Val Currie (left) and Bill Bennet using a broad axe for squaring up logs.West Coast.

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DescriptionBroad axes were commonly used for squaring up logs in the bush. New Zealand’s West Coast has a wonderfully durable tree called yellow pine. As a house pile or telegraph pole it can last 100 years the ground.
Val Currie (left) and Bill Bennet used the broad axe in younger days.Map^[1]ContributorPeter LuskPam Englefield-Absolum

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Location (city or town)West Coast Landmark (Place)yellow pine

From Facebook

Date Created12th April 2025CommentsJon Hickford
We took a lovely wee filly of Bill's called 'Midnight' through the Heaphy in the early 70s. I remember how Peter de Vries pack horses were very taken by the young 'woman' they met. Bill was generous to a fault.

Colleen Yee
I've never seen one up close, Thenks for sharing this photo. I guess wood-splitting machines are a spin-off from the broad-axe.

Kelly McLaughlin
Known around Westport as yellow pine on the rest of the coast and Ruapehu where there were localised stands as silver pine. The long durability is exceptional and grain figuration is remarkable. A large number of of highly reguarded West Coast axemen prized their silver pine axe cases.

Rebecca Berkett
Men were men

Russ Chidgey
Now that’s an axe

Kevin O'Regan
Many others masters of the broad are. Les senior and junior Gilsenan. George and Bill Oates in Whataroa. Ted Black and his brother from Okarito

Kevin O'Regan
Les junior and Danny Gilsenan. We used to watch them for hours in Landing station yard.

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Val Currie (left) and Bill Bennet using a broad axe for squaring up logs.West Coast.

Editing is temporarily disabled