Jim Davidson- The Man and the Industry, Revisited

Jim Davidson – The Man and the Industry, Revisited (book) by Ian Itter

Ian has kindly offered to donate 30% of the $40.00 cover price to our restoration project.

Every Australian — and anyone connected to what was once our nation’s greatest industry, sheep and wool — owes a debt to Jim Davidson.

In the pioneering days of mechanical shearing, Davidson rode his bicycle through the bush, lugging with him everything needed to demonstrate a new technology: the shearing machine. At a time when many places barely had roads, his determination and bushcraft helped change the face of Australian agriculture.

Working alongside names like Fred Wolseley, John Howard, Dangar, Gedye & Co., and R. A. Lister, Davidson played a pivotal role in transforming shearing practices and improving life on the land.

This book is a tribute to an unsung hero whose contributions helped build an industry and a way of life. As one seasoned shearer put it:

“Jim Davidson, I dips me lid.”

— Des de Belle, Demonstration Shearer at the Sydney Royal Show for 28 years

Gordon, ACT, 2010