The Yanga Woolshed stands beside the Murrumbidgee River, near Balranald in south-western New South Wales. Once part of a vast pastoral empire, it tells the story of Australia’s wool industry and rural endurance. The woolshed formed the heart of Yanga Station, which at its peak covered more than half a million acres. Sheep grazed across floodplains, sand ridges, and open woodlands.
Construction of the woolshed began in the late nineteenth century when wool prices were high and pastoral expansion swept across the region. Timber from local red gums provided the framework and floorboards, while corrugated iron protected the structure from harsh summers.
Today, the woolshed still stands as one of the largest and best-preserved examples in New South Wales. Visitors can walk inside, through its shearing board and yards to see where the shearing took place. Through interpretation displays, photographs, and preserved tools, the woolshed now preserves the past for future generations.
The Working Heart of Yanga Station
During its operational years, Yanga Woolshed was a centre of intense seasonal activity. Shearing was the lifeblood of the station, employing dozens of men at a time.
At full operation, the woolshed could process thousands of sheep in a season. The layout supported efficiency, with pens for holding sheep before shearing and chutes leading them back to the yards.
Yanga Station also provided accommodation and meals for the shearing crews. These buildings are also preserved on site, giving visitors a fuller understanding of conditions they endured.
Transition to National Park
In the early twenty-first century, Yanga Station entered a new chapter. The New South Wales Government purchased the property in 2005 to form part of Yanga National Park. The transition aimed to conserve both cultural heritage and natural ecosystems. Today, the park covers over 120,000 hectares, protecting wetlands, woodlands, and river habitats. The woolshed stands at its centre, representing the meeting point between human history and environmental conservation.
Park management has carefully preserved the structure while adapting it for visitors. Interpretive signage explains its functions and history. The surrounding area has been restored to encourage native wildlife, and walking tracks link the woolshed to Yanga Lake and the former homestead precinct. The site has become a living museum within a protected landscape, allowing exploration of both natural and cultural heritage in one visit.
Importantly, the woolshed now contributes to local tourism, drawing travellers to Balranald and the wider Riverina. Its preservation supports education, research, and community pride. Through this new role, Yanga continues to generate value, not through wool but through understanding and appreciation of history.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
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