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History of Warrah and the AACo
Warrah station, carting wheat, early 1900's. Charlie Shuttlewood is the usual driver of the engine and is behind the steering wheel. Other workers standing are unknown. Photo thanks to Quirindi's heritage cottage museum.
BY Mrs Helen Copeland - Dec,1985. Her father, George Copeland had intimate knowledge of the property
as he was on the staff of the Australian Agricultural Company for 43 years, 31 of which were spent at Warrah.
The Copeland family outside the "Warrah" homestead. 1940's.
Start of the A.A. Co The idea to form a public pastoral
company in infant NSW was the brainchild of a group of English politicians and businessmen in 1824. They could envisage great benefits to both the colony of NSW and the shareholders by the establishing of such an industry. Commissioner John Bigge
had conducted a royal commission into the affairs of the colony in 1819, and the results of this indicated the colony’s future lay in its primary industries. So, using this report as backing for their idea,
the businessmen approached Lord Bathurst, then the British Colonial Secretary, suggesting that a grant of land in NSW be made available to them. Consequently, a royal charter of 1,000,000 acres of land of their
choice in the new colony was granted to them by King George IV, and £1,000,000 was quickly raised by the sale of 10,000 shares @ £100 a share. An extra £350,000 was raised by the sale of subscribed
capital shares. The majority of shareholders were British residents, but colonials, John MacArthur, his son James, his nephew Hannibal and his son-in-law Dr James Bowman in NSW were also permitted to buy into the company. A framed copy of the original Royal Charter hangs in Calala House, Tamworth and in part it states that the company agreed to spend £1/acre on the 1 million acres grant. On Christmas day 1825, two tall-masted ships, the York and Brothers, arrived in Sydney Cove loaded with an odd assortment of cargo; 25 men, 13 women, 40 children, 720 Merino sheep of French and Saxon blood, 12 head of “choice” cattle and
15 blood horses, consisting of 1 stallion and 14 mares. Mr Robert Dawson, who had been appointed first Superintendent of the A.A. Co was in charge of this cargo. Having moved his menagerie from Sydney Cove
to the lush pastures of the Domain, he delivered a letter to Governor Brisbane. The contents of the letter, revealing the before-mentioned Royal Charter, came as quite a shock to the Governor, as it was his first
knowledge of the existence of the A.A. Co. On the advice of the colony’s Surveyor-General, who at the time was the explorer John Oxley, Robert Dawson took up a million acres of land on behalf of the company
in the Port Stephens area and made his headquarters at a site which is now Carrington. He requested and was granted 100 convicts from the Governor, and within 2 years, a township with a population of approximately
250 people had sprung up. More than 2,000 sheep, 1,000 cattle and numerous horses were grazing in the vicinity, while cotton, sugarcane and tobacco were being grown experimentally. 500,000 sheep. Dawson was instructed from London to increase the sheep herd to ½ million. He established the present town of
Stroud as an outstation, but in vain he endeavoured to carry out his Director’s instructions. The odds he faced proved too tough-unsuitable pastures, drought, illicit grog and fancy-free ‘ladies’, the latter of whom came in droves
from Newcastle, and caused havoc among the Company’s shepherds! In 1828, John MacArthur, a shareholder and director of the company, arrived at Port Stephens on an inspection tour. He was so dismayed at the sorry state of the Company that he suspended Dawson and advised London that the Company should be disbanded. Newcastle Coal Fields. The other directors however disagreed with him, and came up with a new idea. This was to gain control of the Government owned coalfields in the Newcastle
area. To further this idea, the Company appointed a new Superintendent, the Arctic explorer, Rear-Admiral Sir William Edward Parry who arrived in NSW armed with another Royal Charter with which he confronted the
new Governor Bourke. He was granted access to approximately 2,000 acres of coal-bearing land at Newcastle, and the Company reaped the benefits of an absolute coal monopoly for the next 31 years, producing up to
15,000 tonnes of coal annually. Drought conditions and the realisation that the land around Port Stephens, (much of which was described as worthless, sandy scrub) was not really suitable for the raising of sheep
and the fattening of Cattle, finally pressed the A.A. Co into action.
Henry Dangar (1796 - 1861).
Early in 1831, Superintendent Parry despatched Henry Dangar, the Company Surveyor from Port Stephens in search of two tracts of land suitable for Merino sheep breeding, these to replace half of the 1,000,000 acres granted
to the Company at Port Stephens. Dangar, following instructions from John Oxley, crossed the Great Dividing Range in July of that year near the headwaters of the Mooki River. Opening before Dangar’s eyes was the most beautiful panorama of slopes and
plains. Parry personally inspected this area in 1832, approaching it through the gap in the mountains now known as Ardglen. He selected 249,600 acres of land to be called “Warrah”, meaning ‘place
of many showers’. Goonoo Goonoo The second tract of approximately 360,000 acres
was selected and settled in 1834 on a river later known as the Peel. The selection was called “Goonoo Goonoo”, and the settlement became the foundation of the present-day city of Tamworth. Two Company
employees, Charles Hall and William Telfer were sent from Port Stephens to squat on the selection at “Warrah”, and in March 1833, Governor Bourke was instructed by the British Colonial Office to grant the A.A. Co immediate possession of the selections
at “Warrah” and “Goonoo Goonoo”. Extract from Town & Country Journal, Oct 28th, 1871.
