Historic quarters a fair display

Moving house along Peak Downs Street, Capella. The shearers’ quarters from Gordon Downs station is relocated.

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THE opening of the newly transformed shearers' quarters that once served the 36,400 ha (90,000 acre) Gordon Downs station will be one of the main attractions at Saturday's Capella Pioneer Village Old Machinery and Craft Fair.

The original 11m x 30m building has been moved 30km and undergone a complete interior refurbishment.

The refurbishment, undertaken by the Capella Pioneer Village, took two years to complete and now contains display rooms based on themes including education, military service, and station life.

The Gordon Downs station story includes the 1891 Great Shearers' Strike, which is one of the country's oldest and most important industrial disputes.

Capella Pioneer Village treasurer Andy Plunkett said the shearers' quarters building was donated by Rio Tinto Coal Australia.

“Rio Tinto Coal Australia contacted us with an offer to donate the building,” Mr Plunkett said.

“We gratefully accepted and moved the building from its original location.

“We are delighted that one of our local mining companies is just as committed to preserving and displaying our local history for our future generations.

“The Capella Pioneer Village is one of our district's main tourist attractions, so the move and refurbishment will definitely help boost the number of visitors coming through here each year.”

Project director Maureen Burns said the building was refurbished with minor internal alterations to maintain the original integrity of the shearers' quarters.