Wool press

Terawhiti Station at Makara, on the south coast near Wellington, imported this 'double-box' wool press in the 1860s from Australia. It is now a rare survivor from the early days of New Zealand pastoralism.

'Double-box' press
This wool press is known as a 'double-box' type; it uses a cap, which is forced down by a capstan - similar to a winch, but mounted vertically - to compress wool into a bale. The press is probably made of jarrah because it is heavy and hard, extremely durable, and resistant to insect attacks, making it ideal for both indoor and outdoor use.

'Double-box' wool presses were used in New Zealand until the twentieth century when they were replaced with the more efficient 'Donald' and 'Sandow' presses that were developed here. This press was used for over a hundred years in the Makara area before it was purchased by the National Museum in 1991.

New Zealand pastoralism
Wool has always been one of New Zealand's major exports. By the 1850s, large-scale pastoral 'runs' like Terawhiti Station were a feature of many New Zealand provinces, especially the Wairarapa, Hawke's Bay, and Canterbury. Although most of those 'runs' have now been subdivided into smaller farms, the same processes of mustering and herding sheep, and classing and packing wool continue today.