Summary

Large, bluestone thumper with a hard piece of wood as a central boy and two handles (one vertical at the top and the other horizontal). Used to thump the bluestone into sand base. Used at Newmarket Saleyards.

Bluestone pitchers at Newmarket Saleyards were laid in uneven patterns to prevent the cattle from 'bunching' and to give them a better surface for their hooves to grip. They were also laid in patterns to provide drainage and direct effluent. Bluestone 'pitchers' were often used to duplicate the cobbles of English streets (pitchers were so named because they were traditionally 'pitched' using masons hammer and bolster chisel).

When the Newmarket Saleyards were dismantled, much of the bluestone was recycled. It is estimated that there were 1.6 million bluestone paving stones at the Saleyards. Some 480,000 of these went to council depots, another 480,000 for reuse on the project site and the remaining 700,000 were sold to the public at $2.50 each.

Physical Description

Hardwood block with a piece of metal pipe bolted through the centre, as the handle.

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