:
323:
318:
316:
315:Darling Downs
312:
311:Canning Downs
308:
303:
301:
300:Rupert Clarke
292:
290:
288:
284:
280:
276:
272:
268:
264:
263:shearing shed
260:
231:
203:
193:
189:
185:
181:
171:
163:
155:
147:
139:
137:Official name
131:
122:
119:
116:
112:
108:
104:
100:
98:Design period
96:
91:
63:
59:
55:
51:
47:
43:
39:
32:
27:
22:
16:
836:
823:CC-BY 3.0 AU
813:
805:CC-BY 3.0 AU
795:
787:
769:. Retrieved
762:
678:
674:
673:
669:
665:
664:
660:
656:
655:
651:
647:
646:
642:
638:
637:
633:
630:
626:
625:
618:
605:
597:
551:
539:
530:
516:
500:
492:
479:
467:
463:
458:World War II
455:
445:
437:
416:steam engine
400:
381:
365:
357:
338:
334:Thames River
319:
304:
296:
258:
257:
15:
784:Attribution
476:Description
392:Rockhampton
85: /
73:144°37′39″E
61:Coordinates
56:, Australia
853:Categories
684:References
635:stations.
602:Bale Hoist
536:Powerhouse
496:clerestory
403:powerhouse
353:Springsure
330:Isis River
275:Queensland
153:Designated
70:24°13′08″S
54:Queensland
584:, England
573:, England
414:vertical
341:Victorian
283:Melbourne
114:Architect
109:1913-1914
827:archived
809:archived
771:1 August
489:Woolshed
448:artesian
443:18,000.
433:skillion
424:DC power
396:Blackall
267:Isisford
179:Builders
46:Isisford
41:Location
582:Ipswich
571:Dursley
547:chimney
520:trusses
293:History
821:under
803:under
609:piston
593:Sydney
504:facade
164:602544
542:gable
451:bores
349:Alpha
106:Built
773:2014
483:shed
145:Type
580:of
855::
761:.
692:^
273:,
269:,
52:,
48:,
775:.
441:£
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
