Stock and station agency

[note 1] They advise and represent farmers and graziers in business transactions that involve livestock, wool, fertiliser, rural property and equipment and merchandise on behalf of their clients.

These rural business services institutions originated, when communications were slow and often very difficult, to cope with the double remoteness of early Australian and New Zealand primary producers from their nearest settlement and, particularly in the case of wool, from their overseas markets.

Small rural communities may hold a single annual sale at local saleyards and this may be the highlight of their autumn business and social calendar.

A vital and well-liked part of their rural community, in remote areas, stock agents perform a variety of commercial and social functions.

This social perspective helps inform our understanding of the agent's role and importance in economic activities since trust, reputation, and personal connection were the vital lubricants in sustaining business relationships and networks.

Longridge Settlement – inspecting sheep. Archives New Zealand .
A stock-agent assessing his client's livestock
The stock agent's car, of the make that his firm sold and with a radio for catching up-to-date stock prices, was always new, and freshly washed in the morning