“Warrah”. This fine tract of country originally taken up by several small squatters, when the A.A. Co, led by the agent Sir Edward Parry exchanged 249,600 acres of land at Port Stephens for an equal quantity at
the head of the Mooki; for it had been objected that their occupation of the whole coastline by the sea, so the Company gave up a ¼ million acres of worthless, sandy scrub for an equal quantity of the best land in NSW, the aforesaid small squatters
being removed to make room for them. Mr Henry Dangar, the Company’s surveyor who selected this small section, 30 miles long east to west by 13 miles wide north to south, was no mean judge of land for almost
every acre of it is first class soil, sound, strong and deep, lightly timbered on the sloping ground and abounding in open, well-grassed plains, with a climate well suited for either sheep or cattle. Many tributaries
of the Mooki will water the estate, and a splendid view of the property is obtained from the “Pinnacle”, a trap rise about a mile from “Old Warrah”, where the country almost as far as the eye can see belongs to the property, which is
bounded by the Liverpool Range, the bold, unequal summits of which are seen in the blue distance to the southward, while the easy spurs that head north from that range die down in open black soil plains in the centre of “Warrah”. These plains, which can be distinctly (and indistinctly) seen from the Pinnacle, are watered by the following creeks, commencing east and glancing westward: Chilcotts, Borambil, Warrah, Jacks, Little Jacks, Millers, McDonalds, Pump
Station, Yarramanbah, Phillips, Cattle and Black creeks. By 1834, the A.A. Co, with over 400 convict shepherds and station-hands, 36,615 sheep, 2,803 cattle, 384 horses, and coal mines had become the greatest single
power in Australia. The wool clip that year was 270 bales. It was shipped directly to London and fetched up to 33 pence per pound, averaging 28 ½ pence. A school, church, shopping facilities, a hospital and military garrison were established at Stroud,
and Rear Admiral Parry even had a water-powered timber and flour mill erected there. The A.A. Co continued to move from strength to strength, building up its primary industry might, which then included free and
leasehold properties in NSW, Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia. Cattle breeding and fattening and farming however replaced sheep breeding as the most important industries within the Company. Warrah’s Development. As it was chartered in 1833, the deeds to the property did not come through until 1847, and it was
imperative that settlement be made at Warrah immediately. In mid 1833, William Telfer and a team of shepherds moved 6,000 breeding ewes from Port Stephens up the Hunter Valley and over the Liverpool
Range to Warrah, making their initial settlement at the present-day site of Old Warrah. During the trek, only one sheep was lost. However all did not go well at Warrah. Neighbouring sheep were infested
with a disease known as ‘scab’, so to prevent the Warrah sheep from contracting this complaint, the new Superintendent Colonel Dumaresq ordered that all sheep be moved from Warrah to the Goonoo Goonoo estate.
Very little appears to have been thought of this ¼ million acres of freehold before 1862, for it was let to a squatter for £300/year; but in this year, Mr E C Mereweather was appointed General Superintendent
for the Company, receiving at the same time £30,000 to improve and stock the Warrah estate which had already been done to a great extent. Merinos in 1871 The sheep which numbered 3,700 in 1861, mustered 84,000 at the washpool last season (1870) and amounted to 70,000 sheep and 16,000 lambs for the present
season. There are 400 rams, mostly of Mudgee extraction from the celebrated flocks of Messrs Riley, Bayly and Cox, ten of which are of high quality for stud purposes. A merino stud was established
at Warrah in 1872 on a selection of ewes bought at the dispersal sale of C C Cox’s Brombee flock, at that time one of the leading flocks in the colony. From time to time, high class sires were introduced including Vice President, a grand champion at
Melbourne sheep show in 1895. The Warrah merinos are fine framed, well made, comfortable-looking sheep, well covered with wool of good combing quality and character, the average fleece weight being
3 pounds 3 ounces. It has much of the Mudgee style about it, but struck me as being somewhat inferior in fineness and elasticity; however it differed considerably on different sheep, some of them exhibiting wool of prime quality. The first shearing shed on Warrah was built on Jacks Creek, the area now being part of “Talawanta”, owned by the Rowe and Badgery families. During the early 1860’s, the present and second shed was erected.
Warrah woolshed during shearing, 1870. Photo thanks to Quirindi's heritage cottage museum.
