Inside Toganmain Woolshed where blade stands stretch across the timber floor, a testament to 150 years of shearing history. Photo: Toganmain Woolshed Precinct group.
Visitors will have the chance to step inside one of the Riverina’s most significant pastoral sites this weekend, with the historic Toganmain Woolshed opening its doors as restoration work continues.
Located between Darlington Point and Carrathool on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River, it is the largest remaining woolshed of its kind in the region, originally boasting 110 blade stands.
But best be quick – bookings are still open for the open days on 28 and 29 March, but spaces are limited and if an August 2025 event is any indication … more than 600 people took the opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere and experience the history of the 150-year-old woolshed, and organisers know many missed out.
The events, run by volunteers from the Toganmain Woolshed Precinct group, have grown steadily in popularity, drawing visitors keen to experience the scale of the shed and better understand its history.
There is no attempt to present a finished product.
Much of the site remains under active repair, with limited facilities and clear signs of the work still ahead.
For the Toganmain Woolshed Precinct group, that’s part of the appeal – giving people an honest look at both the significance of the place and the scale of the restoration task.
Built in 1875, Toganmain was once one of the largest and most productive shearing sheds in Australia.
In September 1876, 92 blade shearers put more than 202,000 sheep across the board in a single shearing – a record that still stands and was widely reported at the time as a benchmark for the industry.
The shed was also a centre of human drama.
During the 1887 shearing season, disputes over pay between union and non-union shearers reportedly erupted into physical confrontations.
Men who crossed picket lines were said to have been beaten and thrown into the river – a stark reminder of the tensions that shaped early Australian labour history.
The shed even found its way into bush culture: Banjo Paterson referenced Toganmain in his 1905 poem Flash Jack from Gundagai, listing it alongside other famous shearing locations.
For those who worked there, the scale translated into something more immediate.
Former shearer Doug Newton, who worked at Toganmain in his early years, later described it simply as “shearing royalty” – a shed known for long runs, full stands and a pace that rarely let up.
Alongside the records are details that speak to the realities of life on the board.
One account tells of a worker who, after weeks on-site, emptied his mattress at the end of a shearing run, only to tip out a brown snake he had unknowingly been sleeping on.
It’s the sort of matter-of-fact story that reflects the conditions of the time – basic accommodation, long days and a workforce that lived on-site for the duration of the season.
Like many large pastoral operations, Toganmain declined through the 20th century as the wool industry changed, synthetic fibres emerged, and large-scale shearing operations became less common.
The shed gradually fell into disrepair, with exposure and age taking a toll on the timber structure.
Darren O’Loughlin recalled one of the last shearings held at Toganmain – in August 2016.
That year, heavy floods meant the sheep couldn’t be walked down to “Cooinbil” as planned. Instead, more than 200 rams were brought into the Toganmain shed and shore there,” he said. “The shed wasn’t in the best condition – some of the gates were held together with wire – but the job still got done.
“A young assistant managed the penning and pressing with care and determination, and despite the wet and the workarounds, the shed came to life again.
The current restoration effort, now more than a decade in, has focused on stabilising the building and preserving as much of the original fabric as possible,” Mr O’Loughlin said.
The project has received a series of small heritage grants through Murrumbidgee Council and the NSW Government, helping fund targeted works including repairs to the shearers’ quarters and drainage upgrades.
That funding is matched by the volunteer group and covers only part of the overall restoration effort, with most work continuing to rely on local support and in-kind labour.
Volunteers have carried out extensive work on the structure while collecting historical material and personal accounts to help interpret the site for visitors.
The precinct was listed on the NSW State Heritage Register in 2018, recognising its significance as one of the last remaining examples of a large 19th-century woolshed of its kind.
More recently, the 150th anniversary of the shed was marked with a series of events that drew former workers, local families and visitors back to the site, reinforcing its place in the region’s history.
The open days build on that momentum.
Visitors will be able to walk through the main shearing floor, view displays, and speak with volunteers about both the history of the shed and the practical challenges involved in restoring it.
For organisers, the goal is not just to showcase what has been done, but to build broader support for what comes next.
The scale of the structure means restoration will continue for years, with ongoing work needed to secure foundations, repair timber and protect the site from further deterioration.
The Toganmain Woolshed Open Days will take place on 28 and 29 March, with an extra open day on 9 May. For further details and bookings visit the dedicated Toganmain website.
Original Article published by Edwina Mason on About Regional.
