bullocks

Timber became one of the biggest industries, which was mostly pine timber and was drawn to the rafting reserve by bullock team. In the early days the wheels of the wagons were not made by a wheelwright but were blocks sawn from logs which were known as block wheels. All the pine logs were rolled in the river and rafted to their destination, this was at times rather an unpleasant job as owing to the two shallow places mentioned earlier the men had to turn out, in the winter, at night to catch the spring tide, which only occurred at night time at new moon. Much of the pine timber went to a small saw mill at a place known as Tygum on the Logan River opposite to the Waterford Railway Station which was owned by the late Lahey Bros. where they made their first start in the timber business and later built a saw mill at Canungra. It was in the year of 1886 when the first Canungra Saw Mill was opened by the Lahey Bros. Another Saw Mill owned by the late Jesse Daniels at Cedar Creek commenced working at the same time and the year of 1896 was removed to Canungra. History of the Logan & Albert Areas by Roger Hart 1959

A good bullock was a valuable resource. Two good leading bullocks were essential, as well as two bullocks at the rear known as the polers. Mustering and yoking 24 bullocks could take up to two hours. Each bullock had a name and recognized it when spoken to. Bullock teams hauled logs to a waterway, or in the steep country to chutes, where the logs could be launched. Source: www.miragenews.com/backward-glance-timber-getters-and-saw...

During the 1860s, much changed on the Sunshine Coast. Vast areas of timber were felled and burnt to make way for farming and stock. The railway from Caboolture to Landsborough, built in 1890, opened the way for more intensive settlement. As the train line construction continued further north, the Dularcha railway tunnel was built to provide an essential link through the hillier terrain. It is one of only two tunnels built along the old narrow-gauge, North Coast Line between Brisbane and Gympie. Building the tunnel was labor-intensive work undertaken by T.J. Jessor and Co. Their workers built the concrete-lined tunnel using basic machinery and horses to assist with carting heavy loads. When the line was officially opened on 1 January 1891, it became possible to travel from Brisbane to Gympie and back in a 12hr trip—a major achievement, linking communities and reducing travel time! Among the route’s first travelers were troops sent to quell a Shearers' strike. Source: parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/dularcha/about/culture

Bullock teams were renowned for their steady, patient and determined pull in difficult situations where horses were prone to jerkiness and panic leading to expensive injuries and breakages. Bullocks didn’t often need shoeing and could live and work on rough herbage rather than the expensive feed required by working horses. It wasn’t until improved road surfaces meant that the greater strength and speed of draught horses could be put to an advantage that bullock teams began to be displaced on the road. In our forests and on our farms bullocks have been used up to the present day. Australia’s last full-time professional bullockies retired from the forest in the early 2000’s, but there are still a few hardy individuals who train and yoke bullock teams as hobbies, for demonstrations, or for part-time work in forests and on farms. In the case of Rohan the Bullocky, his bullock team began as a hobby, developed into a genuine working team, and is now available on and off his farm for heritage displays. Source: www.glenedenfamilyfarm.com.au/our-farm/bullock-team-facts...

www.flickr.com/photos/jacksonstreet/50143018192/in/datepo...