The book will document the history of New Zealand's iconic woolsheds.
Senior Lecturer Dr Annette O鈥橲ullivan from Massey鈥檚 School of Design Ng膩 Pae M膩hutonga is collaborating with award-winning photographer Jane Ussher to create the large-format book Woolsheds鈥he fabric of the nation. But they need help to make it happen.
The book plans to document, in photographic form, the buildings and objects that represent the 180-year-old history of wool. However, it is not just an exploration of the buildings and histories told through the things inside. The book will also highlight the contribution of farm workers to the success of the wool trade through recollections of the places where they worked and lived, and the objects they made and used.
For the project, Dr O鈥橲ullivan is expanding on her doctoral studies of branding histories on historic sheep stations, while Ms Ussher will draw on her experience of photographing sheep stations.
Dr O鈥橲ullivan says there is a sense of urgency to getting the book completed, as so many iconic woolsheds have already been removed as a result of changes in land use and sheep farming.
She believes the book is of national significance as a contribution to New Zealand history.
Dr O鈥橲ullivan came up with the idea for the book and was met with enthusiasm from Ms Ussher and Nicola Legat of 暴风资源 Press. It has also been supported by the 暴风资源 Foundation, who recognised the significance of the work with Massey鈥檚 long history as an agricultural college with a connection to the wool industry.
The book combines disciplines within the university; agriculture at the Manawat奴 campus in Palmerston North, and design at the Pukeahu campus in Wellington.
鈥淭his project aims to represent sheep stations around the country and document their histories and personal stories. It seeks to secure a comprehensive visual record of Aotearoa New Zealand鈥檚 most important heritage farm buildings and historic objects,鈥 Dr O鈥橲ullivan says.
For the book to progress, funding of $30,000 for photography, materials, travel, accommodation and publication costs is required.
鈥淲e鈥檙e seeking assistance from like-minded individuals and industry bodies, modern-day wool entrepreneurs, industry members working in the agri-business sector and those keen to see this history captured through robust research and stunning photographs taken by one of New Zealand鈥檚 foremost photographers.鈥
Dr O鈥橲ullivan and Ms Ussher are inviting people to help publish the book through a , which Federated Farmers have assisted them to set up.
The book is scheduled to go on sale in late 2024.
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