Evan McHugh's latest book, The Stockmen - The making of an Australian legend, is a beautifully presented and detailed account of the stockmen and women who have worked the outback of Australia from settlement until modern day.
My favourite part of the book was the illustrations, numerous historical works of art, I am a sucker for images of riders on horseback working cattle! The text is detailed and in some parts it was more that I really wanted to know. I think it would be a good reference for a student of Australian history, but I was happy to skim read and pick up the interesting parts.
Being in a drought at the moment, I found the accounts of drought times particularly shocking, I could really empathise with the stockmen moving huge mobs of cattle long distances only to find that the next waterhole was also dry, it must have been devastating, and yet they persevered in harrowing conditions. The changes from droving along stock routes to moving cattle by truck were also interesting.
Not having grown up with Australian history, I really enjoyed the earlier chapters and I learnt a lot about the conditions immediately after settlement. It was pretty funny reading about how the first cattle that were brought to Australia initially escaped, I could just imagine that happening, those poor inexperienced convicts! Its really quite amazing to consider the conditions that the first farmers endured, the isolation and manual labour would have been incredibly tough.
I was surprised that the stockmen living at stations seemed to mainly survive on beef, tea and damper, and really relied on supplied from the coast. There didn't seem to be an effort to develop self-sufficient homesteads with gardens and chickens and house cows, and I'm not sure why that was.
Overall, it is a book that will appeal to both the history student and to those who like to look at the pictures! It would make a lovely gift for someone who has an interest in cattle, sheep or outback life in general.
The book was sent to me by Penguin, the opinions in this post are my own.
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My favourite part of the book was the illustrations, numerous historical works of art, I am a sucker for images of riders on horseback working cattle! The text is detailed and in some parts it was more that I really wanted to know. I think it would be a good reference for a student of Australian history, but I was happy to skim read and pick up the interesting parts.
Being in a drought at the moment, I found the accounts of drought times particularly shocking, I could really empathise with the stockmen moving huge mobs of cattle long distances only to find that the next waterhole was also dry, it must have been devastating, and yet they persevered in harrowing conditions. The changes from droving along stock routes to moving cattle by truck were also interesting.
Not having grown up with Australian history, I really enjoyed the earlier chapters and I learnt a lot about the conditions immediately after settlement. It was pretty funny reading about how the first cattle that were brought to Australia initially escaped, I could just imagine that happening, those poor inexperienced convicts! Its really quite amazing to consider the conditions that the first farmers endured, the isolation and manual labour would have been incredibly tough.
I was surprised that the stockmen living at stations seemed to mainly survive on beef, tea and damper, and really relied on supplied from the coast. There didn't seem to be an effort to develop self-sufficient homesteads with gardens and chickens and house cows, and I'm not sure why that was.
Overall, it is a book that will appeal to both the history student and to those who like to look at the pictures! It would make a lovely gift for someone who has an interest in cattle, sheep or outback life in general.
The book was sent to me by Penguin, the opinions in this post are my own.
Read any good books lately?
Simple Saturday Blog Hop
Clever Chicks Blog Hop
From the Farm Blog Hop
Homestead Barn Hop
Homeacres Hop
I am reading Pat Coleby's Natural Sheep Care right now. Hands down the best sheep book I have ever read. She also has books about cattle and goats. So much info packed into the chapters and she focuses on the health of your soils/mineral balances to bring about health in your herds/flocks. I will be recommending them to anyone who has cattle, sheep, or goats. She was born in Great Britain and grew up in Australia, so much of what she writes about is Australian sheep and cattle herds. This newest addition is adapted and has info added relevant to the US.
ReplyDeleteThat's great Megan, I have Pat Coleby's Natural Cattle Care, we refer to it regularly!
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