The grain storage facilities in Hyden are some of the most advanced in the world.
In the 1950’s more farmers began settling in Hyden and other nearby farming communities. This placed pressure on the original storage facilities used to store grain, as they could no longer cope with the increasing production of crops. The original storage facilities were outdated and inadequate. As a result of this expansion, Co-operative Bulk Handling (CBH) decided to build better facilities.
The first storage facility built was a 2700 tonne permanent roof bulkhead followed by a reinforced concrete facility that was built West of the town. The concrete facility was necessary to handle the larger tonnage of wheat, barley, oats, lupins and peas being grown in the area. A second reinforced concrete facility (A-type) was built in 1980. Hyden now has a total storage capacity of 64,000 tonnes.
These storage systems are sealed to create an inert atmosphere and CO2 is used to control the invasion of grain pests.
Co-Operative Bulk Handling
Grain Silos
Grain silos are used to store, test and then transport (usually by rail) the grain crops that have been collected from the surrounding farming areas. After the grain is placed in storage facilities it is tested. The tests are used to check the chemical make up of grain, which in turn determines its class e.g. mill class or feed. Once the grain has been tested it is loaded onto trains then transported to its assigned location.
The Co-operative Bulk Handling Limited (CBH)
The Co-operative Bulk Handling Limited (CBH) company has been operating in Western Australia since 1933 and is controlled and financed by Western Australian grain growers. The CBH was established to unify and expand the grain handling efforts of the State’s growers. Prior to the formation of the company, grain growers were responsible for their own storage, transportation and management of their crops.
The Co-operative Bulk Handling, stores, tests and handles up to 40% of the national average grain production in wheat silos throughout the state. More than 95% of W.A.’s crops exported to international markets is through one of CBH’s four-port terminal facilities located at Kwinana, Geraldton, Esperance and Albany.
In CBH’s first season of operation (1933) the company received 42,565 tonnes of wheat, seventy years later it receives over 12 million tonnes per year, comprising of 11 types of grains.