THE DROVER'S VOICES
oRAL HISTORY PROJECT
Hear the stories of Australia's drovers in their own words
The Drovers Voices oral history collection captures the voices of 122 individuals, with interviews recorded by Bruce Simpson and Bill Gammage between 2000 and 2006. Most interviewees are retired drovers, but the collection also includes graziers, station managers, stockmen, ringers, shearers, teamsters, horse breakers, and a few bushwomen. These interviews bring to life the stories of those who shaped Australia's rural heritage, particularly in droving and related professions.
These interviews, where available, form part of a collection in the National Library of Australia: Drovers oral history project [sound recording], National Library of Australia, Bib ID: 2008486
Funded by the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal
The Drovers Camp sincerely thanks the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) for supporting The Drovers Voices. Their funding has made the digital side of this project possible, including our website development and reliable internet for the museum. FRRR’s commitment to strengthening rural communities ensures the voices and stories of our drovers are preserved and shared for generations to come.
Why do so many of our Drovers have no known photographs?
The Australian droving era produced remarkably few named photographs. Most drovers, stockmen, cooks, and camp hands worked in remote regions where cameras were rare. The majority of those who shaped the cattle industry left behind stories, memories, and achievements — but not identifiable images.
A heritage built on memory, not portraits
The absence of photographs does not diminish the contribution of these men and women. Their legacy lives in:
- the stories they told
- the cattle they moved
- the country they knew
- the communities they shaped
The Drovers Voices project honours their lives through recorded history, personal accounts, and community knowledge — even when no image survives.
How can you help?
We welcome contributions from families, friends, and communities who may hold private photographs of drovers not represented in public archives. If you have an image you would like to share, please contact us.