Samuel Southwell's Wagon
9 February 2013
There is an old photo of the Cricketers Arms Hotel which was taken in the early 1900's. In the photo is a wagon with sacks of grain on the back being pulled by six horses. The owner of the wagon was Samuel Southwell who is probably on the verandah of the hotel having a cold lemonade.
Where is this wagon today, over 100 years later?
Peter and Caroline O'Clery from Homeleigh Grove Olive Farm on Wallaroo Road believe that an old wagon on their property is the same one. They bought it 20 years ago at an auction at Wattle Park. Peter said he paid $400 for it. He wanted to ensure that the wagon was kept intact as another interested bidder only wanted the wheels and would dump the rest! Peter was successful and the wagon has sat under a tree on the O'Clery's farm in retirement since that day.
The old wagon is in poor condition with the wooden features badly deteriorated. However, all the metal equipment is still there including the turntable and the brake linkages. It would be a large and expensive task to restore the wagon. Peter said it may be a project when he retires.
The attached photos are of the wagon of 100 years ago and the wagon today!
Southwell's Wagon
At the Cricketers Arms Hotel in the early 1900's.
The wagon today
Detail of the turntable
Kingsley Southwell inspecting the roadworthiness of the wagon