Community & Business
1 February, 2023
Jondaryan returns to the Woolshed on Australia Day
Old faces and new went back to the Jondaryan Woolshed to celebrate the historic site’s re-opening last week.
Despite hot weather, over a thousand people visited the Jondaryan Woolshed for its grand return last week.
Visitors were treated to a range of historic displays, demonstrations, music and great food.
Volunteers manned the café and served damper, with most attendees going with the sweet option of lathering their bread with syrup and butter.
Weavers, spinners, folk musicians and shearers could be found in and around the famous Woolshed itself.
Various vintage vehicle groups showcased some of the district’s oldest cars and tractors.
A variety of windmills stood proudly, including the famous Southern Cross models, which were some of the only tripod-based mills in the world.
Horses, sheep and sheepdogs strutted their stuff in front of a captivated audience, with children able to pet ponies.
Another major attraction for the kids was the mini-rail, owned and operated separately from the Woolshed, but which cooperates with events.
Coffee, baked potatoes, Pofferjes (dutch pancakes), ribs, and a barbecue put on by volunteers at Jondaryan State School were just some of the food options available to patrons.
Local music groups got their chance to shine in front of an audience resting in the shade away from the oppressive heat.
Eighty-seven years old Woolshed historian John Eggleston captivated his audiences with tales from a time long ago, when shearing was one of Australia’s major industries.
Nick Geraghty wowed steam enthusiasts with a display of Hornsby agricultural steam engines, which were an early form of tractor, manufactured in Grantham, England.
The old relocated Smith’s shed from Wivenhoe was the scene for the blacksmiths to show off their skills with hot metal.
All in all, the event was a success, and an encouragement for the owner, Toowoomba Regional Council, which advertised the event in the city and elsewhere around the Downs.
It’s hoped that the event will kickstart the Woolshed as a hub for more such festivals in future.
