David Watt reviews Woolsheds: The historic shearing sheds of Aotearoa New Zealand by Annette O’Sullivan and Jane Ussher for Heritage New Zealand:
‘A much-awaited book documenting the stories and history of 15 selected heritage shearing sheds in Aotearoa New Zealand has hit the market with launches in Wellington and Christchurch.
Author, Dr Annette O’Sullivan and photographer Jane Ussher, have produced a magnificent publication which purchasers will be proud to own.
Invitees to the launch in the capital city and in Ōtautahi Christchurch were rich in their praise for Annette’s research and for bringing this wonderful book together. Jane equally received high praise for the quality of the images throughout this book.
Annette commented at the launch that she chose the 15 woolsheds because they all had points of difference, and different stories and histories to tell.
“The woolsheds are of different sizes and character. It was important to me to have their stories told and their histories placed on record. The shearing stories in the book are told through the objects in the woolsheds and it is a celebration of wool, and the products produced from our wool down the years,” says Annette.
Many of these woolsheds are well known to our staff as places we endear as much as their owners, whom we have had contact with over the years in the course of our work.
We have been privileged to work with Annette over the past year and more with her research and creation of a wool bale stencils exhibition. From its start in the South Island, the popular exhibition has travelled north with our assistance, being showcased in museums in Greytown and South Taranaki. We will continue to work with Annette to take this great piece of New Zealand history to other parts of the country.’
Read the rest of the review here.
