After a bit or research and a phone call I realised that an aluminium camp oven recently listed on ebay was worth a bid as it was certainly a piece of Aussie camp oven history. Made in a place called Gurrawang located between Grafton & Casino this plant closed in 2001 and I found a previous post on this site with a photo posted by the owner showing the range of camp ovens they produced. There seems to be not a great deal of interest in aluminium camp ovens probably due to the supposed health risks associated with cooking in it, but after getting this camp oven I have changed my mind and realise they are still a significant part  of Aussie camp oven history. The oven itself is a massive 22 inches and weighs in at over 25 kg this alone makes for an impressive piece of cast anything. The lid has an extremely large dome shape and the lid has 3 gum leaves cast into it and is of quality workmanship. Saltbush bill posted a picture of smaller oven cast by the same foundry that was supplied to the Innamincka trading post and sold a a souvenir and I think PD has an 8 inch one that he bought at the Broke GOG. I think that anything cast in Australia in worth documenting regardless of being cast iron or otherwise as we all know where most things end up being cast.
Here's a few shots.

http://i44.tinypic.com/j6kdxy.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/14w8z0g.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/2zqg9bd.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/1x4aw.jpg

A good one for the collection for sure. That lid certainly has huge dome shape.

Jeff

I could have delivered it to you Astro as we came through Parkes on Sunday morning heading for West Wyalong.
Was following this and did arrange to view it as it was located near to me,  but something came up and I could not work out what it was.  Glad it found a good home.

KD

As always, thanks for the info on this CO

Aart

I have a feeling this guy also made the aluminium lids for the early Millmerrin prizes.

He used to make some really big aluminium camp ovens

Sorry it's actually Gurranang not Gurrawang.

That one definitely needs a trivet cos you're not lifting that when full of stew to put more heat beads under it  ;D ;D ;D

Sure is impressive looking!

astroboy wrote on May 14^th, 2013 at 8:56pm:

Sorry it's actually Gurranang not Gurrawang.

I did a few internet searches on this foundry and it appears to be still operating.

KD

I've spoken to Errol from Campbell shed products and they bought the plant out in 2001. They are currently upgrading their plant to continue to make their own aluminium camp ovens but the one's from the original Gurranang plant are long gone according to him.

That's definitely a nice oven Dave, good to see it in safe hands and in a collection. There can't be to many of those around.

I have a friend who lives in Casino visiting the Gurranang foundry today to find out what camp ovens they have.
Will advise his findings.
He did not even know a foundry was there,  he said it is a very small place.

KD

Kingsthorpe David wrote on May 20^th, 2013 at 7:26am:

I have a friend who lives in Casino visiting the Gurranang foundry today to find out what camp ovens they have.

I don't think they still exist what was the verdict KD?
Shed products bought them out in 2001 to my knowledge?

astroboy wrote on May 21^st, 2013 at 9:59am:

Kingsthorpe David wrote on May 20th, 2013 at 7:26am: I have a friend who lives in Casino visiting the Gurranang foundry today to find out what camp ovens they have. I don't think they still exist what was the verdict KD? Shed products bought them out in 2001 to my knowledge?

See:
http://www.shedproducts.com/prod4-campovens.html

astroboy wrote on May 21^st, 2013 at 9:59am:

Kingsthorpe David wrote on May 20th, 2013 at 7:26am: I have a friend who lives in Casino visiting the Gurranang foundry today to find out what camp ovens they have. I don't think they still exist what was the verdict KD? Shed products bought them out in 2001 to my knowledge?

David,

I drove past Gurranang, but I must have blinked because I didn’t see a thing.

There is a dirt road that goes off to the left and is signposted Gurranang 1 KLM. However I didn’t have time to venture down there.

But guess all that doesn’t matter now anyway?

I suppose you have already ordered a couple??

Cheers

Barry

In the back of my mind I always thought that Noel became a member on here.

A little bit more here on the history of these pots http://www.aussiecampovenforum.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1296971734