As wild as the deer they shared the bush with, a mob of feral cattle at remote Halfway Bay Station, provided decades of adventurous outings for shepherds attempting to round them up.

In a new book written and produced in Central, the wild mob’s colourful story is one of the honestly-told tales in a sometimes hilarious, sometimes tragic, high country history.

Located across Lake Wakatipu and only accessible by boat, the station’s narrative begins in pre-human times, then chronicles its first visitors and a century and a half of productive farming.

Central Otago families who have ties with the station have shared their personal stories and photographs, giving a realistic look at our farming past, with the harsh lessons of working with nature or paying the price, looming large throughout.

Amongst the challenges were snowstorms, kea attacking sheep, watery tragedies and the ongoing expensive introduced-pest problem.

Stunning photographs of the landscape feature throughout the book.

A combination of difficult terrain, wild weather and isolation, means plans often go awry for Halfway Bay’s owners and farm managers but a calm day prevailed for these pioneers, loading wool from a wagon onto a steamer in the bay around 1900. PHOTO: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

In addition, original artwork, historical images, and stories retold by descendants of early runholders, bring the more distant past sharply to life.

The experiences of more recent owners and managers, although confronting at times, give a sense of why Halfway Bay is held so dear by all who have spent time there.

Cull hoggets heading out on the barge. PHOTO: Gene Bryce 

Children who grew up roaming the vast valleys on horseback, beekeepers, boaties, digger drivers and hard-working farmers all tell their story, as it was.

In the changing times, Halfway Bay’s new owners outline their wishes for the property, where agriculture has now been scaled back and work on regeneration of native species has begun.

Climbing out of Siberia mid-Winter. PHOTO: Gene Bryce

‘Meeting Nature Halfway’ was written by journalist Jill Herron with artwork by Jordan Turner and design by Anna Green, all of Cromwell. 

Jill is a former contributor to The Central App news team and Jordan has featured in local news for her art and contributions to chorus boxes and outdoor murals in the district. 

The book was printed by Dash Design and Print (formerly ODT Print) in Alexandra and is available at Paperplus stores in Cromwell, Alexandra and Queenstown Airport.

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