Australia is home to some outlandish and iconic ‘Big Things’ like the Big Banana, the Giant Koala and the Big Prawn but there’s one that really needs to go on the Lonely Planet’s list of Australia’s Big Things…The Mighty Murtoa Stick Shed in the Wimmera, Victoria. Sources: VAFI, Timberbiz, Culture Victoria
In 1941, when World War II significantly impacted ships leaving Australia, the Grain Elevators Board in Victoria decided to follow WA’s example and erect a number of bulk wheat emergency storage sheds.
The first one was built in Victoria was at Murtoa and is the only remaining one of this type in the world.
When construction began, the Victorian Government tendered out the job and was able to source 560 mountain ash poles up to 60ft tall for the construction given the unique specification requirements.
The main contractors Green Bros undertook construction of what was officially known as Marmalake/Murtoa Grain Store No.1 over a period of only four or five months, commencing on 26 September 1941.
A shortage of steel meant that it was built largely from timber readily available at the time. Some 560 (56 rows of 10) bush-cut mountain ash hardwood poles were erected straight into the ground. Concrete panels were then poured around the poles.
The Stick Shed demonstrates Australian ingenuity during a time of hardship.
Although it was an incredible 900ft long, 200ft wide and 60ft high with a tin roof, and used around 2000 tons of hardwood, it was built in just four months, an amazing feat using only a workforce of about 40 men. It also has four acres of concrete floor poured by hand.
It is still standing today, under protection from Heritage Victoria but is in desperate need of poles to replace the deteriorating ones.
VAFI is working behind the scenes to help source the required logs with the help of VicForests and a few others to replace the steel ones needed to keep the structure in place
You can see more photos of the Mighty Murtoa Stick Shed at www.murtoastickshed.com.au
