DOTTED AROUND the Riverina D and outback New South Wales are several intriguing old river red gums with hand shears embedded in their trunks. The rusting shears are stuck so deep in the trees that it’s clear they’ve been there for a long time. But just how long? And why?
According to bush folklore, they were wedged into tree trunks either by disgruntled shearers as a protest during the shearing strikes of the 1890s, or as a pragmatic farewell by shearers as they marched off to fight in World War I; perhaps it was both. As with many outback legends, however, it’s hard to separate fact from fiction.
This story is from the May - June 2023 edition of Australian Geographic Magazine.
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This story is from the May - June 2023 edition of Australian Geographic Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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