Hoping for big turnout to mark saleyards’ 125th

• Published date: 18 January 2023
• Publication title: Central Rural Life

The original Hawarden Saleyards Company was founded in 1898, with the saleyards built later in the year

The first livestock sale, held in January 1899, was reported in the Christchurch Star.

The newspaper reported the sale was held in ‘‘excessively hot’’ weather, suggesting not much has changed in the last 125 years.

A strong contingent of auctioneers, dealers, butchers and farmers caught the morning train from Christchurch to Hawarden.

On sale were nearly 6000 sheep and 40 head of cattle.

Monthly stock sales were held at Hawarden for decades, with stock transported by train to Christchurch to be slaughtered.

The first ewe fair was held several years later, with the first reference on the PapersPast website being to a sale held on March 12, 1909.

A report in The Press recorded 14,300 ewes went under the hammer.

Two-tooth half-bred ewes sold for between 14 shillings and 21 shillings, five pence.

Today’s ewe fairs do not have the same fanfare of the early days, but attract farmers from far and wide, as there are few ewe fairs left in Canterbury.

PGG Wrightson regional livestock manager Grant Nordstrom is expecting another strong yarding.

‘‘I would say our ewe numbers will be good. There has been a few farm sales, so there will be a few capital lines going under the hammer.

‘‘We won’t know for another week whether it needs to be held over two days, but I can tell you it will be one full day.’’

Livestock sales...