The woolshed which stands on rising ground close behind the head station at East Warrah (as distinct from the first settlement at Old Warrah) , is not remarkable for size or pretension, but it is a cool, serviceable shed,
well-built and has a good, roomy shearing floor. It was shingle roofed, this being covered with corrugated iron in 1894. Thirty pairs of shears
undressing 30 fleece-bearers make a busy scene; an average of 5 minutes of rapid clipping elapses before the first sheep slips about the floor seeking a way out. Each fleece is removed to the sorting
table and classed. There are no less than 30 bins for classification of the wool, which is divided into first, second and third combing, super, locks and pieces; skirts and black wool of which the
latter is about one bale every season. The press is a good old rack and pinion, capable of turning out dozens of bales a day, averaging 3 cwt and branded AACO. The highest price realised for last season’s
clip (1870) was 23 ½ pence, being about the average. But the Warrah wool is deteriorated by burrs and seeds which go home with it. For the generous nature of the soil is much imposed upon by Bathurst Burr and seeds of weeds which have taken forcible
possession of the ground. The percentage of lambing stands unusually high. For 1871, it is 99%, several dry ewes being included. The sale
of store sheep annually amounts to 15,000 and the consumption on the property being 2,700, the average of deaths is 2%.
Old photo of the Windy woolshed.
44 Stands at Windy. The shearing shed at West Warrah, later known as “Windy”, was built in 1901,
with 44 stands. Accessory equipment including stretchers, bedding, kitchen and eating utensils for the shearing personnel was always sent to Windy for the shearing session there, at the conclusion of shearing at Warrah. Shearing rates in the 1860’s were 2/6 per score, or 12/6 per 100. Today [December, 1985] they are $106.89 per 100—approximately 86 times more than in the 1860’s. Steam powered machines
were introduced for shearing in 1894. Prior to that, up to 200,000 sheep were shorn with blades. In 1938 electricity took the place of steam at Warrah. Helen remembers many hours of fun as a youngster, playing on
the beautiful steam engine which was still on site but not in use at the Warrah shearing shed-it was affectionately named as “Kate”. Sheep were always washed prior to shearing to cleanse the wool of
excess grease and foreign matter. The first wash site at East Warrah was on Warrah Creek, just above the present site of Warrah Creek Hall.
The Warrah sheep wash. "The Wash Pool". If you look very closely, you can just make out the steam engine in the shed at rear, slightly to the left, under the smoke stack. Photo thanks to Quirindi's heritage cottage museum.
In 1867, a new and very much larger sheep wash was established west of and adjacent to Warrah Creek approximately 2 miles from the East Warrah shearing shed. Here 16 men could wash between 1,400 and 1,500 sheep per day
in a large soak tank filled with a mixture of soap, caustic soda and water at a temperature of 110°F. This was renewed 4 times a day from 2 hot water tanks standing alongside the engine shed which housed a 16 HP Clayton and Shuttleworth locomotive engine
used for pumping the water. Improvements were constantly made at Warrah. A new site was chosen for the estate’s headquarters, moving from Old Warrah to East Warrah, the present site.
The homestead on "Old Warrah" before it burnt down. Workers huts are to the left and still stand today.
While the homestead burnt down, a few other building still remain at the original site.
Homestead Burnt. The homestead erected there in 1862 met with an unfortunate accident in May 1896. Boys burning
cobwebs under it succeeded in completely destroying the home, but by December the same year, a new timber homestead had been built on the same site and along the same lines as the destroyed home. (Samuel McNair was the builder). The property was completely rabbit-proof fenced by 1889, and a school was in operation that same year. Additions were made to the shearing shed in 1891, and numerous workmen’s cottages, work-sheds, sheep, cattle and horse-yards and marvellous
cobbled stables were erected. The township of Willow Tree on the eastern boundary of Warrah was founded, with all the usual town amenities. The first Beef Shorthorn cattle stud in Australia, established originally
at Port Stephens, was moved to Warrah in the mid 1800’s, and both Thoroughbred and Clydesdale horses were bred from the finest stock. Warrah is regarded as the fattening station for cattle, mobs
of which came overland from Gloucester every 6 months to recruit exhausted nature, brought low by a course of treatment of sand mingled with salt air. It usually takes these frames from 6 to 12 months to cover their
bones with Warrah fare, but some have fared so badly that they are compelled to leave the bones to cover themselves. At Gloucester, the Company have at present 528 pure-bred Durhams, and 9,478 reported to be three
parts bred, the best bulls being Red Gauntlet, Red Beaumont and Baron Mantolini; there are also about 1,200 wild horses on the run. At Warrah, the cattle number about 3,000; the cattle and horse brand being C with
a point in the middle. Subdivision. Since the turn of the century, Warrah has slowly been
passing out of the hands of the original owners. The first subdivision took place in 1908. The following notice appeared in the Quirindi Gazette on Tuesday July 5th 1910; ‘Resumption of Warrah’. By telegraph, Sydney- Saturday, 10:50
am. ‘With reference to your article in yesterday’s issue of the Quirindi Gazette-a Government Gazette supplement issued yesterday afternoon contains a proclamation announcing the Government’s intention of resuming 61,000 acres of Warrah.
