Shear Outback was officially opened on Australia Day, Saturday 26th January, 2002.

The official opening was carried out by Kay Hull, the Federal Member for Riverina.

There were an estimated 3,000 people in attendance for the opening ceremony.

An easy-to-read transcript of this article appears below the picture.

Site a former stock route

Transcript

The first section of the site of the Shearers’ Hall of fame was pegged out in June 1998 following a motion passed at the Hay Rural Lands Protection Board June meeting to release a section of land.

Getting control of the land was not easy, and the motion was passed with some opposition and after extensive discussion by directors and staff.

The initial motion was for the release of only some of the required land.

However, then HRLPB chairman, Sandy Circuitt called a special meeting some months later and asked his fellow Directors to reconsider their earlier decision not to release all the land needed.

The special meeting voted in favour of withdrawing the parcel of land from the Board’s control, provided written undertaking is received from ASHF, the Department of Land and Water Conservation and Hay Shire Council that no further claims be made for additional land in the area.

The decision came at a crucial time, just ahead of the close of tenders for the removal of historic Murray Downs shed and the completion of the business plan.

The site is considered ideal, given its location at the intersection of Cobb and Sturt Highways, although some residents would have liked to see the complex built in Hay and not on the outskirts. 

Earthwork heralded a multi

million dollar project for Hay.

It was red letter day on October 26, 2000 when earthworks commenced on the site.

This heralded the start of a multi million dollar project for Hay.

District earthworks contractors banded together and donated their time and equipment to provide all the earthworks at the site.

These works were co-ordinated by Shear Outback director, Roly Desaily in conjunction with the project’s construction managers, the NSW Department of Public Works and Services.

Work started after three years and one month of intensive development and planning. It involved a levee bank, dam and raised pads for the two main building and the outdoor events arena.

Brian Mitsch of Deniliquin also donated his time and expertise to survey the site, pegging the boundaries for both the new building and the woolshed. Local contractors, Kevin Walter and John Muldoon volunteered their time and equipment to grade the levee bank site.

Other local contractors who offered their services included Ian Clark, Peter Handford, Mark Anderson, Shannon Brothers, Mick Callanan and Rod Gogoll.

ASHF Board chairman Rod McCully pictured at the site of Shear Outback when it was still a bare paddock and part of the stock route.

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Extracts reproduced with permission from The Riverine Grazier