On entering the main Workshop building through the north-west door (the usual entry for visitors) the visitor would see on their right a large sheet steel bending machine – a plate roller. This was one of the original machines that survived the Fire and the clean-up. This machine would feed large plates of iron from the store behind the Saddle Shop. The resulting curved steel was the beginning of the massive boilers built on site.
These steel plates, about a quarter of an inch (6mm) thick, were then riveted together, using air- driven riveting guns that produced the machine-gun sound that dominated the Workshops. As I understand, this work required two men, one on the outside of the future boiler pushing and holding the head of a red-hot rivet in a drilled hole which was done using a large mallet. The other man was on the inside of the boiler operating the riveting gun flattening the other end of the rivet and pulling the steel sheets together to make a waterproof joint. I imagine that, even with earmuffs of some sort, boilermakers must have all been deafened by their work. The size of these boilers was unlimited and several of them of varying size can still be seen on the Workshops site.
The compressed air for the riveting guns came from the verandah outside the Boilermakers’ Shop. A large tank remained there before the Fire. I’m not sure of the location of the compressor but near the steel bending machine was a blower. This provided air for the forge but not, I believe, compressed air.
The massive forge provided the heat for both the boilermakers and the blacksmiths. I would estimate that it was three or four metres square and was between the two working areas. With the air from the blower and a good supply of charcoal, the forge could produce heat that would turn metal white hot. (I will return to this when we look at the Blacksmiths’ Shop.)
Since steam was the major source of power for all industry during the Industrial Revolution, the boilers that produced this power were vital. Apparently, the Yarloop Workshops produced boilers of every size – for stationary steam engines, railway engines and even steam driven whims. I have read that they were renowned for the quality of their boilers.[1]
Part of the site of the Boilermakers’ Shed and the Blacksmiths’ Shed. Courtesy Graham, Yarloop Photo Club.
The plate roller on the right at the entrance to the main Workshops building. The blower was opposite on the left. Courtesy Shire of Harvey, Pre-Fire Inventory.
The plate roller before the Fire. Courtesy Yarloop Workshops Inc.
The plate roller after the Fire. Photo by Allan Ward.
The shed in which the steel was stored. The Saddle Shop is on the right. Courtesy Shire of Harvey, Pre-Fire Inventory.
The compressor tank. Courtesy Shire of Harvey, Pre-Fire Inventory.
A typical larger boiler next to the quencing pit with its gantry crane. The latter was used by boilermakers, blacksmiths and wheelwrights.Courtesy Shire of Harvey, Pre-Fire Inventory.
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[1] From ‘The Phoenix Rises Very Slowly’ Part 37, January 2025, by Allan Ward, Hon Curator.