One person to take advantage of the Government’s resumption was Mr J H O’Brien, father of Mrs Barbara Plunkett, who, from 1910 to his death in 1919, rented several Warrah blocks from the Government for sheep grazing.
He in turn leased some of his blocks to MR J M Allison of Coomoo Coomoo. In 1923, a further 40,000 acres of Warrah was sold, with 3 more subdivisions in 1935, 1958 and 1967. The remaining 5,784 acres of the original
East Warrah site was sold to Messrs W Carter and C Henderson in 1972, leaving only “The Highlands” and “Windy” (West Warrah) of the original 249,600 acre grant to the A.A. Co. The Highlands has since been sold to the Cobcroft family
of “Parraweena”. However the A.A. Co lives on and is the oldest surviving pastoral company in Australia. Helen, in concluding her address, mentioned
a few interesting anecdotes involving Warrah. The first resident employee at Warrah was Doughy Roberts, a shepherd and baker of some note, who for a long time was the only A.A. Co representative on Warrah.
Tales of cattle duffing in those early days have been told, one classic story being recounted by Mr J H Fairbairn, whose uncle had been manager at Warrah from 1874 to 1909. The incident took place in the early
1870’s. The head stockman on Warrah at the time was Bob Kay, who was a church warden and appeared to be above suspicion. He was sent down to Gloucester to bring 800 very valuable heifers back to Warrah. Halfway to Warrah he arranged to meet an accomplice,
who set out for the Queensland border with 300 of the heifers, while Kay continued on with the remaining 500. He timed his arrival at Warrah with 400 just before dark, so that by the time the manager Mr Hudson had counted them it would be too late to count
the other 400 (actually 100) which Kay said he had left behind on good feed and water to bring in next day. Hudson told Kay to take those he had counted out to a distant paddock. Next morning Kay took the counted
mob some distance away, and leaving them, took the 100 to the paddock to which the 400 that had been counted were supposed to go. The first mob then returned to the yards to be counted again by the manager, who never knew that he counted the same mob twice,
and gave Kay a clean discharge! Many months later after a muster, the 300 were discovered missing and were never traced. This would have been during the period when the
Warrah sheep were moved to Goonoo Goonoo. The Warrah district at the time was apparently infested with sly grog-sellers, escaped convicts and bushrangers, among the latter of whom were the Jewboy Gang, who had their headquarters behind the Warrah Pinnacle.
Doughy's grave, right, with Jim Davis's on left. Photo taken 1951.
Doughy played the illicit liquor manufacturers off against the bushrangers, apparently with great success, as he lived to the ripe old age of 78 years. As a child I used to visit Doughy’s grave, which was situated
on the ridge between the second Warrah sheep wash and the present “Joselands”. A Warrah bred thoroughbred mare was sold to the Rajah of India in 1926 for polo-playing; another horse became
the hack for one of Australia’s Governor-Generals; and many Warrah bred horses saw action in the Boer, First and Second World Wars. The most famous ex-pupil of the Warrah School, which operated
for 50 years, was undoubtably Pilot Officer Rawdon Middleton V.C.. He was the great-nephew of the colonial explorer Hamilton Hume. In 1942, when returning from a bombing raid over the Fiat works in Turin Italy, his plane was so badly damaged that after getting
back over British soil, he ordered his crew to parachute to safety. Then rather that endangering the lives of innocent English villagers by crash landing, he turned his plane out over the English Channel where it crashed and he was lost. His V.C. was awarded
posthumously.
Pilot Officer Rawdon Hume Middleton, VC
Rawdon Hume Middleton. 100641
Date of birth: 22 July 1916
Place of birth: Waverley, NSW
Date of death: 29 November 1942
Place of death: English Channel, England
Another ex-pupil of the Warrah school and who was present at the presentation dinner is Mr Alex Chad, an inaugural member of the Quirindi and District Historical Society. In 1899 when a site was being chosen for Australia’s Federal Capital, Warrah Station was nominated for that very honourable position. Who knows what we might all have been doing now had that nomination been acted upon!
Helen Has also supplied this later info. Interesting history, works and statistics taken from information about WARRAH Station at the Butlin Archives, A.N.U., Canberra, 2011. 1880: employees on Warrah Station Payroll Ledger and other inhabitants of Warrah. ANNIE LEWIS – born 1866,
1st child of Daniel and Mary Lewis DANIEL LEWIS – b. 1843-d. about 1897 Father of Annie and George GEORGE LEWIS – b.1868 GEORGE FAIRBURN – Superintendent
J.DOYLE IAN CAMERON THOMAS ADAWAY ( I ,Helen Copeland, nursed Faith Adaway in Quirindi Nursing Home in 1984, probably Thomas’ daughter, as she was nearly 100 years old) A.BOYD JOHN BARWICK
WILLIAM BARWICK FRED BARWICK - BARWICK
JAMES BARWICK THOS. HOWARD E. HALL W. and J. HIGGINS THOMAS HICKMAN P. McBRIDE WILLIAM PALMER JOHN PALMER JETHRO PALMER WILLIAM PALMER x 2 GEORGE SMITH ? shepherd A. and R. TANNER B. WYNDHAM WAGES 1880…..1st April to 30th June.
