My Grandfather, Alfred Robert Barwick was born on the 20th Feb 1852 in Newcastle. He took up Farm 30 known as “Merrieton” 501 acres in the Warrah 1912 subdivision.
He moved from “Thornthwaite,” Scone with his wife Elizabeth “Betsy” nee Ashford and daughters Melba, Alma and youngest son Leslie. “Merrieton” homestead is still owned by his Great Grandson,
Ross Barwick.
Sons of Alfred, Edward and Charles Barwick also drew Farms 67 and 26 respectively.
My father Leslie when he wasn’t away
shearing went to work for his brother Jack at “Carellan”, Kelvin, Gunnedah. After returning from WW1 where Les was awarded the Military Medal, he worked on his own property at Gunnedah, which is now the Blue Vale speedway. In 1929 he rode his horse
from Gunnedah to Warrah Creek where he had purchased Farm 9, “Towarri”. He married Dorothy May Lang on the 27th November 1929 in the Methodist church at Waverley. Later, he purchased “Kildare”, Farm 74, a sheep and
farming property. I built a new home there in 1955 and married Niaree Avard. Her Grandfather Tom Avard drew block 1 in the Warrah subdivision.
“Towarri” always ran sheep, Dry Creek
ran through the property and lived mostly up to its name. “Towarri” had one of the few shearing sheds on the subdivision and neighbours were welcome to use it. Us four children Barbara, Tony, Gwen and Barry rode horses, 2 ½ mile to the local
Warrah Creek school.
After primary school Barbara attended Tamworth High school, she went on to become a school teacher. Gwen went to Methodist ladies College in Sydney and attended Sydney University,
she became a pharmacist.