“On the site of the present day Normoyle’s Steel Fabrication Factory and the Well’s Timber Yard, several Chinamen used to work very hard at growing vegetables.

I guess there would have been four or five tough looking men engaged in the enterprise. What fascinated me as a small boy, was, their method of watering the long rows of various types of healthy vegetables.

Evidently they had a fairly long rectangular excavation in a central position into which water must have been pumped up out of the Burrangong Creek and a serviceable level of water maintained.

Each man had a smoothly shaped but strong piece of wood placed across his shoulders at the back of his neck. At both ends a large watering can that would have held about 10 gallons of water was suspended.

Each can was fitted with a long spout with a fine spray nozzle at the end. The men would walk down into the excavation from one end and allow both cans to fill with water while they themselves would be well over their knees in the supply of water in the excavation.

When  both cans were full they would struggle out of the hole at the other end and slowly spray at least four rows of delightfully healthy vegetables.

When the cans were empty they would hurry back and refill the cans and return to the lines of vegetables.

I cannot recall if they ever had a great range of growth stimulants and pest control measures as we seem to have as absolute requirements these days.

Their way of marketing was from a covered spring cart drawn by a sturdy old horse and from house to house they would make their sales of beautiful fresh vegetables to thoroughly satisfied housewives.

Well, as you can readily imagine, there was always the chance of ever unscrupulous lads who would sneak up behind the “vegie” cart and try to grab a luscious carrot, but old “John Chinaman” would touch up his trusty old “moke” and be away in no time from his not so successful boyish thief.

Such was Young in those far off times and for people, such as I, well we can only reminisce.” 

The Normoyle’s Steel Fabrication Factory was situated on Lower Boorowa Street opposite possum Lane, on about 5 acres. It was a large employer producing steel fabrications for diverse clients such as the Olympic Stadium and Old Parliament House.

Dave Normoyle, a Blacksmith and Coachbuilder by trade, arrived from Adare in County Limerick, Ireland in 1890 with his wife and three sons Frank, Dave and Jim.  

Where the factory once stood is a vacant block waiting for a new owner and on a dark night if you are quiet you may observe the spirits of the Chinese gardeners with their yokes over their shoulders watering their plants.