“ Superintendence” G. Fairburn, Superintendent @ 500 pounds
p/a …..122.10.00 Jas. S. Hough , storekeeper @ 60 pounds p/a ……..13.07.01 D. Lewis , waterdrawer..@ 55 pounds p/a… 13.15.00 T. Baker, horsedriver @ 50 pounds p/a 11.10.09 M.A. Baker, Superintendent Hulk @ 30 pounds p/a 7.10.00
A. Harrison, storeman @ 30 pounds p/a … 6.05.00
G. Lewis, mailboy @ 7/ 6 per week … 4.17.06
G. Shoobert, work in cultivation pdk. 45 pounds p/a 17.03 A. Wilson,..bullock driver ..@
15/- per week 3. 07 06 W. Dempsey, pressing hay..@
10/- per ton 25.12.00 Annie Lewis, stockmen’s
cook…@ 25 pounds p/a 6.05.00 WAGES Cattle, March 1880
John Palmer, @ 20/- per month….
1.00.00 WAGES Sheep, March 1880
John Palmer .. boundary rider..@ 50 pounds p/a
8.15 10 SHEPHERDS…..Feb/march 1880 @ 10/- to 12/- per week E. Wells
W. Parker E. Collins P. McGuinn
P. Freel D. McDonald J. Davis ( grave in Washpool Paddock) I.J.
Roberts….overseer @ 120 pounds p/a 10.04.04 ( ? Doughy Roberts, grave in Washpool Paddock) MONTHLY REPORTS GEORGE FAIRBURN, WARRAH, to GENERAL SUPERINTENTENT, JESSIE GREGSON, NEWCASTLE.
1895 to 1910 1895: 5000 maiden ewes –
Dry Creek, Mountain and Borambil Paddocks. Bathurst Burrs
: huge problem in Green Hills, Emu, and Harrisons Paddocks. Burr erradication started in worst paddocks in 1893…350 to 500 pounds spent, including rations.
Sheep : Shropshire rams used with some ewes.
Ewes in 1895 totalled 43,000, in lamb or with lambs. Cattle : bringing 4.18.07 pounds to 6. 02.09 pounds
per head at sale Weathers : bringing 7/ 9 to 8 / 8 per head at sale. 1898 ; Stud
rams: sold at Sydney Sales averaged 11/16/ 6 pounds, highest 22 guineas , lowest 5 guineas. Mr. Bramma , Sheep Classer, stated about the special stud ram, “Vice President”…” I know no sheep like him “ Area of West Warrah evident as being known as “Windy” in 1898 Sheep shorn in 1898…over 145,099 plus 30,000 Bales of wool pressed and sent to Newcastle….2528
plus bales for the extra 30,000 sheep. Statewide severe drought conditions December, 1898. 1899: Improvements; New Blacksmiths shop erected at Old Warrah. Suckering and horehound cutting attended. New dip built at Jack’s Creek with yards. Superintendent’s house re- roofed and ventilated at a cost of 120 pounds…? Old Warrah homestead. “ Vast improvement”,
said Mr. Fairburn. December , 1899
Farming and haymaking at Jack’s Creek…48 acres
Outbreak of pleuro. In cattle..same inoculated DISEASE BROUGHT IN FROM OUTSIDE PROPERTY. Rennovation of
carpenter’s cottage. 1900;
Typhoid fever among 3 families living adjacent to the slaughtering yards at Head station…taken to Murrurundi Hospital. New yards erected. Improvements:
“ Windy “ homestead roof lined with felting and ceilings and gables ventilated. Erection of milking yards at New Warrah New sleeping room at Storekeepers Cottage
by Company carpenter. Bridge by contractor, Mat Murphy, completed over Borambil Creek on road to Willow Tree
(? Near present Rodeo grounds) Flats at Willow Tree farmed with Lucerne and/ or wheat for hay.
90 acres in total here and at Jack’s Creek for hay. 1901: January Commencement of timber cutting/ sawing on West Warrah for erecting of Shearing / woolshed there ( Windy) Rabbits more evident on West Warrah..Mr. Ogden asked ( by Mr. Fairburn ) to “ have the ground searched and any suspicious holes
dug out “. April, 1901:
Company’s sawmill unable to handle amount of timber required for new woolshed, so timber also milled at Narrabri and Curlewis.
May: Work continuing well with woolshed and work on men’s quarters. Covering shed commenced by W.B. Rixon, Contractor. Quote…153.00 pounds. August: 1901 Mr. Fairburn “ With the exception of the…machinery and internal fittings, the Windy Woolshed and subsidiary buildings may be said to be completed”. “
The Hydraulic Power Corps. Emgineer is now employed at the former ( machinery shed) A cottage with kitchen being
erected at Old Warrah. October, 1901
“ The machines were started at Windy on 7th instant with about a dozen indifferent shearers, which number has since been increased to about 35. Shearing at East Warrah “ difficulty confined to scarsity of shearers 45 on the roll and 20 more booked to arrive “ November, 1901 George Fairburn to Jessie Gregson..
