We’re celebrating the legacy of Canberra’s Yarralumla Woolshed with three new signs that feature the property’s rich heritage.
Yarralumla Woolshed and its old timber floors have stood the test of time, witnessing Canberra’s growth from pasture town to bustling city.
I was joined by Des Debelle, a shearer who worked here in the 1960s and Mick Debritt, who loaded the last bale of wool from the woolshed, to unveil the new signs.
Brian Banyard, the great-grandson of the builder of Yarralumla homestead and the woolshed, also joined me along with representatives of the old district families of yesteryear.
This site joins the Woden self-drive Heritage Trail, which is part of the Canberra Tracks network of signs that tell the many different and exciting stories of Canberra’s past, including Aboriginal, historic and natural heritage.
These new signs detail the property’s history from the large ‘Yarrowlumla Estate’ to state-of-the-art shearing shed and beyond.
The woolshed was erected in 1904 after a time of union turmoil in the 1890s. The Commonwealth acquired the estate in 1913 and the original homestead became Government House in 1925.
The woolshed outbuildings, which were innovative at the time, are leased to the Canberra Lakes Pony Club. In 1962, the land south of the woolshed was allocated for the Equestrian Park.
Yarralumla Woolshed was heritage listed in November 2015. The property is still generating wonderful memories as a well-renowned venue for weddings, bush dances and other events.
