Coracles Drawn Into Totara Yield

Totara Estate gave coracle followers and traditional craftspeople a helping hand into the
spotlight at the start of this month.

The established historic site south of Oamaru celebrated its annual Harvest Home. The pulling power of bullocks, Clydesdale horses and other beasts of burden drew
attention to the estate's claim to fame. Sumpter Wharf in Oamaru harbour may or may not be part of this claim (see Graeme Ferris' upcoming contribution on this subject).

Totara Estate is known as the birthplace of New Zealand's frozen meat industry and is
the site where mutton was processed for the first shipment of frozen meat to England
aboard the Dunedin.

The Dunedin's first voyage from New Zealand left from Port Chalmers in 1882.Meat was taken by train to Port Chalmers.

Some historians believe Oamaru's Sumpter Wharf was built for the thence-burgeoning
frozen meat export trade.

Another example of that spirit of adaptive technology still thriving in these parts can be
found in the ever-expanding local coracle quarter.

Although still in its infancy in Oamaru, it was fitting that coracle building should be
demonstrated at the birthplace of another now significant New Zealand tradition.

Local coracle pioneers John Baster and Lee-Ann Scotti are pictured at Totara on the
day.