Cementing history
Kandos Museum was a hive of activity recently with the installation of a ropeway tower standing over seven metres tall as part of the new outdoor display area.
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The tower was previously part of Cement Australia’s unique bucket system which delivered limestone from the quarry to the cement plant.
It has now been placed opposite Number 3 Ball Mill and is central to the planned display.
Museum president Buzz Sanderson said despite consistent rain in recent weeks, everything went to plan.
“In the main we managed to dodge the rain and get the ropeway tower up.
When complete, the museum will have all three types of ropeway bucket on display.
It’s great to see this acknowledgement of what was such an important technology.
It was such an important contribution, to Kandos and industry.
The ropeway really did make it all possible given the steep exit out of the quarry,” Dr Sanderson said.
The Museum’s collection of girth gears has also come out of storage.
The girth gears were donated by Cement Australia to the museum two years ago.
When they arrived they were put into storage while building works were completed.
“These are beautiful in their own right.
The gears tell a much bigger story of how important the cement plant was not only to Kandos but to the nation.”
The larger of the gears from the No four Raw Mill weighs 6000kg per half.
They are on display in the front garden of the museum.
The small gear weighing in at 1350kg per half is on display near the entrance to the museum.
Dr Sanderson extended a big thank you to Maceco and CGB Services for their help with storage, transport and installation.
Kandos Museum is open 10am to 4pm Wednesdays to Sundays.