wheat stacks

Caption

This historical photograph depicts the severe devastation of wheat stacks at the Berriwillock railway yards (located approximately 31 kilometres, or 19 miles, east of Woomelang) caused by a massive mouse plague in 1917. The scene captures the monumental task faced by the community, where about 45 men were employed to clean up the loose grain and re-bag the salvaged wheat. As reported by the Sea Lake Times on June 9, 1917, the sheer scale of the infestation was staggering: workers had already destroyed six tons of mice carcasses at these yards, with an estimated four more tons still to be accounted for. Photo credit Museums Victoria. Wheat stacks destroyed by mice at Berriwillock (via Berriwillock-Woomelang Road) railway yards, 1917. Item: 795990.