Horse drawn carts & drays were commonly used by early farmers of the Plenty Valley for general farm use. This 1880’s cart spent its working life in the ownership of the Hurrey family at the historic “Craigie Lee” farm, Yan Yean. It was used to carry sheaves of oaten hay and cans of milk from the dairy farm to the Yan Yean rail platform for transport to the
Hurrey Brothers Dairy in North Fitzroy.
The cart was later purchased from Miss Hilda Hurrey by Robert Draper, also of Yan Yean. In 2018, Robert gifted the cart to the Whittlesea Agricultural Society, where the volunteers of the Heritage Section commenced work to restore and rebuild it to its former glory.
In the 160th year of the Whittlesea Agricultural Society, since it was founded in 1859, this important piece of local history was unveiled on September 29, 2019. It has been a great project of collaboration and learning.
Photo: Unknown, Judy Clements and Robert Draper (long time President of the Whittlesea Agricultural Society)
Photographer Suzanne Coburn.