1860s Farm Buildings
While 1860 may not seem that old, this group of farm buildings would have to be among the earliest in Canterbury, New Zealand and they represent an interesting style of construction. Regrettably, the most impressive of them, the original homestead, had to be demolished after being extensively vandalised, so not surprisingly the owner does not want their exact location publicised.
These buildings are made of finely cut limestone blocks that are very well fitted together. They are altogether more reminiscent of Australian buildings from the late 18th and early 19th centuries than of the simple corrugated steel and weatherboard construction of most early New Zealand farm buildings.
The woolshed, built in 1866, is particularly interesting. The walls carry the graffiti of 140 years of shearers and wool handlers and the timberwork not only bears the patina of 140 years of sheep and shearing, it is built more like an old sailing ship than a shearing shed, with decks, plenty of bracing and an intricate system of pulley operated gates.
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