If These Walls Could Talk: Life within the shearing shed walls.

If These Walls Could Talk — A Tribute to the Heart of the Shearing Shed

There are places in the world that hold more than memories — they hold the hum of a lived life, stitched into timber, dust, and the laughter that never quite leaves. For me, a shearing shed is one of those places. It’s where stories settle into the rafters, where childhood lessons are learned between the fleeces, and where generations return to remember who they are.

In this poem, If These Walls Could Talk, I share a glimpse into the shearing-shed world I grew up around — a world of hardworking hands, warm cups of tea, and the unmistakable symphony of a shearing day. These walls have seen everything: kids tumbling into wool presses, shearers napping in unbaled fleeces, the sharp scent of fresh scones mingling with lanolin, and the camaraderie that grows from long days on the board.

This piece is a love letter to farming life — to the mateship, the mischief, and the moments that stay with you long after the shed falls quiet. It’s a celebration of rural Australia, of family, of the stories we pass down, and the ones the walls keep safe for us.

Step inside, breathe in the memory-dusted air, and listen closely.

If these walls could talk… this is what they’d say.