Fencing, well sinking, tank installations, windmill erections, and installing of drinking troughs continue each month all over the run. 1902..September. Completion
of new quarters for Shed Officers…82 pounds 10 shillings, and new shearers’ quarters. 1903 February. Burrs..huge problem…men employed to eradicate..East Warrah..156 , West Warrah ..187 Total 343. April West boundary of Lower Washpool Paddock re-erected and 9 miles
of other fencing done. May:
“Highlands” ( name appears) fenced between Mr. Doyle’s and Warrah Creek…3 miles and 3 chains…91 pounds. 3 shillings and. 2 pence. June: Water
laid on to the head Station from 2 centrally situated 10,000 gallon , corrugated iron tanks gravitating through underground pipes to the Woolshed and every inhabited building on the place. Water is pumped into the tanks from a well on the edge
of the plain by means of a 16 foot aermotor. Water previously supplied by watercarts. Suckering and ring barking and fencing continued..30 men employed.. 1903..October.
50 Shropshire rams purchased from Mr. Weston of “ Mintaro”, South Australia. !904 ..July George
Fairburn to F. Livingstone Learmonth, Esq, Newcastle..General Superintendent. Rabbits increasing. Netting
fencing attended on some boundaries and internally. 11 miles on western side of Cattle Lane. Rabbits worse at Windy. 1904..November. 4 room cottage built at Old Warrah for the Engine Driver. 1905…September. 80 English Leicester rams bought in New Zealand. 15 /7/1906… Death of Stud ewe, “ Countess of Bellevue”, on the same day as her breeder, Hon. James Gibson, died at Bellevue.
1906 Drafting races for ewes and lambs constructed in covering sheds at Warrah shed. Mt. Gregson
rabbir proofe fenced with barb on top around boundary. 1907…March Local Government Act of 1906 advises State to be divided into Shires under control of Councils elected by landowners…with 3 divisions…Ridings A
B C , each with 2 Councillors. Mr. Fairburn elected in A Riding, which is briefly Warrah west of cattle Track and bounded on south by Liverpool Range.
Good road from Head Station to Willow Tree Railway Station, completed by Superintendent for 196 pounds, 15 shillings.
On Police orderd, a recommendation that better lighting be fitted to Shearers Quarters at Windy. Horses: 7 saddle horses purchased for 120 pounds from Mr. Cook, Turanville.
1908..April 19 men still employed on Mt. Gregson, suckering
and ring barking. Burr cutting completed at a total cost of 1000 pounds. Dingo causing trouble at Windy poisoned.
1908 July Members of the Closer Settlement Advisory Board visited Warrah and were to recommend resumption
of from 60,000 to 80,000 acres. 1908..September
Sawmill from Windy moved to Warrah.
1909: March Cattle: 1000 head sold to Hon. John
Morrissey of Melbourne @ 10 pounds per head, delivered on trucks from Willow Tree. These consist of Wollomumbi bullocks and Wallabadah and Warrah breeds. George Fairburn to F. Livingstone Learmonth Horses: 7 draught mares
for breedingpurchased from Colly Creek Stud @ 35 pounds for 4 per head, and 30 pounds for 3 pounds per head. 4 bought from Hebburn Colliery. Draught colt bought from New Zealand Stud for 100 pounds, by N.Z. sire, “Lord Roberts”, to replace older stallion with ringbone. 1909; July New cottage built for Boundary rider at the Highlands. New quarters erected for men at Old Warrah. Superintendent’s house re- painted. Diversion fences between Haydons and Mt. Parry and Yarramanbah renewed.. 1909: September. Pens for shorn sheep at East Warrah- eastern side of shed- renewed. Ladies bathroom,
under your instructions, has been built at the Superintendent’s residence. 1909 October. East Warrah…79,929 sheep shorn.
Ewes and lambs remain to be shorn at Windy with machinery. 1909 November. Shearing
at Windy particulars. “A” clip..sheep shorn..grown..57, 013……lambs..shorn..22, 916 Bales of wool:
1514 (grown wool) to London; 2 bales lamb’s wool to Sydney Net weight. ..587,485 lbs. “B” Clip ..grown sheep shorn: 56,355…..lambs shorn…9,643 Bales of grown wool…1584 sent to London Net weight: 648,920 lbs. Grand total of sheep shorn ( including lambs): 145,927
“ total of bales ( including lamb’s wool) : 3,100 “ total net weight : 1,236,405
lbs. All round average wool clip from grown sheep : 10.18 lbs. 1909 December
: “ Noxious animals”
“ As the number of Marsupials killed on Warrah since the beginning of the year may afford some interest, I am giving the information.”
