Tag:stick shed
Located in the heart of Victoria’s far west region of the Wimmera is Murtoa, a quaint country town roughly halfway between Melbourne and Adelaide. Murtoa is primarily known for its history as well as its booming grain farming industry. The farming industry produces wheat, barley, chickpeas & lentils for domestic and export markets. Murtoa is also an essential part of the Silo Art Trail, which celebrates regional Australia in a modern and accessible artistic context.

Historical Roots
Like many other towns in the Wimmera region, Murtoa has a rich history deeply rooted in agriculture. The town is named after an aboriginal word meaning ‘home of the lizard’ and was established in 1873 during the gold rush era. The development of the railway network for grain transportation significantly influenced its progress. Over the years, Murtoa evolved into an essential hub for grain production.

Agriculture remains the cornerstone of Murtoa’s economy, with wheat and barley being the major crops cultivated in the surrounding farmlands. The town has kept up with modern agricultural practices by incorporating technology to enhance efficiency while preserving its rural character. The Murtoa Stick Shed Heritage Weekend is held annually in the first week of October. It celebrates the town’s significant agricultural heritage and pays homage to grain storage and processing history. It attracts locals and tourists interested in learning more about these aspects of the town’s past.

Natural Beauty
Murtoa is also a beautiful destination for nature enthusiasts as vast plains and picturesque lakes encompass it. In 2010 the Wimmera Mallee pipeline was finished; consequently, the lake was no longer used as a reservoir. A Committee of Management was established, and significant improvements have been made since then. The park and lake have become a sanctuary for bird life, and with its 1921 Memorial Arch, it has become the focal point for many of the town’s recreational activities.

Lake Marma is a beautiful spot where you can relax and unwind. It has a lovely 2km walking track lined with trees. The track passes a jetty, manicured lawns, and seating areas where you can enjoy the spectacular views. Murtoa Cabins are conveniently situated on the foreshore of Lake Marma and offer comfortable accommodation. The self-contained cabins also have verandahs where you can enjoy sunset views. They are also just a short walk from the town centre and other attractions.

museum Precinct
Significantly, Murtoa is home to three of Victoria’s heritage-listed sights. The first is the Stick Shed, an impressive grain store built in 1941 and often called the Cathedral of the Wimmera. The second is the Railway Water Tower, built in 1886.

The tower is an impressive 4-storey, 13-metre high tower and home to the Water Tower Museum. The museum hosts the unique James Hill Taxidermy Collection, which includes over 500 birds and other fauna, historical artefacts, memorabilia, and households. It also houses farming tools from the 1890s, the town’s most significant growth era. Visitors can climb up the spiral staircase to the top floor, which reveals the underbelly of the 40,000-gallon wrought iron tank that used to store water for steam locomotives. The third heritage-listed sight in Murtoa is the Kurrajong Tree Ave. It was established in 1901 and is the oldest native street planting in Victoria.

The Murtoa silo art
The wheat silo has recently been painted by the renowned street artist SMUG and digitally lit by Dave Jones’ Transience. The stunning mural of brightly coloured birds was inspired by James Hill’s taxidermy collection at the Murtoa Museum (in the water tower). This bird mural is a sight to behold, day and night. The mural also pays homage to Dr John Cade, a Murtoa native who discovered Lithium treatment for Bipolar disorder.

Concordia Cottage
Concordia Cottage is the last remaining building of the original Lutheran college, which was established in Murtoa from 1890 to 1904 as a male Lutheran seminary and teacher training college on the corner of Lake and Munro Streets. In 1905, Concordia College relocated to Adelaide, where it still exists.

The Concordia Cottage building was later moved to Cromie Street in 1934. The Salvation Army used it as a hall and house until 1940. It was then remodelled as a private home until it fell into disrepair by the 1990s. However, in 1997, the cottage was moved to its current home, near the old Water Tower. It was officially opened in October 1997 as part of the Museum precinct. Displays include War memorabilia, Coromby Band photos, the old Murtoa telephone switchboard, historical clothing and a research room.

The Murtoa Heritage Trails Brochure, available for download, provides visitors with a self-guided tour through the town. As you follow the Blue and Red Trails, you will discover the heritage buildings located in the town’s centre. The Murtoa Historic Precinct entry tickets and Murtoa Heritage Trails self-guided walking tour brochures are all available at the Water Tower Museum shop.

Admission is $9 Adult (Eftpos available). Children under 16 free
Previously known as the Murtoa No.1 grain store – the Murtoa stick shed is the only remaining emergency store built during WW2. The Murtoa stick shed is listed in the 101st place on the National Heritage List. The shed is an iconic and enduring testament to the Australian bush’s ingenuity and a reminder of the strength of the Australian wheat industry.

The building was listed on the Australian National Heritage List in 2014, recognising its place “as a significant part of Australia’s history associated with Australia’s wheat industry and the impact of World War Two on the home front”
Wikipedia
Wheat and Wartime
Wheat crop yields had improved over the years, and 1941 was a bumper season. With limited opportunity for several years to export during WW2, coupled with the ongoing scarcity of hessian bags and cornsacks, and with all other silos full, a new 3 million bushel storage solution was needed. The Wheat Board decided to build the shed to store wheat that could not be exported during WW2.

Construction of the Shed
The building commenced in September 1941 and was completed just four months later, in January 1942. Due to a steel shortage, it was built from unmilled timber trucked in from the Dandenong Ranges. Consisting of 560 upright poles (56 rows of 10), some as high as 80 feet tall, the shed is 265 metres (870 feet) long. It stands at 60 metres (198 feet) wide and just under 20 metres (63 feet) at the highest point. Furthermore, it has a capacity for 95,000 tonnes of wheat. The roof and walls are corrugated iron and painted ferric red.
The entire building was constructed with hand tools. Within six months of being finished, the shed was full, with all the wheat remaining untouched in storage until 1944. Often referred to as the Cathedral of the Wimmera, the interior is both dramatic and unique. Tall unmilled poles line a long central aisle, with light spilling in from the skylights reminiscent stained glass window.

The building closed in 1989 when it was deemed ‘uneconomic’, but the Heritage Building council issued an Interim Protection Order in December 1989 preventing its demolition. In 1990 it was added to the Victorian Heritage Register giving it permanent protection.
A second and much larger shed, with double the capacity was built in 1942/3 but was demolished in 1975

Location and Entry
- 1465 Wimmera Hwy, Murtoa.
- Open Monday to Saturday 10 am to 12.30 pm, and Sunday 10 am to 2 pm
- Entry is $10, concession $9. Children under 16 $5