A new modern Australian record was quietly broken by a huge team of 40 bullocks at the Good Old Days Festival while the limelight was captured by the big horse teams.
Bullock driver Phil Thomson OAM, of Numinbah Valley, Queensland, teamed up with fellow Queensland bullocky, Matt Stanford, Darcy Quinn, of Adelong, NSW, and Joey Reedy, of Forbes, NSW, to create the composite team.
The 40 head eclipsed the previous record at Barellan of 28 set on October 3, 2025, and set a new Australian record for the 21st century on October 4, 2025, at the Good Old Days Festival, Barellan, NSW.
The national record stands at 102 bullocks set at Cessnock in the 1980s when the timber industry was at its height in the 20th century.
The team comprised dairy breed and beef cross bullocks pulling a Bennett tabletop wagon loaded with wool bales.
Mr Thomson said it was unlikely that number would ever be broken as the timber cutting and milling industry had declined.
“We will beat it next year, but I don’t think we can double it. We will never get up to the numbers they had in the late 1980s with 102 but we will give it a go.”
Mr Thomson was heartened to see the young bullockies learning the ropes and coming through to keep the tradition alive.
He has received a scholarship to attend a symposium at Lorsch, Germany, in November 8-9, to represent the Australian bullock driving and draught animal sector.
Each year the Centre for Draft Cattle Research and Education at Lorsch hosts the World Draft Cattle Symposium. The centre has an extensive specialist library, harness and yoke collection.
It aims to bring the work with draught cattle back into focus and to develop common quality standard, a draught suitability and performance test for working cattle.
“I will be talking about the Good Old Days Festival at the symposium, and the Australian scene. They find it hard to grasp our extensive pastoral areas as their farming is very intensive,” Mr Thomson said.
“With the beauty of the internet I have been able to stay in touch with people from America, Europe, Africa and all over the world on draught animals.
“Barellan has been on the global stage for some time. I have had the privilege of being present at both Australian records for the horse teams at Carrara and Barellan.”
“It’s good to come here as people are the same like-minded species.”
Ends
Caption: Phil Thomson OAM, Matt Stanford, Darcy Quinn and Joey Reedy with their team of 40 bullocks to set a new modern day national record.
NFP: For media comment contact Fiona Kibble on 0409 363 682
