Story: Transport of animals

In the early 20th century, the Nolans and other Westland families drove cattle from the Cascade River in the south to Whataroa, where they were put onto trucks – a distance of about 270 kilometres. Earlier, before the road could take trucks, they had to go even further north to the railway line at Ross. Droving involved moving cattle along beaches, across rivers and through bush following old Māori trails. It was often slow work, and some cattle escaped into the bush. Drovers found accommodation with settlers on the way, or slept under trees or overhanging rocks.