Hand-made timber trolley early 20th century

Cedar, brush box, metal

This rare, hand-made timber vehicle was made by George Ellis, an early settler of the Coffs region.

George Ellis came to the district in 1893 when only 16 and worked on properties and with the Lands Department surveyor Mr Loxton. He selected land at Moleton, north-west of Coffs Harbour, in 1908 and divided his time between improving his property and prospecting.

At the time, it was a condition of purchase that land had to be cleared for farming and like many selectors, Ellis initially had to work clearing the land and timber-getting. It is likely that he used the trolley to haul logs. A team of bullocks pulled it, the solid timber wheels making it easier to negotiate rough terrain. Ellis was also known to use it to haul ore and corn.

Unlike many who tried their luck in the areas west of Coffs Harbour, Ellis was a successful gold miner, claiming £1800 worth of alluvial gold from his "Clay Gully" strike. He installed several crushing plants in the district and extracted significant amounts of gold. It is likely that he used this trolley to transport ore between mine sites and the crushing plants.

George Ellis was a brilliant "bush carpenter", using whatever materials were at hand, improvised methods and ad hoc design to create buildings and objects that were practical and beautiful nonetheless. Not only did he fashion this cart out of bush timbers using their inherent, natural shape, but he constructed similarly ingenious sheds and gates on his property, including a shed using tree trunks as posts! He died in 1949.

George Robb donated the trolley. His father had been Ellis' business partner; he bought Ellis' property and ran it as a tourist attraction, George's Gold Mine, until 2007. The trolley, affectionately known as the "Flintstone Cart", has been on display since the museum opened in 1981 and is one of our most significant items.

Wooden cart or jinker. It was initially used to transport ore from the gold mine to the crusher. It was later used to carry corn from the field to the barn. The front wheels are made from brush box wood. The larger rear wheels are made from cedar logs, shaped by axe and adze.

Blog post George Ellis’ “Flintstone Cart” on Coffs Coast Heritage.