Bullocky

[1] Before the gold rushes in Australia, in the mid 19th century, bullock drays carried essential food and station supplies to isolated country areas.

On return trips they transported wheat, wool, sugar cane, and timber by drays drawn by teams of draught animals (either bullocks or horses) to shipping ports before the advent of rail.

Both bullock and horse wagons carried heavy loads of wool and wheat which was the main produce transported over long distances, plus chaff and hay.

A typical bullocky wore a cabbage tree hat, a twill shirt of that period, moleskin trousers, blucher boots and carried a long bullock whip which in many instances he had made.

Many roads still follow the tracks made by bullock teams as they negotiated their way up or down hills via a winding course to make haulage easier.

Bullockies often chose Devon cattle because they were plentiful, hardy, tractable and readily matched up the team, which was often a source of pride to the owners.

Untrained bullocks were then put in the centre of the team, where they were more easily controlled with the assistance and guidance of the "leaders" who were well trained to verbal commands.

A bullocky walked on the nearside (left) of the bullocks for added control of the team and also because seating was not usually provided on the wagons and jinkers.

The long handled whip permitted the bullocky to control his bullocks while keeping a safe working distance from the danger of being run down by a large dray or jinker.

Teams of up to thirty bullocks hauled large flat-top wagons or jinkers fitted with a single pole instead of shafts.

[4] Shanties and villages grew to serve the needs of the road's users at the site of difficult range and river crossings where teams met.