Hart Domain Bullocks

Recreating history from rubbish

Local Waitakere artist and blacksmith Stuart Slater was presented with the challenge of creating "something great out of a load of old rubbish." The result is a pair of 3 metre long 1.8 metre high Bullocks formed from the skeletons of discarded shopping trolleys recovered from the Oratia stream. The project is part of Waitakere City's Clean Stream Programme. 

The project was a partnership with the artist, Clean Stream Waitakere and the local community. Its aim was to provide a piece of art which highlighted the benefits of recycling and reusing materials, while at the same time celebrating a slice of local history.  The Bullocks also enhance the city's 'Green Network' programme, by encouraging the public to enjoy and value green spaces within the city.

Trolley transformation: the process

Beginning in January 1997, after drawing the outlines of the bullocks on large pieces of paper, Stuart and his daughter Shelley used reinforcing steel to shape the profile and armature of each beast. They cut up the metal shopping trolleys and beat the mesh into shape with hammers before welding them into position. Five trolley bottoms were used for each head and eight bottoms for the bullocks' backs. The sides of the trolleys became the ribs.

Fine black mesh was laid over the structures under a layer of chicken mesh, to shape the muscles and the haunches. Fibrous cement was then applied to build up the main body and to shape the fetlocks, hooves and horns, and to give the bullocks character. 

The Council's parks department donated a railway sleeper for the yoke, which is placed at "dragging distance" behind the Bullocks.

Community involvement with the project was. The local community became involved of the project and was genuinely proud and excited by what was achieved (evidenced by comments made in the on-site visitor's book). The Bullocks were completed in March 1997, with an official unveiling held on April 30, 1997.

How to get there

Situated in the Hart Domain opposite Waitakere Plaza in Henderson, the artwork harks back 100 years to time when Kauri logging was done the hard way.