Skillion Stockyard Cover – Forge Creek
CASE STUDY
Bairnsdale Engineering:
Delivers Skillion Stockyard Cover for Gippsland Grazing Property
Brad, a local farmer and Nutrien East Gippsland Livestock Manager, runs a grazing property in East Gippsland. Wet yards in winter and intense summer heat were making cattle handling uncomfortable and unsafe for both stock and staff. He wanted a stockyard cover that would provide year-round protection – dry footing in winter, shade in summer, without altering the way his yards worked.
Brad first met the Bairnsdale Engineering team at the saleyards and had seen plenty of their work around the area. The stockyard cover was his second project with them, following an earlier build – a machinery and hay shed, on the same property. For him, the decision came down to local support, quality, and a team that could provide advice, manage the build from start to finish, and get it done right.
I had seen plenty of their work around. I went with Bairnsdale Engineering because they could advise on design and construction, and project-manage it from start to finish. Price is the price, I went with them for their ability to get it done and the quality, which was outstanding.
The Challenge: Weather Protection Without Obstruction
The new structure needed to integrate with the existing yards without forcing a redesign. That meant no internal posts, supports positioned clear of livestock flow, and a design that minimised areas where cattle could get caught or bruised.
The Solution: Custom Clear Span Design
Bairnsdale Engineering delivered an 18m × 23.5m skillion roof cover, built as two 10.75m bays with 1m overhangs.
All columns were located outside the yard footprint to create a completely open working space inside. Flexible post placement maximised usable area while reducing snag points. Pipe columns eliminated the need for wall bracing, allowing for clear access to all sides of the cover.
Zinc roof sheeting provided protection from the elements, reflecting the heat away during the hot summer months.
The thing that I really liked about the design was that there are no internal posts within the yards. All the support posts are on the outside, so it gives you a blank canvas underneath. You’re not configuring your yards to match poles and there’s no internal structure impeding the design.
Key Design Benefits
Flexible Post Locations
The columns were located outside of the existing yards, preventing snag points.
No Wall Bracing
Circular hollow section posts eliminated the need for wall bracing allowing for large clear access from all sides of the cover.
Skillion Roof
The mono-pitched roof sent all rain water to one side of the roof which eliminated unwanted downpipes in highflow areas. The high side was orientated to the north to make the most of the morning sun.
Universal Beam Rafters
The basic profile of the heavy-duty UB rafter allowed for straightforward customisation while creating
a neat, uncluttered interior.
Hot Dip Galvanised Frame
The columns and rafters were hot dip galvanised for ultimate corrosion resistance.
The Results: Comfort, Safety, and Seamless Delivery
The cover provides year-round usability – shade in summer, dry footing in winter, with the original yard configuration intact. Brad describes the build quality as “outstanding” and found the process simple from start to finish.
“Talking to the boys is seamless; they help with the initial design, and the next thing, it’s done. Easy to do business with.”
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