THOUSANDS of people queued for hours to see a piece of Australian history recreated at North Tuppal Station, Tocumwal on Saturday.
Organisers were blown away by the number of people - more than 16,000 - who turned up to see 72 shearers using blades and a recreation of the iconic Tom Roberts painting, “Shearing of the Rams.”
Co-organiser Mark Baldwin, Tocumwal, said they expected about 4000 people would turn up, but there were about 4000 there by 10am.
“It just gives you goosebumps, there are people here from every state and New Zealand,” Mr Baldwin said.
View FarmOnline's photos from the re-enactment by clicking the image below.
“We are celebrating history by reliving it,” event co-organiser Peter Artridge said.
“While the distinctive clicking of blade shears may not be heard in woolsheds much anymore, the characters depicted in the famous painting can still be found in woolsheds across the country,” he added.
According to Australian Wool Innovation, the proceeds of the North Tuppal re-enactment will help to fund the Australian shearing team at the Shearing World Championships in Wales.
It took more than 10,000 man hours from more than 400 volunteers to refurbish the shed, complete with its 88-metre long board, where more than 6000 sheep were shorn across the two days.
Mr Baldwin thanked the station principal Bruce Atkinson for the use of the shed and said Sports Shear Australia looked forward to an ongoing relationship with the shed.
A book commemorating the event is being produced by Sports Shear Australia.