HO131 - Behlen Shed - 2-98 Staughton Street, Melton South

The mid-20th century prefabricated frameless steel shed.

The Behlen Shed is a prefabricated frameless steel structure, originally used as a grain shed/silo, with a distinct profile that allows a clear open span internally. The location of the original distribution auger/elevator is evident to the north (road) side as is another chute on the south (track) side. The format of the shed is windowless with three doorways on the track side. After it ceased being employed for grain or chaff, a large doorway was introduced to both short elevations.

How is it significant?

The Behlen Shed is of local historical and aesthetic significance to the City of Melton.

Why is it significant?

Historically the Behlen Shed is significant as reflecting the extent of facilities required to support the chaff and grain industry in the municipality but particularly in the Melton South area, where the quality of the local grain and chaff was long recognised. It was erected during the mid-1960s for the Grain Elevator Board and was probably built as a storage shed initially with the elevator (distribution auger) and chute added by 1970. Due to the loss of the two nearby chaff mills to fire (in 1977 and 1987), the Behlen Shed is a potent reminder of the chaff mill and associated industry in the municipality generally but especially in the Melton South area where it was a major industry. (Criterion A)

The Behlen Shed is aesthetically significant as an imported prefabricated structure utilising the frameless Dubl-Panl system developed by the Behlen Manufacturing Company of Nebraska, USA. It was one of probably only 13 employed by the Grain Elevators Board of Victoria. The structure is frameless, has a distinct undulating profile, consisting of a variety of secondary corrugations, etc. imprinted in the sheets, which provides its inherent strength. (Criterion E).

Primary source

City of Melton Heritage Assessments Project 2018: Findings, RBA Architects and Conservation Consultants (November 2018)

Group

Farming and Grazing

Category

Granary/Grain Shed