A Brief History of The American Red Barn

While driving across rural Australia, there are some buildings that really stand out. One of the most eye-catching is the traditional American-style red barn that has also found its way Down Under!

A Striking Sight in the Countryside

The red barn is a memorable sight to see as it stands out against the green and earth-toned backdrop of the country landscape, a bright red jewel shining under the deep blue sky.

The Origins of the American Barn

America’s early settlers built the first American barn style outbuildings back in the 1600s. Those early barns were usually constructed with a thatched roof to help the livestock stay warm in the winter and to keep the rain off whatever else was stored within—things like hay, grain, and farm tools. American barns originally had just a dirt floor, but newer barns began to be built with wooden flooring.

Expansion and Popularity of the Barn

As the new nation expanded westward, barns became a common sight as one passed by farms and through rural communities. Today, these scenic barns remain an important feature of the vast American landscape and are still in use today, serving a variety of purposes.

From Functionality to Charm

Those original barns were built for use, not appearance, although today we find them charming, especially when they are painted in the classic red tones. The early farmers didn't paint their barns, but this left them susceptible to weather damage and wood rot. Farmers began to look for ways to protect their wood barns from the cruel elements—at the time, it was a functional prerogative, not an aesthetic choice!

The Birth of the Classic Red Colour

Farmers began to manufacture their own paint using a combination of lime, linseed oil, skimmed milk, and red iron oxide earth pigments, which gave the paint that famous red colour. The paint formed a plastic-like layer that solidified quickly and lasted for many years. The linseed oil was added to the recipe to give it a soaking quality. The oxide in the paint protected the wood from mould and moss while also lending it that rich red hue. The dark red absorbed more solar heat, which helped keep the barns warm inside during the harsh winters.

The Rise of Red Barns as a Tradition

The famed American red barns came to have their signature colour out of necessity. American paint manufacturers caught on to the trend quickly and began producing their own brands of barn paint using metallic oxides that were specifically developed for use on barns. The red paints were rugged, long-lasting, and cost a lot less per gallon than home paint, much to the delight of frugal farmers. Red remained the colour of choice until whitewash became more affordable, at which point white barns began to appear—now another common rural sight, though never replacing red barns in the hearts and minds of the populace.

The Red Barn's Journey to Australia

When Australia began its westward expansion, American-style red barns began to dot the island continent as well and are still a common sight on farms. Today's American red barns in Australia are rarely constructed of wood anymore; they are instead made of highly durable metal to protect them from the wind and weather. You can purchase them in a variety of colours, but red is still the favourite.