Sensational. I did not expect the to-and-fro of the Grain Elevators Board to be this engrossing. The highlight for me was hearing about the Dunmunkle Standard. I have long fancied a free-form roam around regional Vic looking at footy grounds, scoreboards and grandstands but this is right in my wheelhouse.
Very impressive Gideon and I am particularly taken by Bert Green. As an old Bendigoian, I came onto the playing field via the Bendigo Hospital, was always in awe of the Art Gallery (and it’s gone from strength to strength) and learned to swim in the freezing waters of the pool as a ten y o. Incidentally that same pool, after becoming not much more than a swamp due to serious neglect for decades by authorities who should have known better, only last week completed its transformation to a calming lagoon, half the size of the next door Queen Elizabeth Oval, the QEO (which my dear mum always referred to as the “curio”). A fitting extension of Bert’s early vision.
Gideon your research & erudition is breathtaking - lovely name the Grain Elevaors Board- now what about an article on the Sludge Abatement Board ?-!Btw the great Gerald Murnane is a frequenter of the Goroke Men’s Shed - Jan G
Wow! Only Giddu Hegde could have taken something like this and made it into a deeply engrossing story across eras and people, even for a reader from India. Have never set foot on Australian soil but man, I do want to go see the Stick Shed now.
"....submitted the lowest tender, £13,285 3s 1d." How magnificently exact, down to the last penny!
I too am planning a trip to SA later this year and will ne sure to swing off the highway to see this. Would never have heard of the Stick Shed without this write-up.
How amazing. It looks like an Australian take on a cathedral. Great piece, Gideon. Next time I drive between Adelaide and Melbourne I'll have to veer left out of Horsham and go take a look. Of course that'll mean forfeiting my drive-by of the Big Koala in Dadswells Bridge but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Sensational. I did not expect the to-and-fro of the Grain Elevators Board to be this engrossing. The highlight for me was hearing about the Dunmunkle Standard. I have long fancied a free-form roam around regional Vic looking at footy grounds, scoreboards and grandstands but this is right in my wheelhouse.
My mum told me to go after seeing it on a bus trip. And if my mum says to go somewhere, I go.
Very impressive Gideon and I am particularly taken by Bert Green. As an old Bendigoian, I came onto the playing field via the Bendigo Hospital, was always in awe of the Art Gallery (and it’s gone from strength to strength) and learned to swim in the freezing waters of the pool as a ten y o. Incidentally that same pool, after becoming not much more than a swamp due to serious neglect for decades by authorities who should have known better, only last week completed its transformation to a calming lagoon, half the size of the next door Queen Elizabeth Oval, the QEO (which my dear mum always referred to as the “curio”). A fitting extension of Bert’s early vision.
Gideon your research & erudition is breathtaking - lovely name the Grain Elevaors Board- now what about an article on the Sludge Abatement Board ?-!Btw the great Gerald Murnane is a frequenter of the Goroke Men’s Shed - Jan G
He is a very great man. I have his spoken word record, Words in Order, with the Goroke Memorial Hall on the cover.
Has that been converted to print?
On the inside of the gatefold sleeve.
Thx Gideonhave ordered a copy of words in order - GM also has a book of pomes called Green Shadows
Driving Adelaide to Mlbs in late March and now have my diversion sorted. Murtoa here I come.
I recommend the Railway Hotel for a beer and a bed.
Wow! Only Giddu Hegde could have taken something like this and made it into a deeply engrossing story across eras and people, even for a reader from India. Have never set foot on Australian soil but man, I do want to go see the Stick Shed now.
The Australian Taj Mahal!
Echo your sentiments ! A true example of 'Form follows function'. , guided by the national needs and constraints of the time .
Noticed Mangalore in the stick sheds map. The English overlords were quite liberal in sprinkling their anglicised Indian town names across Australia:
Lucknow, NSW
Mangalore , Victoria
Surat, Queensland
Malabar, NSW
Punjaub , QLD
There's a Lucknow in Victoria, too, through which I drove recently.
Another excellent article Gideon. I visited the stick shed 6 years or so ago, so it’s good to read its history which you’ve so thoroughly researched
Hasn't changed, Mick. As you stand inside, you could be in 1950 or 2050.
Temora has one. So many secrets in that town.
Growing up in Dunolly I’m all nostalgic. They too had a stick shed silo in that we played in as kids. (Dangerous as hell- different times 😬)
Great read, thanks x
Fantastic economic, scientific and arts history, all in one very big shed.
Wonder if Glen Mercutt ever checked it out?
Glenn Murcutt
"....submitted the lowest tender, £13,285 3s 1d." How magnificently exact, down to the last penny!
I too am planning a trip to SA later this year and will ne sure to swing off the highway to see this. Would never have heard of the Stick Shed without this write-up.
Drop me a line when you've had a look, Greg.
Will do
Thanks Gideon. A bit of Et Al is always a good thing.
Man cannot live by cricket alone....
Brilliant article Gideon. Thanks for bringing the story to life.
How amazing. It looks like an Australian take on a cathedral. Great piece, Gideon. Next time I drive between Adelaide and Melbourne I'll have to veer left out of Horsham and go take a look. Of course that'll mean forfeiting my drive-by of the Big Koala in Dadswells Bridge but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Thank me later, Bill. You won't be sorry!
You’re on. Also forgot to say I love Mark Thomson’s Blokes and Sheds. Great read.
You are my ur-reader, Bill.
As long as I'm not your Urfaust, Gideon (character, play, or black metal band).
What a fantastic read and thoroughly interesting history, thank you for a solid chunk of Et Al. This is definitely now on my list of spots to visit.
Do it, you won't regret it.
Fantastic, engrossing and scholarly all at once - great piece, Gideon.