Mungo Lake is a dry lake bed located in the Mungo National Park in New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area, which is recognized for its outstanding geological and cultural significance. The lake bed is surrounded by sand dunes and is an important archaeological site, as it contains evidence of human habitation dating back over 40,000 years. The lake bed is also known for its unique geological formations, including the famous “Walls of China”, which are a series of sand dunes that have been eroded into spectacular formations over thousands of years. 

Mungo Woolshed is an historic shearing shed located on the shore of the dry lake. It was built in the 1860s and is one of the oldest and largest woolsheds in the country. The woolshed was used to shear sheep and process wool for over a century before it was abandoned in the 1970s. Today, it is a popular tourist attraction and is open to visitors who can explore the historic building and learn about the wool industry in Australia. 

It was built by the Benjamin Boyd Company in the 1860s. The company was a major player in the wool industry at the time and had several sheep stations in the region. The woolshed was constructed to process the wool from the company’s sheep and was one of the largest and most advanced woolsheds in Australia at the time. It was built using local materials, including native cedar timber and corrugated iron. It was designed to withstand the harsh climate of the region.

The Mungo Woolshed was capable of accommodating up to 18 shearers at a time. During the peak shearing season, which usually occurred in spring, dozens of shearers would work long hours to shear thousands of sheep. The woolshed was equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, including steam engines and wool presses, which helped to streamline shearing and wool processing. Despite the challenging conditions, the shearers were able to shear hundreds of sheep each day, making the Mungo Woolshed one of the most productive woolsheds in the country.

Shearing at the Mungo Woolshed ceased in the 1970s when the wool industry in Australia underwent significant changes. The introduction of synthetic fibers and competition from cheaper wool producers in other countries led to a decline in demand for Australian wool. As a result, many woolsheds, including the Mungo Woolshed, were forced to close down. The woolshed was eventually abandoned and fell into disrepair. However, in the 1990s, efforts were made to restore the woolshed and preserve it as an historic site. Today, the Mungo Woolshed is a popular tourist attraction and is open to visitors who can learn about the history of the wool industry in Australia.

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