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The Stick Shed is a second world war grain storage shed. One of many of its type built around Australia in the early 1940s, this magnificent example at Murtoa in Victoria’s Wimmera region is the only one left.
When I announced that we were going to see The Stick Shed, my travel companions thought we were going to see a shed made of sticks. Someone even thought that it may be made out of matchsticks! Imagine their surprise when we entered the huge expanse of this wonderful “shed”.
Constructed using over 500 mountain ash tree trunks, the shed is 270 metres long and 60 metres wide. It was built to house grain that couldn’t be exported overseas because of the war. It continued to serve as a grain storage facility until 1990.
The Stick Shed (previously known as the Murtoa No. 1 Grain Store) is the only remaining emergency grain store of its type of the many that were built around Australia during World War II.
The shed is listed on the Australian Heritage Register.
Described as the “cathedral of the Wimmera”, the Stick Shed is now a major tourist attraction in the region and also serves as an event venue for weddings, conferences and trade shows, photographic exhibitions and fashion parades.
The site has an information centre with photos, videos, toilets and helpful staff who are happy to answer questions. You can even buy souvenirs to remember your visit.
You can learn more about The Stick Shed at the official site.
Email from Ben: “I plan to climb Cradle Mountain when we visit the area in a few weeks – better start training”. So I reduced my alcohol consumption to one glass of wine a night (well, most nights) and did a bit of walking (on the flat) at weekends, so when we started our trek on a fine February day I was completely unprepared for what lay ahead.
The Art Silos at Brim in Western Victoria celebrate the local famers who have lived and worked in the area for generations.
Once used to take copper ore for the Mt Lyell Mining Company from Queenstown to Strahan in Tasmania, the railway now carries tourists.
Fifteen 15 stained-glass windows separated by narrow columns soar up to the ceiling which is studded by golden stars against a blue background.
With the stories of friction between local people and asylum seekers landing in boats from Turkey, it’s nice to take a look at the countryside of Lesbos.