Shears History Museum gains bullock cart

MATTHEW STEWART | 14th September 2007

MASTERTON'S Shears History Museum yesterday received a new addition to its stock of shearing and wool memorabilia in the form of a newly-restored early-19th century bullock cart.

The restoration took the best part of six months and was largely overseen by Shears History Trust member Darragh Weston, who used a lot of CRC to free up the old cart's rusty wheels and axles.

The dray was built around 1900 and was originally owned by Harold Kebbell, who farmed Nga Rata and Nga Puka stations, east of Alfredton.

"It used to cart wool from Nga Rata to Castlepoint," trust member Laurie Keats said.

The annual wool clip was transported to Castlepoint by the dray, which was usually pulled by eight bullocks, and onloaded to coastal ships at Castlepoint.

Most of the wool was destined for export to England and for the rest of the year the dray was assigned general farm duties at the stations.

The restoration project, which includes a shelter, was chiefly underwritten by a $7600 lotteries grant.

Gladstone wheelwright Greg Lang was charged with refurbishing the cart's decayed wheels and spokes.

"One of the hardest jobs in the first place was getting the wheels off," Mr Weston said.

The dray, donated by Nga Rata's current owner Andrew Falloon, had been sitting around for 20-odd years and had been converted with a tractor hitch, Mr Weston said.

The restored cart is made from a mixture of native timbers rata, rimu and maire.

A local artist has been commissioned to fashion a pair of bullocks that will helm the dray.