Trail 06

6 5-Wire Fence

Along the north-east and south-east boundaries of the house lawns there are the remaining parts of a 5-wire fence that kept the stock, which grazed on what is now the Village Green, from the house lawns.

A long-time standard in New Zealand for fencing grazing animals such as sheep and horses, the 5-wire fence design has not changed much. The top wires were sometimes replaced with barbed wire to discourage animals from pushing against the fence and damaging it.

The fence at Williams house uses standard galvanised wire fastened with hoop staples onto native timber posts and strainers, (all rimu), which stand a little over 1 metre high.