Okay, I really don’t know who came up with this snappy title for these silos, but I’m guessing it’s something to do with capacity – 1,000,000 bushels = approx 33,000 tonnes. These are multi-cell cylindrical steel, fully welded storage bins equipped only for road receivals, and situated in areas of high yield. These units also act as receiving centres by taking wheat from outside the locally defined area. These units, of 14 cells, have a capacity of 29,000 tonnes, with receival capacity of 360 tph, and outloading capability of only 120tph. These units are located at Dookie, Quambatook, Ultima, Wycheproof, Beulah, Marmalake and Boort. Yarrawonga is capable of receiving at 360 tph and outloading at 200 tph. Berriwillock is capable of receiving and outloading at 400 tonnes per hour. Donald is equipped with 16 cells with a total capacity of 33,700 tonnes and receives grain at 360 tph with an outloading rate of 120 tonnes per hour.
Ascom Jumbo Steel Silos
Jumbo Storages
Ascom Pty. Ltd., constructed jumbo units at Yelta, Elmore, Mitiamo and Murchison East in Victoria and another at Balranald in NSW. They consist of two 23.8 metre diameter fully welded steel flat bottomed bins, each of 6,850 tonne capacity, served by a 250 tonne per hour elevator for inloading and outloading. Additionally, each bin is equipped with a 200 tph rail discharge auger. There are also Jumbo units at Speed, Ouyen and Woomelang.
Johns Perry Storage Systems Division constructed a jumbo unit at Robinvale. This unit consists of 2 cells each of 20 metres diameter, constructed of galvanised strip and rolled on site by the ‘Lipp’ method.
This unit has an elevator of capacity of 500 tonnes per hour for inloading and outloading. When the flat bottomed bins have emptied down to gravity, each bin is equipped with a self indexing automatic sweep to complete emptying process.
Murphy Steel Silos
These silos consist of two main steel cylindrical storage bins and a garner bin, their name being derived from the construction contractor. The bins are of 12.8 metres diameter with a nominal capacity of 1500 tonnes each, and the bins are fully welded inside and outside. Receiving and outloading rates are a nominal 120 tonnes per hour.
Ascom Steel Silos
These units consist of two main steel cylindrical fully welded bins and a garner bin, their name being derived from the construction contractor. Capacities vary from 2200 tonnes to 4500 tonnes with receival and outloading rates from 120 to 200 tonnes per hour.
Silos in Art
Yes, there’s a big movement in painting everything from silos to water tanks, bus shelters to sheds. The Silo Art Trail in Victoria (and other states) has been a great success, breathing new life into small communities like Devenish and Lascelles. Yet there’s also a group of paintings by Sidney Nolan completed in and around Dimboola in 1942 when he was stationed there during WWII. Mostly sketches, many of the works feature the unmistakable outline of a silo looming in the background.
Williamstown Concrete Silos
These silos of concrete vertical cell construction, were the second type to be constructed between 1935 – 1950 by the Grain Elevators Board, and are located at railway sidings on those lines intended to service a terminal elevator at Williamstown. This terminal was never completed, as it was determined that the terminal at Geelong could adequately handle all exports.
The bins on the 57 Williamstown type silos in Victoria have flat concrete roofs cast in situ. The units have bin diameters varying from 8.2 metres to 10.1 metres, with wall heights of 22, 25.9 or 30.5 metres, and capacities varying from 2000 to 4500 tonnes. Receiving and outloading rates are a nominal 120 tonnes per hour.
Geelong Concrete Silos
These 91 silos, built between 1935-1950, of concrete vertical cell construction, were the original type constructed at rail sidings on those lines intended to serve the Geelong Terminal Elevator.
All cells have a common height of 29.6 metres, with bin diameters being 8.2, 9.2 or 10.1 metres, with capacities ranging from 1900 tonnes to 4500 tonnes.
These units are all open topped bins with corrugated galvanised iron roofs. Receival and outloading rates are a nominal 110 tonnes per hour.
