The Woolshed

The environmentally sound and ergonomically designed woolshed at the Deepwater end of "The Bulls Run" won numerous accolades at the 2005 Royal Australian Institute of Architects awards. Architect Peter Stutchbury's design was described by the awards jury as a "building that transforms the shearing shed into a new Australian icon".

Materials & Construction

• Innovative roof material allows self-spanning and a much-simplified portal frame system. Only three portal frames with cantilevered arms support the roof.
• The shed is constructed of steel with secondary timber joists under the sheep area and steel under the wool area.
• There is minimal use of columns which are positioned to take account of yard layout.
• The entire primary structure is bolted together while the secondary structure, such as claddings, linings and floors, is screwed. The shed is thus fully demountable.
• A ground-level machinery room is constructed of concrete blocks to soften the sound of the generator.
• A wool-bale loading deck is at a height which enables bales to be easily loaded on trucks. The deck has a significant roof-overhang for shade

Temperature and Light

• Roof overhangs of 5000mm shade all walls of the shed.
• White colourbond has been used for all walls and roofs for maximum heat reflectivity
• Strip skylights in the roof provide the natural lighting levels required.
• A special framed polycarbonate lowered ceiling over the shearers & work stations and wool table reduces glare and provides an even light. The lowered sides allow hot air to be caught and either blown back onto work areas (in Spring) or evacuated (in Summer) by the use of two-way industrial fans.
• The roof is watered by reticulated irrigation sprays for cooling.
• Large radiator-like grate screens are suspended from the south-western eaves over which water drains to provide cooling in summer. The screens also slow down hot winds and cool the breeze that enters the shed in summer.
• Water draining off the screens feeds a planted shelter belt that serves as a wind break and dust baffle for the shed
• Cross ventilation is provided by louvres on the upper walls of three sides of the shed. The louvres are made from opal polycarbonate for subdued lighting when closed.
• Dedicated manual venting sends air from the cooler subfloor shaded area into the shed
• Roof water is collected in two tanks, one for cooling, the other for internal shed use.

Work Conditions

• Temperature and light issues, probably the major determinant of a qualitative work environment, are addressed as above.
• Front-loading and sloping sheep pens facilitate handling.
• Pen-viewing opening.
• Efficient sheep chute .
• Storage shelves are provided at the work station.
• Safety shut-down switches.
• Shearing cradle.
• A raised board eases passage to the wool table.
• Allowances have been made for left-handers.
• Specific isolated comb-sharpening area.
• High-quality shower and amenities area (both male and female facilities).
• Fully-serviced cooking area.
• Recreational outside shaded deck separated from the main shed by double-skinned, sound-isolated wall.
• Summer cooling fan.
• Winter heat fan.

Sheep Handling

• Undercover storage for 800 sheep.
• Associated yards are designed to maximise the flow of sheep and ease handling.
• The siting of yards optimises existing tree shade
• Covered race and work area in the yards
• Lock-up chemical storage adjacent to the yards.
• Long-throw sheep chutes.
• Anti-glare and shading reduces the incidence of sheep baulking.
• Subfloor sheep pens are protected from cold weather by the extension of the south wall to the ground and the natural heating of water tanks on the corner.
• Generous count out pens
• The lower section of the shed walls is protected by dressed horizontal timber rails.