BULLOCK TEAMS EARLY THIS CENTURY
In the early 1920’s and 1940s, Frenchy Humble and Jack McCann and their teams of bullocks were responsible for much of the dam construction and silting work completed around the area. In the same period, they were kept busy delving the bore drains which had to be cleaned regularly, so the precious artesian water (the lifeblood of the plains) could flow unimpeded through the miles of bore drains across the country.
In later years, this was taken on by Bill Arnold and his horse team, pictured in the painting to the right. He was a familiar sight working his horse team, as they worked their way along the many miles of bore drains throughout the district.
In late 2006, the water from the bore was restricted, and the bore drains were closed to conserve water and reduce the negative environmental impact of the bore drains on local soil quality and to improve the reliability of the flow of the water around the district for agricultural and domestic uses. It is now piped underground to watering points on the properties.
Below painting: BILL ARNOLD’S HORSE TEAM DELVING THE BORE DRAIN ON THE PROPERTY ‘MAXWELLTON’, BURREN JUNCTION.
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