Design historian Annette O'Sullivan and esteemed photographer Jane Ussher have immortalised fifteen of New Zealand's most iconic woolsheds in the hardcover book 'Woolsheds - The Historic Shearing Sheds of Aotearoa New Zealand'.

"These are amazing buildings and they are disappearing, and they need to be recorded, "O'Sullivan said.

The book features seven woolsheds in the North Island and eight in the South Island.

With so many buildings to choose from, O'Sullivan had a careful selection process when deciding which woolsheds to include in the book.

"I had quite a strong idea of criteria.

"They had to be original and have long family histories – that was important.

"I also wanted to represent New Zealand, a spread of North and South Island – but the main areas of sheep farming."

O'Sullivan said that while some sheds in the book "are not absolutely beautiful," she chose them for their historical significance or unique features.

The book is more than 300 pages long, beginning with a history of New Zealand's wool trade and ending with a chapter called 'The Custodians,' which pays homage to the owners of the farms and woolsheds featured.

In between, each woolshed has a chapter that includes an in-depth history of the shed and the farm it belongs to, completed by stunning photographs that capture the authentic beauty of buildings.

"I see the book as a whole lot of short stories that you could pick up, put down, and read the chapters independently.

"And I wanted to tell the history of the wool industry through the objects in the shed."

O'Sullivan said that woolsheds are about more than just agricultural history.

"Its economic, social and cultural history.

"Some woolsheds were used as venues and community sites for weddings and concerts, so I also put those histories in the book."

O'Sullivan said that some stations were like villages, and woolsheds were the hub of the community.

"They supported a big workforce.

"You walk into them and get a sense of the history.

"A lot of things are still three; they are like museums in a way."

O'Sullivan said that wool bale brands, many of which still hang on the walls of sheds, were an early marketing tool.

The ornate Longbeach brand, one of O'Sullivan's favourites, is hidden beneath the book's dust cover.

"The design of the Prince of Wales feathers above the letter G represented John Grigg, the first of six generations at Longbeach in Canterbury.

"His flock of Southdown sheep was imported from Sandringham Estate, giving him permission to use the royal symbol for his brand.

"The provenance of the station represented in the brand is still used in its marketing today."

O'Sullivan said that besides documenting history, she wanted to promote the wool industry and tell its story.

"I'm a big fan of wool, and it's unbelievable that it's not a valued product.

"The story often gets side-lined; it's not popular history."

O'Sullivan said obtaining funding to produce the book had been impossible until the farming community saw the project's value and rallied around it.

"Federated farmers set up a Pledge Me page and promoted it, and they raised around $30,000.

"It was the happiest day when they got behind it,” O’Sullivan said.

Woolsheds: The historic shearing sheds of Aotearoa New Zealand by Annette O'Sullivan and Jane Ussher $85 RRP (Massey University Press), on sale 7 November.

By Claire Inkson