Rabbits Hares Foxes East Warrah
74 375 2 West Warrah 89
278 1 Total for month
163 653 3 Annual kill “ Others” Kangaroo rats Paddy Melons Wallabies
Crows Wombats East Warrah 3890 26,996
2627 685 3 West Warrah……………….1513 3,153
1122 298 - Totals for year : 5,403 30,149
3,749 983 3 1910 January :
Hot/cold water service has ben installed at the Superintendent’s home at a cost of about 100 pounds.
1910 July : A new cottage is “on course of erection “ at Willow Tree for the Boundary Rider ( ? Frank Palmer’s cottage) near
Railway station. Ironbark Paddock cultivated for wheat. Border Leicester lambs mentioned. 1910
December 31 Mr. Fairburn acknowledges to the A.A. Co. his resignation and “ last Report I shall ever be called
upon to furnish”. To be followed by Mr. Henry as Superintendent. 1913 February.
STORES CHARGEABLE. New Warrah Hut, Old Warrah Hut, Stewart’s
Camp/Gang Employees: P. Murphy ( Stewart’s gang) Geo.Anderson Sam Johnson A.C. Whalan Mrs.
Henry ( 28 lbs potatos) R. Beale Adlam and Clarke F. Buckmaster
E. Burdett T. Peelly ? Wratten T. Jackson G. Humble ( 1 bag sugar) N. Steele ? Saunders (James well) Thos. Kelly Mrs. Henry ( ¼ potatos) I.H. Wratten ( 2 bars soap @ 9 pence—1/6) ? Humble ( 28 lbs. potatos) P. Murphy
( suckering) 1 pkt. Matches 6 pence. G. Humble –6 lbs. onions @ 2 pence/lb..1/- New Warrah Hut…March 10, 1913. 150 lbs. flour, 90lbs.sugar, 7lbs. tea,17 lbs. plums and currants, 1 bag rice, 1 bag potatos, 14 lbs. onions, 3 vinegar, 2 tins baking powder, !/2 soap, 1 mustard
powder, I pepper, 2 tins golden syrup, 2 coffee. R. Ballenden L.R.Morgan E. Eastburn Ian Saunders. Saunders..James Well, 4 March, 1913. 1 jar spirits of salts, 5 Pink, 21/2 pkts.Trimmers rivets, 28 lbs tin, 28 lbs. lead, 14 lbs. 3/8 rivets, and 14 lbs. washers for same. A. Alcorn..Washpool…312 flour,
78 sugar, 9 ¾ tea. Rations for Irwin, Snr. Jack’s Creek…208 flour, 61/2 tea, 52 sugar. H. Dodds…rations
E. Dwyer..Warrah Creek W. Cooper..crutching G. Lewis on a/c rations..116
flour, 13lbs. tea, 104 lbs. sugar, the whole lot bar 2 bags flour. A. Mitchell Old Warrah Bachelors..6 sugar, ¾ tea
Hunter Ham…208 flour, 52 sugar, 61/2 tea. E. Burdett ( Wallaroo) W,Walsh
( shearer) Phil Mullins ( Old Warrah) , I. Donaldson (Old Warrah), Morgan and Lampin ( Old Warrah0 P.
Calloll ? Mallon ? Eipper ? Farmer H. Wratten A. Mitchell Silver Farm, Willow Tree 25 March…1913…B. Beale..2
cartons sunol 3/1 ( ? tobacco), 1 box matches 6 pence. 31 March 1913..I. Dowd..new farmhand..1 c. sunol 1/6 April
2 1913..I. Fogarty…fencing tools. April 1913.. Burr Camp.. Walters Nolan Dam. Burr Camp, Parsons Hill.
Bussells Burr Camp May 7 1913..William Walter, I. Pope May
20 1913..M. Power.. Jack’s Creek yards. ?. Bellenden J. Stapleton E. Burdett D. Lampen G.R.Simons June 2 ? Crane
S. Matthews Farm Camps…June 20..P. Carroll 61/2 tea, 52 sugar July
14 G. Lewis..1 bag sugar July 16 J. Palmer 4 lbs tea Silvers Camp…Farm
A/c Wallaroo. Chargeable goods only. 26 July…B.
Beale…1 bottle peppermint cure 15 Sept. 1913…C. Hepburn, A. Bramley 5 March 1914 ; C. Lobsey, I. Hunt, ?Eipper, Alin Seckold Man in Welsh
Camp..4 c. sunol, 1 box matches
1916….EMPLOYEES…reason / cause for leaving..taken from Warrah records in Butlin Archives, Canberra.
R.E.Bourke : dipping..sacked for laziness H. Bourke…general..left own accord ( no good ) Robert Bussell..cook…left dipping camp in the lurch..thirsty Jas. Barr…cook’s offsider..own accord..objecting giving meals a all hours…thirsty
E. Jenkins…dipping…dipping finished ( half cranky ) T. Jackson…sheep..1916 August 23..left to go on shearing…good
worker, but surly, resents reprimand. M. Johnson…general..August 31, 1916 to December 31..sacked…lazy, no good. W.
