1929
28 March 1929
HAVILAH DEVONS.
For some years Mr. Hunter White, of Havilah, has had a mortgage on the honors in the Devon section at the Sydney Show, and he again scooped the pool this week with his beautiful cattle, which were universally admired1
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1935
18 April 1935
"HAVILAH" DEVONS
A TRIBUTE was paid to Devon cattle from Mr. Hunter White's "Havilah" at the Sydney Show this week by the Judge (Mr. G. B. Waller.) Mr. Waller said that the standard all round was exceptionally high2
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1936
23 January 1936
NEW DEVONS
For Mr. Hunter White's Havilah Stud
TWO outstanding Duron heifers arrived in Sydney to-day (Thursday) by the Commonwealth and Dominion liner, "Port Bowen." They are for Mr. Hunter White's Havilah stud, Havilah. The heifers were Sandhill Dainty 2nd and Sandhill Golden Cup 5th and were handled on Mr. White's behalf by the Commonwealth Wool and Produce Co., Ltd. Both animals were landed in excellent condition and will be an acquisition to the Havilah Stud, where Ham Mill Delegate (imp.), champion Devon bull at the last Sydney Royal Show, is leading sire3
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1971
20 October 1971
CROWD SEE DEVONS GO UNDER THE HAMMER
(By Yvonne Bucknell)
Buyers from many parts of the Commonwealth were at Havilah, near Mudgee yesterday for the seventh annual Devon sale to be held on the property of the White family.
More than one hundred people sat in the small covered wooden stand or on straw bales stacked in tiers.
Others stood or leaned against rails.
The sale was unique in the annals of stud cattle sales in Australia because it was only the second time that figures were made available to potential bull buyers on the muscle quality and daily rate of gain for each bull.
Some 140 head of Devon cattle were put up for auction.
The offering included 40 stud and herd bulls aged two years and 70 commercial heifers aged between 18 months and 2 years.
The sale began soon after 1.30 p.m. and the crowd quietened and were all attentiveness.
In the auctioneer’s covered rostrum were four men, they were Mr. Denis White representing Havilah Pty. Ltd., Mr. Gaden for Dalgety Australia Ltd. (one of the selling agents), Mr. John L. McDonald of John L. McDonald (Stockmasters) Pty. Ltd., another of the selling agents, and the auctioneer, Mr. John Atwood.
SELLING RING
The cattle were ushered in through a series of chutes from a yard behind an adjacent shed to the selling ring where they were the focus of all eyes.
The changeovers from one beast to another went smoothly and efficiently as the sale progressed.
The bevy of men, often in khaki overalls with long sapling switches, moved the cattle from chute to chute and all one heard now and again was a “clang” as a gate was shut.
Each animal, whether he or she was the best in the offering or not considered to be the best, had “their” moment of truth as they stood in a sea of golden straw and gazed through the saleyard rails at the strange sight of some hundred people staring at them.
With the animal in the sale ring was a young man in the traditional white moleskins with a leather thonged cattle flay.
This was used to encourage the animal to move about the ring so that all may see it.
Sometimes the young man tried to encourage those near him to put in another bid, producing much mirth at intervals.
Buyers were encouraged by one of the selling agents, Mr. John McDonald, with remarks like “look at the muscle”, “one of the longest bulls in the draft, remember the longest ones weigh the most”, “this bull is full of balance”, “by jove a cheap bull”, “a terrific bull over the top,” “look at the way those pants are filled out” and so on.
Now and then some of these remarks caused a ripple of laughter from the crowd.
A 2 year stud bull, Lot 4, Havilah Brim 22nd was sold to Mr. Allingham of Hillgrave Pty. Ltd., Charters Towers for $1,500.
The same company also bought the next bull auctioned, Havilah Brim 19th for $900.
Mr. Wally Thorne of Umbiella, Glen Alice paid the second best price for a bull when he went to $1350 for lot 6, Havilah Passport 129th.
A West Australian buyer, Mr. Keith Snowball of Albany went to $1,000 for Havilah Overseer 108th.
Local bull buyers were C. E. Marskell and Company of Mudgee, and Mr. and Mrs. ? Sanderson.
Twenty-one stud bulls were sold for $14,675. Sixteen herd bulls sold for $6,600. Thirty stud heifers were sold for $10,325. Fort-eight de-horned commercial heifers were sold for $8,090. Eighteen poll Devon heifers sold for $3,220.
Total for the sale was $43,4004
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17 December 1971
DEATH OF NOTED DEVON CATTLEMAN
The death took place in the Mudgee District Hospital on Saturday, December 11, of Ernest Henry Merson of 55 Mortimer Street, Mudgee and late of Havilah, at the age of 89 years. His funeral took place on Sunday, December 12, in the Church of England portion of the Mudgee Cemetery.
The late Ernest Merson was a remarkable man, known to cattlemen throughout the Commonwealth.
He was acknowledged as one of the best Judges of cattle in his time and had judged at most Royal Shows with the exception of Sydney where he was always exhibiting the Havilah Devon team.
For 63 years he was herdmaster at Havilah. In 1901 he brought out the first Devon cattle to Havilah for the late Mr. H. C. White - great grandfather of Messrs. Dennis and David White, who are the present owners of Havilah.
Earlier this year he attended his 70th successive Royal Show. he was a foundation member of the Devon Society and the oldest original member of the Society.
The late Mr. Merson will always be remembered as a man with a marvellous memory and was a walking Encyclopedia of dates, pedigrees and performances of both cattle and horses.
He is survived by his wife Daisy and daughter Madge - Mrs. Alex Brown5
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1972
27 March 1972
HAVILAH SUCCESS AT SYDNEY ROYAL
Devon cattle entered by Havilah Pty. of Mudgee did very well at the Royal Sydney Show on Friday.
The Mudgee cattle exhibited and bred by the White family won two champion ribbons, two reserve champion ribbons, seven first prizes and several minor placings.
The judge, Mr. H. R. Trethewis of Evandale, Tasmania said at the end of the judging; “This is the best display of Devons I have ever seen”.
The Havilah Devon stud won the Junior Champion award for the best Devon bull not over 20 months old with Havilah Civil Servant 221 st.
This bull was sold to Elders G.M. of Perth for $2,600 which was the highest price received for a Devon at the Show’s cattle sales.
The Mudgee Stud’s second champion ribbon was won by Havilah Apricot 1786th for being the best Devon heifer not over 20 months.
The bull Havilah Overseer 221st also won the “John Anderson Perpetual Trophy”, which was presented by the family of the late John Anderson for Junior Champion Devon Bull.
The heifer Havilah Apricot 1786th also won the “Atlantic Perpetual Trophy” presented by Major M. S. B. Vernon, M.V.O., Bowldown Farm, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England for the Junior Champion Devon Heifer.
Havilah Brim 28th, a bull over 2 and not over 2½ years old, was reserve champion senior bull.
Reserve Senior Champion Ribbon for a Devon female over 20 months went to Havilah Apricot 1783rd.
A total of five Havilah Devon bulls were sold at the Show’s Cattle Sales.
Havilah Passport 146th was sold to Piera Pastoral Co., Caroda, N.S.W. for $1,000.
Havilah Brim 28th was sold to Andrew Fletcher, Walcha for $2,000.
Havilah Passport 150th was sold to Tondara Stud, Culcairn for $2,000.
Havilah Brim 30th was sold to G. Fletcher, Walcha for $1,100.
Havilah Civil Servant 221st was sold to Elders G.M. of Perth for $2,6006
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