Living conditions in a typical bush camp were crowded. Often a gang of men slept and ate in one large hut. Around the edge were two tiers of bunks, while a large table dominated the centre of the room. As well as being used for meals, it was a place to play cards, read, write letters and talk.
Listen to former bushman Joe Julian describe the way of life.
Transcript
The bunks were built up on either side of the table up sometimes double tier bunks all the way down both sides of the table and they had seats split wood seats all the way along the side of the table. They were there permanently, part of the table. They had the big chimney at one end, the cook with all his pots and camp ovens and everything were down at the chimney end of the shanty. And at the end of the table they'd cut a big kauri block of kauri, saw the end of a log and it could be anything up to eight six eight foot across and they put that at the end of the table and that was the cook's bench that he worked off of. And woe betide you if you touched anything unless the cook put it on the bench for, put it on that block of wood.
Using this item
Reference: 6545
Image: Alexander Turnbull Library, F. G. Radcliffe Collection (PAColl-4950), 1/2-007651;G, by Frederick George Radcliffe
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