Thousands return to Jondaryan Woolshed to revisit the past

From shearing to sheep dog trials to horse and buggy rides to antique machinery displays, the Jondaryan Woolshed had it all.

Thousands of people enjoyed the opportunity to step back in time at the Back to the Jondaryan Woolshed three-day Australia Day festival.

From sheep shearing, wool classing and spinning displays to sheep dog trials, blacksmithing, heavy horses and antique machinery displays, the crowds had plenty to keep them entertained with sights, sounds and smells from a bygone era when the world seem to move at a slower pace.

Watching the antique machinery in action at the Jondaryan Woolshed are (from left) Xanthe, Boden, Shaun and Kyan Hann from Biddeston at the Back to the Woolshed event, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Literally making hay while the sun shines was Arnie and Beth Lobwein who travelled from Goombungee to demonstrate how hay was baled back in the 1920s.

Making hay while the sun shines at the Jondaryan Woolshed are Arnie and Beth Lobwein from Goombungee at the Back to the Woolshed event, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“Unlike today where machinery does the lot, back then you had to fork the hay into the ‘bailer” which compressed it into a bale and then you tie it up with string by hand,” Mr Lobwein explained.

Relaxing on the steps of one of the many old wooden buildings at the Jondaryan Woolshed are (from left) Elsie, 2, Jordan, Pippa, 7, Carla and five-year-old Kai Walton of Umbiram at the Back to the Woolshed event, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“We’ve been coming over here for years with the bailer.

“I’m originally from the land, my dad had a farm near Ipswich but I’m actually an ex-truckie.

“I did the Darwin run for 29 years.”

Jess Zischke and her sons James, 3, and Sam, 2, travelled from Dalby to take in all the sights and sounds of the Jondaryan Woolshed.

“I’ve really missed this place,” Mrs Zischke said.

“My (late) Dad loved this place.”

Trying out a miniature motor vehicle are brothers Sam, 2, and James Zischke, 3, of Dalby at the Back to the Woolshed event at Jondaryan Woolshed, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Geoff Cook travelled from Ipswich to show patrons at the Back to the Woolshed day his array of whips and perform some whip cracking at Jondaryan Woolshed, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Five-year-old Dustin Buckley shovels coal into his grandfather Warren Buckley's miniature steam sawmill at the Back to the Woolshed event at Jondaryan Woolshed, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Enjoying a horse and buggy ride driven by Jack Nowland are Lilith (front) and Dimitri Kalms with Kaitlyn Bailey at the Back to the Woolshed event at Jondaryan Woolshed, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Enjoying a horse and buggy ride are Lilith (left) and Dimitri Kalms at the Back to the Woolshed event at Jondaryan Woolshed, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Relaxing on the steps of one of the many old wooden buildings at the Jondaryan Woolshed are (from left) Elsie, 2, Jordan, Pippa, 7, Carla and five-year-old Kai Walton of Umbiram at the Back to the Woolshed event, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Driving a quarter scale Cliff and Bunting traction engine is Will Knapp of Kingsthorpe at the Back to the Woolshed event at Jondaryan Woolshed, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Making hay while the sun shines at the Jondaryan Woolshed is Arnie Lobwein from Goombungee at the Back to the Woolshed event, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Geoff Cook travelled from Ipswich to show patrons at the Back to the Woolshed day his array of whips and perform some whip cracking at Jondaryan Woolshed, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Trying out a miniature motor vehicle are brothers James, 3, (left) and Sam Zischke, 2, of Dalby at the Back to the Woolshed event at Jondaryan Woolshed, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Five-year-old Dustin Buckley shovels coal into his grandfather Warren Buckley's miniature steam sawmill at the Back to the Woolshed event at Jondaryan Woolshed, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Enjoying a horse and buggy ride driven by Jack Nowland are Lilith (front) and Dimitri Kalms with Kaitlyn Bailey at the Back to the Woolshed event at Jondaryan Woolshed, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Making hay while the sun shines at the Jondaryan Woolshed is Beth Lobwein from Goombungee at the Back to the Woolshed event, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Making hay while the sun shines at the Jondaryan Woolshed is Beth Lobwein from Goombungee at the Back to the Woolshed event, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Making hay while the sun shines at the Jondaryan Woolshed is Beth Lobwein from Goombungee at the Back to the Woolshed event, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Making hay while the sun shines at the Jondaryan Woolshed is Arnie Lobwein from Goombungee at the Back to the Woolshed event, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Driving a quarter scale Cliff and Bunting traction engine is Will Knapp of Kingsthorpe at the Back to the Woolshed event at Jondaryan Woolshed, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Making hay while the sun shines at the Jondaryan Woolshed is Arnie Lobwein from Goombungee at the Back to the Woolshed event, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Geoff Cook travelled from Ipswich to show patrons at the Back to the Woolshed day his array of whips and perform some whip cracking at Jondaryan Woolshed, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Displaying his array of miniature scenes at the Back to the Woolshed day is Rob Prentice of Highfields at Jondaryan Woolshed, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Watching the antique machinery in action at the Jondaryan Woolshed are (from left) Xanthe, Boden, Shaun and Kyan Hann from Biddeston at the Back to the Woolshed event, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Relaxing on the steps of one of the many old wooden buildings at the Jondaryan Woolshed are (from left) Elsie, 2, Jordan, Pippa, 7, Carla and five-year-old Kai Walton of Umbiram at the Back to the Woolshed event, Saturday, January 28, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer