THE HUMBLE FAMILY GOAT PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THE EARLY DAYS, OF PIONEER LIFE IN AUSTRALIA. AS OUR POPULATION SPREAD ACROSS THE CONTINENT, FAMILIES TOOK GOATS WITH THEM TO PROVIDE MILK, MEAT AND TRANSPORT. GOATS SURVIVED WHEN COWS AND SHEEP PERISHED IN OUR HARSH CONDITIONS, MANY FAMILIES COULD NOT AFFORD TO KEEP A COW, AND THE GOATS WERE CHEAPER TO FEED.
GOATS WERE HARNESSED TO PULL WATER CARTS, HAY AND VARIOUS OTHER FARM COMMODITIES, ENTERPRISING YOUNG BOYS HARNESSED THEIR GOATS CARTING WATER FOR OTHER FAMILIES, AND FOR COLLECTING BOTTLES, TO EARN EXTRA POCKET MONEY.
GOAT RACING WAS POPULAR ON ST.PATRICK'S DAY SPORTS RACES AT THE BRISBANE EXHIBITION AND GOAT RACING WAS EXTREMELY POPULAR IN CHARTERS TOWERS AROUND 1905. ROCKHAMPTON IS KNOWN AS THE GOAT RACING CAPITAL OF QUEENSLAND, GOAT RACING WAS VERY BIG IN TOWNESVILLE THEY HELD THE TOWNESVILLE KID STAKES.
PHOTOGRAPHERS ALSO TRAVELED THE COUNTRY, WITH A GOAT AND CART TO PHOTOGRAPH CHILDREN AND ALSO TAKING STUDIO PHOTOGRAPH OF CHILDREN IN A GOAT CART.
GOATS ARE VERY EASY TO TRAIN INTO HARNESS AND LOVE TO WORK, JUST AS THEY LOVE TO PLAY. I HAVE TRAINED TWO KALAHARI RED WETHERS TO PULL A CART, BELOW IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF BILL AND BEN THE HIGHWAY MEN. IF YOU WOULD LIKE A GOAT IN HARNESS OR IF YOU NEED ANY HELP WITH CART GOATS PLEASE CONTACT ME.
MORE INFORMATION AND A WONDERFUL REFERENCE SOURCE ON CART GOATS IS THE BOOK "THE INDISPENSABLE GOAT" QUEENSLAND PIONEERS AND THEIR GOATS WRITTEN BY ERROL BEUTEL AND FAYE SCHUTT.

Ben The Highwayman

Ben The Highwayman

Ben The Highwayman

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