New shearing shed builds and upgrades have continued in recent years, despite subdued wool prices. This trend reflects the industry’s commitment to raising the standard of working conditions, improving efficiencies and increasing productivity, all of which will contribute to the sustainable future of the wool industry.
Bell Group’s lane delivery shearing shed is an excellent example of this – and is a testament to their leadership in the industry.
We recently attended the ProWay on-farm open day to view the innovative project in action.
Read on to learn more about the details that make this lane delivery shearing shed project a success and check out the project gallery for inspiration.
We have also provided a handy price guide if you are planning a similar project.

Project Overview – Lane Delivery Shearing Shed
Configuration: A single gable shearing shed with covered yards
Size: 68m (L) x 27m (W) x 5.2m (H)
Capacity: 2,000 sheep in the covered yards and 800 sheep on the grating.
Fit-out & Yards: A 7-stand raised straight board with a lane delivery system and count-out pens by ProWay. The yards include a ProWay drafter and bulk handler with a sheep lifter.
Build Date: 2024
Location: Millicent SA. You can find more Action sheds completed in this area, here – SA Farm Sheds Brochure (PDF Download)
As well as being an innovative set-up, the project is also functional and delivers results – for example, an impressive 17,000 sheep went through the shed at shearing in November!
Read on to learn why this project works so well.
6 Reasons Why This Project Works
Here are six details that play an important role and contribute to the success of the project.
1
Standard Span Size
We have said it before – standard is king.
A standard 27-metre span has been used to create a cost-effective design – and to shorten the project lead time.
If you aren’t familiar with the standard span range, you can learn about them here – What Are The Standard Spans For Farm Sheds?
The 8.5-metre bay spacings are a standard option too and also help reduce timeframes and project costs.
Using standard sizes isn’t achievable for every project.
For example, this is often the case when covering existing sheep yards (learn more about this here).
This is why we collaborate with yard and fit-out suppliers – such as ProWay – to ensure the shed component works seamlessly with the yards and access points.

2
Cost-Effective Configuration
The configuration of this lane delivery shearing shed also contributes to a cost-effective and functional design.
Firstly, a single gable configuration is the most cost-effective way to build a shearing shed complex.
This is because a dual gable set-up is often more time-consuming to manufacture and install.
A single gable layout also means that no box gutters are required.
Secondly, covered yards are much more cost-effective than having sheep on grating. Covered yards are more versatile too, providing comfortable working conditions, year-round – not just at shearing time.
So, along with the standard spans and bays we have already discussed, this shearing shed design provides good value for money – without sacrificing quality or functionality.
3
Effective Ventilation
Upgrading shearing shed facilities and providing good working conditions is a proven and sustainable way to improve staff retention – and attract new, quality staff.
Bell Group’s shearing shed design certainly ticks that box with covered yards and a lane delivery system.
Effective ventilation and airflow through the working areas is another way that this shed creates a comfortable, low-stress environment for both the shearing teams and the sheep.

Several details work together to achieve effective ventilation:
- Ridge ventilation in the roof
- Wall ventilation
- Wide sliding doors
- Sliding door placement
- Shed orientation
- Open sides on the covered yards
Details like these make it important to have your fit-out company and shed company collaborating and on the same page. It is often the small details that make a big difference!
4
Raised Board With Lane Delivery System
The best shearing shed board design will always be up for debate – but the raised straight board design in this project provides some clear benefits.
- Allows rousies to work above chest height when removing stained wool and picking up fleeces. This helps reduce repetitive strain injuries and fatigue and is also more time-efficient.
- Provides good visions for the shearers
- Shearers have an individual work area and can also move around the board easily
- A straight board is typically the more cost-effective option when compared to sawtooth or curved designs.
- The wool room on the ground level allows it to be used as a storage area when the shed is not being used for shearing. We usually recommend upsizing the wool room for this reason.
- The lane fill system ensures catching pens are easily maintained and filled


5
Carefully Planned Access
Attention to detail is important for shearing shed access, from how the sheep enter and flow through the shed to sliding door placements.
For example, we worked with ProWay to ensure that sliding door placement was functional and clearance heights were correct.
ProWay also incorporated inspection doors into the shed design. Inspection doors are becoming a more common inclusion in new shearing shed facilities as they make cleaning the shed out and retrieving a sheep, easier.
Good site preparation also played an important role in keeping the site accessible during installation – and this will also help keep the shed accessible year-round.
For tips on how to prepare your shed site, check out the video below.
6
Concrete Working Areas
Concrete floors in the working areas – particularly in the sheep yards – allow the facility to be safely used in the wet weather and easily maintained.

A concrete slab through a shearing shed is the most common flooring option -however, it is often recommended to include wooden flooring in the working areas.
This is another way to help reduce the strain on rousies and wool classes.
A timber wool room floor still has a concrete slab underneath it, but it is usually only 100mm thick to make it 50mm lower than the rest of the shed. The joists and tongue and groove flooring will then bring it up 50mm so that it is level with the main shed slab.
A more budget-friendly option could be installing rubber matting on the concrete in the main working areas, such as around the wool table.
Rubber matting can also be a good option if you intend to use your wool room as a storage area.
So, that’s a summary of six important details of this lane delivery shearing shed.
Overall, the project reflects a smart planning and design process by Bell Group that capitalised on the experience and expertise of both ProWay and Action Steel.
Next up is a price guide for your project budgeting.
Lane Delivery Shearing Shed Price Guide
For a similar project, you can expect to pay around $420,000 – $520,000 including GST and installation for the shed component.
The shearing shed fit-out, sheep yards and concreting would be an additional cost – around $700,000. Please note that this is an estimate – for accurate pricing and budgeting contact your fit-out company directly.
You may also find this article helpful – How Much Does It Cost To Build A Shearing Shed?
To view the project in more detail, browse the gallery of photos from the recent on-farm field day below – a great way to get inspiration for your build!
Project Gallery
If you found this project feature interesting, you might also like the resources listed below.
Useful Resources
- How To Create A Cost-Effective Shearing Shed Design
- 2025 Shearing Shed Guide (PDF Download)
- 12 Stand Shearing Shed For McBrides (Video)
- Raised Board Shearing Sheds: Pros, Cons & Prices