Roger is right - bullocks were extensively used throughout Australia
for transport, by the mining industry, timber cutters and anyone else
hauling loads in rugged terrain, on poorly-made or unmade roads, and
in arid areas where feed and water were a problem.
Horses travel faster than bullocks, so they are more efficient in
benign conditions - level going, made roads and good feed every
night. But bullocks, while slow, are stronger than horses and far
more robust; they don't have to be shod, and they can do heavy work
while eating nothing but grass, whereas horses have to be given
nutritious feed such as oats or maize, or they lose condition quickly.
In the rainforest-covered mountains of North Queensland, bullocks
were still being used by the timber industry until about 1955.
Peter Bell
On 26/03/2008, at 9:02 AM, Roger Baden Bradford wrote:
> Fellow Listers.
> As an South Australian by choice, I dont think Mining in Australia
> would have got anywhere without the humble Bullocks, they moved all
> the Boilers,Engines, ore and stores to distant places even in the
> period I'm now researching 1870's it took 20 bullocks to transport
> a boiler to the Flinders Ranges such as Blinman, Yudnamutana, etc.
> Take Care.
> Roger B Bradford, Of Elizabeth South Australia
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lynne Mayers"
> <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 6:29 AM
> Subject: Ox power
>
>
> I understand that bullocks were used for hauling slates from
> Delabole to Port Gaverne by 1850 - replacing the teams of donkeys
> that had been used previously. I haven't the reference to hand, but
> can probably find it.
>
> Lynne
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Dr Peter Bell
Historical Research Pty Ltd
PO Box 574, Goodwood SA 5034
Phone (08) 8373 1900
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