Cyclone Bed

Cyclone Bed

A cyclone bed was commonplace in the Australian outback until the 1970s, then they slowly disappeared. The name ‘cyclone bed’ comes from the chain-link wire mesh covering the frame. This wire mesh was often referred to as ‘cyclone wire’ or ‘cyclone fencing’.

Recently, I have heard them referred to as ‘shearer’s beds’. Most likely because the Shearers Quarters is where you would find them in later years. However, they were widely used by everyone in the outback, on sheep/cattle stations and in the towns.

The cyclone bed pictured is a luxurious version of the bed, and you will note that at both ends there are springs attaching the mesh and frame. This provided a little more ‘give’ in the bed than other older types, stitched to the frame with wire.

If you are lucky, you might sleep on this wire base with an old lumpy kapok mattress. Otherwise, you would roll out the swag and climb aboard. Kapok was a cotton-like fluff that old mattresses were stuffed with. The worst thing about the bed is the tendency of the mesh to sag, so you sleep like a banana. Although the sway back was uncomfortable, it does lift you off the ground away from the slither of snakes and other creepy crawlies that may want to share your swag.

Cyclone Bed at Campsite

In my early shearing years, most shearer’s quarters still used this folding bed. At this point, I introduce another feature of this relic. The legs fold against the frame for stowage and transport. However, the folding legs were also a guillotine, and I have known people to sever a finger when collapsing them.

For instance, when I worked in the bush as a driller in Western Australia in the 1970s, we camped wherever we were drilling. The cyclone bed was ideal as they are indestructible, folded up and thrown on the truck for the next move.

Outback Shower

Of course, there are many folding camp stretchers that are lightweight and comfortable but wouldn’t take the punishment like the old cyclone bed.

Please look at the picture on the right and see the en suite to the left. This is where we had our showers using a wooden pallet for the floor and a solar shower bag. On other days I wasn’t so fortunate as to have the floor, and we showered with muddy feet.