Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Forbes BA - steam driven pump

The weather here is very changeable, yesterday we were rained off, today we start a new new farm. The back of the property runs along the Lochlan River. A few large trees had fallen on the fence as well as the normal rubbish.

These paddocks had an extensive flood irrigation system of open channels and sluice gates. It's a long time since the system was working but the channels and gates, looking like gravestones every 20 or so meters, are still evident. The water came from the river via a huge pump originally driven by steam, then diesel and finally by electricity. But now it's centre-pivot irrigators using bore-pumps that do that work.

Always interesting to see this old stuff of yesteryear. A benefit of volunteering and working these farms.