Historic Swagger's Quilt Comes Home

New Zealand Historic Places Trust information release
30 March 2005

A rare swagger's quilt, once the trusty companion of a North Otago swagger, has come home in time for the annual Harvest Home* celebrations on April 3rd at North Otago's historic Totara Estate.

Bequeathed to the estate over 20 years ago the quilt was taken for safe keeping by the Otago Settler's Museum. More recently it was included in a Te Papa exhibition On The Sheep's Back and with the winding up of the exhibition the quilt has made the long journey south pausing long enough for revellers at this year's Harvest Home celebrations to gaze upon a rare piece of North Otago history.

With the swagger's identity not known it will be up to the viewers to ponder on the quilt's earlier journeys and the source of the materials this 19th century swagger collected and added to his quilt.

Made from worsted woollens and cotton the resourceful swagger found all manner of items to replace worn out patches. The discerning will identify a woman's bodice, sock tops and a felt hat sewn into the multi-layered quilt.

Like the traditional swagger who was constantly on the move, this 1880s quilt will stop off only briefly at the historic Totara Estate. While there, it will take pride of place alongside a 2005 'work-in-progress' version of a swagger's quilt.

This 2005 work-in-progress is being fashioned from hard worn materials from yesteryear and sewn by a group of Totara Alive volunteers. Like its earlier counterpart this version will also be a work-in-progress with additional items added as they come to light.

To this end the Estate is asking visitors to the Estate's Harvest Home this Sunday to rummage around for appropriate materials which the team of volunteer sewers can incorporate into the 2005 quilt.

For more information:

Scott Elliffe, Property Manager
Totara Estate - frozen in time
03 434 7169
Email: totaraestate@historic.org.nz

* A ritual of 19th century farming, the Harvest Home was celebrated when the last sheaf of wheat was stored, signifying that food (and profits!) was safely gathered for another year. This event would be cause for great rejoicing accompanied by feasting, music and dancing.

Note: Totara Estate's Harvest Home has been made possible with the generous assistance of principal sponsors DB Mainland Breweries, Brackens Print and the High Country Herald.