THE ONLINE HISTORY OF GULGONG AND SURROUNDING DISTRICTS: GOODIMAN SHEARING SHED

Goodiman's Shearing Shed was captured in a painting some years before being burnt to the ground on 17 January 1977. A spark from the diesel generator adjoining the shed (that provided electricity to Goodiman Homestead) is thought to have started the fire. Wilfred O'Brien was in Gulgong Hospital's old age facility at the time and, seeing where the smoke was on the horizon, suspected the fire was at Goodiman.

WOOLSHED FIRE
"SPOT ON" JOB STOPS DISTRICT HOLOCAUST
A woolshed, together with electrical plant, shearing equipment, and 35 bales of wool was completely destroyed by a a fire which broke out at the shed on a Gulgong district property on Saturday morning.

The quick action of a landowner by ploughing fire breaks around the burning woolshed prevented large scale conflagration of the whole of the Spring Ridge area on the Lahey's Creek road, fire fighters said at the weekend.

The woolshed was on "Goodaman", the property of Mr. John O'Brien. "Goodaman" is about 6 miles from Gulgong on the Lahey's Creek Road.
The fire was noticed by a landowner, Mr Bill Sills, about 10:30am on Saturday. He was ploughing in his paddock only about 100 yards away from the shed when he saw the fire. He ploughed through two fences to give the alarm and then ploughed fire breaks around the burning shed while Mr O'Brien and Tallawang Fire Brigade fought a losing battle to extinguish the fire.
The shed fire is thought to have started in electrical plant housed in the shed. It is estimated to represent a loss of many thousands of dollars.

The Captain of the Tallawang Bushfire Brigade, Mr Phil Crossley, said about 15 fire fighters were quickly at "Goodaman" after receiving the alarm.

The fire has such a strong hold that it was not possible to save the woolshed, he said. He said that the foresight of Bills Sills in ploughing a big firebreak around the shed saved the area from a devastating fire that would have taken weeks to put out once it got into the Lahey's Creek scrub.
He said a fortnight ago there was a fire in the old homestead formerly owned by Doug Parkins, but the brigade could not save it. That home was occupied by Mr and Mrs Power, who lost all their possessions.

Mr O'Brien told the Guardian his homestead electricity plant was installed in the shearing shed.
He said the fire could have started by a spark from the machine. Mr O'Brien said the bales of wool would be covered by insurance, however the insurance would not compensate for the loss of the shed and plant.
Mr O'Brien paid tribute to the fire fighters of the Tallawang Fire Brigade. He praised the foresight of Mr Bill Sills in making firebreaks and assistance also given by Gulgong Plumber, Mr Col Evans, engaged in work on the property using a back-hoe machinery to help contain the fire.

Source: Mudgee Guardian cutting, January 1977
This panorama shows the proximity of the shearing shed to the Homestead.

A blurry long shot of the shearing and hay sheds.

Shearing shed in action in 1939. Photo by Eugene O'Brien.

Wilfred O'Brien in the Goodiman sheep yards with hay shed in distance.
Photo by Eugene O'Brien.

Shearing Shed, 15 November 1961.