Keeping Steam Alive at Glenreagh at Shannondale Steam Shed

Danny Coulstock | Shannondale Steam Shed Inc.

Keeping Steam Alive at Glenreagh

There’s something magical about steam. The hiss of escaping pressure, the rhythmic chug of machinery, and the smell of hot oil and timber transport us back to a time when these remarkable machines powered the industries that built regional Australia.

For many visitors to the Glenreagh Timber Festival, the steam precinct has become one of the most anticipated parts of the event. But what started as a single steam engine and one passionate enthusiast has grown into something much bigger. At the heart of it all is Danny, founder of what has become known as the Shannondale Steam Shed.

Today, the organisation is entering an exciting new chapter. After years of operating informally, the group has recently become an incorporated association and secured a permanent home close to Glenreagh’s recreation ground and township. The move marks a significant milestone in preserving and sharing Australia’s steam heritage for future generations.

“It was never formally a club,” Danny explains. “People just started calling us the Shannondale Steam Shed, and the name stuck. Moving here meant we needed to formalise things and become incorporated. It’s been a process, but we’ve got there.”

That spirit of growth and community mirrors the journey of the Glenreagh Timber Festival itself.

A Steam Story Begins

Danny’s connection with the Glenreagh Timber Festival began around five years ago. The first year was a modest affair, with Danny bringing along his Marshall Britannia steam engine. What happened next surprised everyone.

The public’s fascination with the machinery was immediate. Visitors crowded around the displays, eager to learn how the engines worked and what role they played in Australia’s history. “It demonstrated that people had a real interest in steam,” Danny recalls. “Before you know it, lots of other bits and pieces started turning up.”

Year after year, the steam display expanded, becoming one of the festival’s most distinctive attractions. For many attendees, it’s not simply about seeing old machinery. It’s about understanding the stories behind them.

The Machines That Built a Nation

Long before diesel engines and modern equipment transformed industry, steam power was the driving force behind life in rural Australia. Portable steam engines powered everything from generators and water pumps to saw benches and agricultural equipment. They travelled deep into forests and remote communities, bringing portable power wherever it was needed.

Steam rollers shaped many of the roads we still travel today, while traction engines hauled heavy loads across vast distances at speeds that seem unimaginable by modern standards. These machines weren’t just engineering marvels.

They were the backbone of Australia’s development. That’s why Danny is passionate about showcasing them at Glenreagh. “The best part is seeing people’s reactions,” he says. “Young and old ask questions and want to learn. It’s about teaching a little bit of history about these machines that helped build the country we know today.”

What to Expect at This Year’s Festival

This year’s Glenreagh Timber Festival will once again feature an impressive collection of working steam machinery. Visitors can expect to see portable steam engines in operation, the popular Fowler roller returning for another year, and Stephen King’s traction engine making the journey from Armidale.

One of the highlights will be the return of Steve Rowland’s steam-powered sawmill, demonstrating traditional timber milling techniques and bringing the connection between steam power and the timber industry to life. It’s a rare opportunity to see these machines not as museum pieces, but as living, working examples of Australian history.

More Than Machinery

Ask Danny about his favourite part of the festival, and his answer isn’t the engines. It’s the people. “The crowds are incredible,” he says. “People are so enthusiastic, and there’s such an incredible community spirit.” He still remembers attending his first festival shortly after the disruptions of COVID. “Everything had shut down for a couple of years. To come here and see the amount of people and the energy around the event was just incredible.” That sense of community is what makes the Glenreagh Timber Festival special.

It’s a place where history isn’t locked away behind glass. It’s celebrated, shared and brought to life by the people who care deeply about preserving it. Through the work of the Shannondale Steam Shed and passionate custodians like Danny, the stories of Australia’s steam-powered past continue to inspire new generations. And as the whistle blows and the engines come to life once again at this year’s festival, visitors won’t just be witnessing history. They’ll be experiencing it.

Danny Coulstock | Shannondale Steam Shed Inc.