Famous Times photographic history of Hawkes Bay - book

In this review of Famous Times the reviewer finds a quietly authoritative photographic chronicle ideal for readers interested in rural history and historic preservation. The book focuses on the Gordon family's woolshed-turned-museum and the wider Hawkes Bay sheep farming region, and its single biggest reason to buy is the way the photos and short historical notes preserve visual evidence of architecture and landscape that shaped a farming district for over 160 years. This is a review for someone who values images as historical record rather than a technical agricultural manual.

Key Features

• Historic woolshed focus: The book uses the Gordon family woolshed, built in 1886, as a lens to explore the region and anchor the reader in a tangible historical site.
• Photographic journey: A sequence of photographs carries the reader through valleys, plains and coastline to illustrate how geography influenced settlement and sheep farming.
• Local context: Narration links images to the greater Hawkes Bay area, tracing how early settlers bought large blocks of undeveloped land and built the estates and woolsheds that followed.
• Museum connection: Coverage of the converted woolshed museum and its auditorium gives readers a sense of preserved social history, including shearing and dog shows as living traditions.
• Architectural interest: The book highlights how prospering sheep barons invested in large, often ornate woolsheds, useful for readers interested in historic preservation and rural architecture.

Who It's For

This book is best for readers who appreciate visual storytelling tied to regional history: photographers, local historians, and enthusiasts of agricultural architecture will find the images and contextual notes particularly rewarding. The emphasis on the Gordon family's woolshed makes it a good pick for visitors or researchers focused on New Zealand's rural museums.

It is not aimed at readers seeking a technical guide to modern sheep farming or a comprehensive socio-economic study; those looking for detailed farming data or contemporary industry analysis should look elsewhere. This is a photographic and historical record rather than an operational manual.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Excellent photographic documentation that preserves views of landscape and architecture for future reference.
• Clear local context linking the Gordon woolshed to Hawkes Bay settlement patterns and sheep farming history.
• Strong appeal to heritage and architecture audiences through attention to preserved buildings and their uses.

Cons

• Limited technical detail about sheep farming practices, so it may disappoint readers seeking agricultural instruction.

Specifications

Our Verdict

Famous Times is a thoughtfully assembled photographic record that will appeal to anyone interested in rural heritage, museum preservation and agricultural architecture. It provides clear visual and contextual value for visitors and local historians, offering good value as a regional photographic history even though it does not cover modern farming techniques.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book focus on a single site?
Yes, the Gordon family woolshed built in 1886 is the central site, used to explore the wider Hawkes Bay region.

Is the book mainly photographs or text?
It is primarily a photographic journey supplemented by historical notes and context rather than long academic chapters.

Will it help with practical farming advice?
No, the book documents heritage and landscape; it does not provide contemporary farming instruction.