PIECES of Orange history will be preserved when timber removed from the old cool stores site near the railway line in Peisley Street is recycled to be used in used in flooring, panelling and furniture across Australia.
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Over the last few weeks a contractor has been painstakingly taking apart the 100 year old timber building
“This building has a history for a lot of people in Orange,” said the building’s owner Ian Vennard.
“I have had a lot of people come up to me and say they either delivered fruit here or played here as a kid when their father was here,” he said.
Mr Vennard has sold the property to a developer and shops and a warehouse will probably be built on the site.
He said some of the timber on the interior walls particularly the baltic pine is in pristine condition.
“It has never seen the light of day and it looks like it has just been put up,” he said.
Mr Vennard said most of the timber in the building is north coast mahogany with some north coast blackbutt.
The lining of the building is in European imported baltic pine .
“I have worked here in this building for almost 30 years and it is sad to see it coming down.”
During the removal of the timber some interesting discoveries have been made.
“All the walls were lined with sawdust shavings for insulation and we’ve taken away nine semi trailer loads which are being used at the Livestock Exchange at Carcoar,” he said.
“But in the oldest part of the building we have also found workmen’s tools - a chisel, square and timber folding measuring ruler,” he said.
An old Department of Agriculture poster from 1962 showing the specific way in which pears were to be packed under the old imperial measure system still remains on one wall along with a work award notice on another.
They are reminders of the days when the the building was a hive of activity, where local orchardists conducted their business and stopped to chat outside and catch up with orcharding mates.
Mr Vennard said he will downsize his furniture restoration and building business to a family property out of Orange.
He said none of the timber will be sold off on site but will be sold through a Sydney based business at Ironwood in Rozelle.
Ironwood spokesman Jamie Hayne learnt his trade from his father in Sydney who removed timber from old buildings for almost 40 years.
“With a heritage demolition like this you have to be very careful to lever the nails out manually to preserve the timber,” he said.
