Building a silo from the ground up

@JudyEv (364231)
Rockingham, Australia
October 16, 2025 7:02pm CST
This grain silo was built by Jack Jones in 1949 when heavy lifting equipment was in its infancy. The heavy timber mainframe was made from bush timber and hoisted into position with two Fordson tractors. As the fledging silo was filled, then another round of corrugated iron was erected and the silo gradually increased in height. When the silo was filled to the desired height, then the roof was put in place. Jack was renowned for his innovative methods and won an award for an early trailer sheep feeder. The silo was dismantled and re-erected at Mukinbudin, the nearest town to Jack's farm.
8 people like this
9 responses
Anna
@LadyDuck (485143)
• Italy
23h
This is an interesting method to build a silo.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (485143)
• Italy
21h
@JudyEv I am pretty sure they needed some machinery to move those timbers.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364231)
• Rockingham, Australia
22h
Those timbers are so huge. I can't imagine how they got those in place.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364231)
• Rockingham, Australia
19h
@LadyDuck They used two tractors but even with those, it would still be hard.
1 person likes this
Loretta
@noni1959 (10757)
• United States
17 Oct
This is so interesting. I wondered how they did this back then.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364231)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Oct
They really had to work with their brains back then as well as their brawn.
1 person likes this
Loretta
@noni1959 (10757)
• United States
4h
@JudyEv Some times the old ways were smarter though harder. Just amazing.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364231)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
@noni1959 They are cheaper in the long run too.
Amber
@AmbiePam (104332)
• United States
12h
I saw someone make an old silo into their actual home. It was quite an inventive plan, and it turned out great.
1 person likes this
Amber
@AmbiePam (104332)
• United States
Just now
@JudyEv That’s so cool.
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364231)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
They do that with big sea containers too. The old wool stores at Fremantle have been made into apartments. Our friend lives in one now. I think there are several hundred in the complex.
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (123677)
• Marion, Ohio
17h
That's one way to build
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364231)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
Where there's a will, there's a way I guess.
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21039)
• London, England
10h
More fun to start at the top and work down!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364231)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
You'd need skyhooks for that!!
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (203593)
• United States
10h
Very creative way to solve a problem.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364231)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
The framework would have been the most difficult part.
1 person likes this
Four Walls
@FourWalls (79481)
• United States
17 Oct
That’s fascinating! I know that I’ve looked at those and wondered how they got built back in the early 20th century or earlier.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364231)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Oct
I still can't imagine how they got those big timbers in place just with two tractors.
1 person likes this
Jim Bauer
@porwest (109478)
• United States
17h
It would have been more impressive had be built it top down. lol
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364231)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
As I said to Ron, you'd need skyhooks to do that!
LooeyVille
@LooeyVille (65)
• United States
17h
I like silos
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364231)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
Some of ours now have had murals painted on them.