James..general..1916 November 16 to November 20…gave notice, drinking, no good Wm. Lobsey…sheepwork…enlisted for War Wm. Lewis..general..left 16 December, 1916..Left because told to cart manure to Caroll. Said to be a W.W.1 man. C. Taylor..Webb’s offsider..own accord..drinking
Jack Toomey…wanted more than 25/- p/week and overtime to bail out Nowlands new well. W. Thompson..general..1916 June 19 to August
14..sacked…useless…stole pair of trousers belonging to W. Lewis when leaving C. Thom..general..!916 Sept.13 to Oct.11 ..left under Compulsory Training System….no good.
STORES…21/10.16 Archie…..1/4 s. h’lock Frog……..1/4 s. h’lock Rowdy……1/4
s. h’lock Fenton…1 writing pad, 1 envelopes Ranclaud…1 pr. Reins Ranclaud…80 c. salt, 1 petrol drum 1917…A ? Duval car purchased for the
Station. STORES… 27/8/17 Ah Foo…1lb.d. h’lock, 12 vestas 15/9/17 Gins….4 sticks tobacco, 2 boxes matches 1/10/17..Blacks…4 figs tobacco, 14lbs. flour, 11/2 tea, 4lbs. sugar Prince Henry..5 lbs. flour, 2 lbs. sugar, 1lb. tobacco
Ah Foo…4 tins sardines Clayton..1 dress, 1 handkerchief, 1 pkt. Cig. Papers, 1 tin capstan tobacco, 1 pair socks.
30/12/1917…Toby..1 shirt, 1 handkerchief Clayton..shorts and trousers WAGES…Cash for Rabbit, etc. destruction . Hares @ 1pence each Foxes @5/- each
25 September, 1917. T. Wratten………
6…….1 pound 10 shillings Henry Palmer
13 ……3 pounds 5 shillings Jethro Palmer
15…….3 pounds 15 shillings Oscar Dodds
3…….15 shillings Geo. Lewis
7…7 pence 28 December, 1918 F. Middleton….2 hunting dogs………..10
shillings 31 December, 1918 Reid Bros. “Millers Creek”..share of bonus paid for scalps of
5 wild dogs @ 2 pounds…..10. pounds
13 pups @ 20/- 13 pounds Destroyed in paddocks adjoining Warrah. 27/3/1919….P.P. Board, Tamworth. Hire of poison carts and drivers
in Warrah Creek paddocks 4 days @ 27/6 p/day …… 5 pounds DIFFERENT
JOBS allocated to Employees and paid as such 1917…Driving traction engine….Chas. Shuttlewood
Teamster…..Arthur Neely
Suckering….T.Steen Farmer…Victor Silver
Bridge Builder…Robert Peake Sheep work…Michael Power
Cook’s assistant…P. McLoughlan Assistant gardener…Jas.McNaughton Sawmill hand….Sydney Smith Boundary rider…Robert Smith
Plumber…W.S. Tatton, Willow Tree. 1918…Groom…John
Morton. 1919…Suckering…I. McLean, General hand…John McKenzie, Bore contractor…I.P.
McGinnity, Quirindi Fencing…Dan Prior, L. Prior, Owen Prior, William Prior. General hand…William Smith 1920…Dipping …H. McLennan Chinese gardener…Sam Hop Superintending cattle on adgistment
at Kempsey…John Silver Shearing….Grazcos Co Op
Crutching Chas. McKenzie Looking after AACo. horses at Stroud…P. Smith Carrier…A. Squire, Quirindi Piece picking and crutching…W.
Sullivan 1921…Sawmill hand…W. McLennan Road constructor….E.T.
McGuirk, Willow Tree 1922…Burr cutting…V.S. Scott, M. O’Malley, I. O’Connor
STORES…Boundary Gully A/c 28/12/22…Paddy….1
G.B.D. pipe 20/8/23…A.Jones….Telegram…1/ 4, telegram…2/ 8 15/9/23….J. Dempsey…quinine
capsules A. Robertson…bottle
of fever mixture WAGES end Month July 31st,
1931 Pounds, shillings, pence R.Palmer
8 – 16 – 8 Mark Palmer
12 – 6 - 0 Harold Palmer
9 – 16 – 11 Eric Palmer
12 – 6 – 0 Jethro Palmer
9 – 14 – 3 Henry Palmer
9 – 19 – 11 Frank Palmer
8 – 16 – 8 E.W.Palmer
13 – 6 - 7 R. Holland
3 – 1 – 0 G. Lewis
9 – 9 – 11 Jethro Boyd
8 – 16 – 8 S.Boyd
8 – 14 – 9 D.A.Cameron
25 – 0 - 0 D.A.Cameron
59 – 4 – 10 This completes the notes I took at the Archives…..much, much more to be looked at.
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