This is the untold story behind the massive red brick woolshed located at Serpentine, in central Victoria. This woolshed, still in quite good order, fascinates those people who take the trouble to visit. Hidden in the story of this shed lies a quite extraordinary tale of one of our pioneer men who came to Victoria to oversee several contracts in the construction of the Albert Graving Dock at Williamstown. Opening up a slaughter yards in Yuille Street, Ballarat, he along with his brother-in-law and Stock and Station Agency of Ettershank, Eaglestone and Co. which went on to become one of the most influential agents in Victoria and NSW.

Retiring from agency interests, John acquired the property known as East Loddon Station and commenced to build into an efficient and well-organised pastoral property, creating several inventions not the least one of the first mechanical shearing handpieces in Australia. He initiated steam ploughing in the region.
Includes bibliographical references: page 101.