It has been a long time since the Naradhan woolshed has reverberated to the buzzing of the overhead gear and the bleating of sheep: but the recent shearing of 1100 mixed-sex Merino hoggets saw the historic shed once more used for its original purpose.
Situated north of Rankin Springs in the northern Riverina the shed, built in 1888 to the traditional ‘T’- shape designed for Pat Osbourne the owner of the run in the 1800’s was once the focus of the Naradhan run, taken up by Thomas Templeton in the late 1920’s.
The Naradhan run was reduced in size overtime due to land being sold until the woolshed remained on 2000ha property now named Morwell.
The shed was renovated by Tom and Lan Templeton and completed in 1997.
It stayed in the Templeton family until it was bought by Martin and Gayle Brooks in 2014.
Their daughter Kyla intended to use the shed as a function centre.
When it became available in May 2018 Doug and Maria Hart and their family added the 2000ha to their aggregation.
Mr Hart was well aware of the property: his family have long held country in the area and it was his sister and brother-in-law who had been the previous owners.
“When we purchased it we had a ambition to turn it back into a working shearing shed,” Mr Hart said.
He believes the 1888 shed to be one of the oldest fully working shearing sheds in Australia.
"We enlisted the Lake Cargelligo Mens Shed to tidy up the interior of the shed," Mr Hart said.
"The Mens Shed along with some neighbours installed the new headboard, a new set of yards were made at Stockpro, Condobolin and the old shed was ready to go again.
"The feedback from the locals keen to see the old shed working again was great to hear."
It was made ready to receive the Pooginook blood-infused with Goolgumbla sheep.
“Lachlan Valley Shearing provided five shearers who shore 490 wethers with eight-months wool on the first day," Mr Hart said
"The second day saw the ewe portion of the 2017-drop shorn."
Mr Hart said the sheep came of the board in very good condition considering the season and were perhaps averaging 50kg plus as they skipped out of the counting pens.
“I will top the wether portion up and sell them over-the-hooks,” he said.
“This is the worst drought on Naradhan according to many locals and we have been lucky to get these sheep through in their condition”
