Steve Braunias reviews Woolsheds: The historic shearing sheds of Aotearoa New Zealand by Annette O’Sullivan and Jane Ussher for ReadingRoom:
‘Milking sheds, I know intimately; the headlights of a farmbike illuminating mysterious valleys in the darkness before dawn, herding the old moos, working the pumps, tuning the transistor to the Concert Programme to soothe yourself and the beasts, the whole place reeking of wet pooh and spilt milk; but of woolsheds, I know nuzzink, not ever set foot inside once, am a stranger to the wool of the beasts and the holy ritual of the woolshed smoko. But like anyone with sight I have forever been dazed and amazed by how great they look. Some are as epic as stadiums. Some are masterpieces of beam and pitch. All are classic New Zealand spaces, the first buildings of the New Zealand mind, hives of the New Zealand experience. Fifteen especially grandiose or charming woolsheds feature in the new illustrated coffee table book Woolsheds: The Historic Shearing Sheds of Aotearoa New Zealand by Jane Ussher & Annette O’Sullivan (Massey University Press, $85). It’s one of the best books of the year and a free copy was up for grabs in last week’s giveaway contest staged by ReadingRoom. To enter, readers were asked to send in a photo of a woolshed. Some of the best feature as below. The winner will be announced on Friday.’
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