A recent trip down to North Otago down to the Totara Estate open day gave me the opportunity to get a few photos.
A few minutes south of Oamaru the memorial below dominates the surrounding country side.
Thomas Brydone was instrumental in setting up New Zealand's first expert of frozen meat the London in the "Dunedin". Prior to this the sheep industry was centred of wool exports from the Merino. However merinos did not thrive in the climate here but South Africa and Australia were more suited. Old sheep were simply driven off cliffs into the sea!!!
The Totara estate has been restored on the original site and is administered as part the Heritage New Zealand places to visit. I didn't take many photos of the estate itself but was more interested in the view from the memorial.
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| The building above the stables in the centre is where the sheep were slaughtered. |
In the stable buildings are lots of exhibits of old saddlery tools, harnesses etc. Outside a growing collection of farm machinery is on display.
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| Gearing on and old hay baler. |
The view from the top of the hill is worth the effort of the climb son a fine day A few clouds adds to the contrast between the land and the sky.
On the way home we stopped at the Oamaru Gardens to see the restored fountain. The backlighting showed up the water nicely whereas with the sun behind, the water was hardly visible.
