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Formerly Loowee Station
1857
31 December 1857
This Indenture made the thirty first day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty seven Between WILLIAM BENJAMIN WALKER of Cannon Street in the City of London in England Esquire JAMES SYDNEY WALKER of the same place Esquire and PETER GARDNER also of the same place Merchant (Trustees of the first part) ELIZABETH WALKER of Tunbridge Wells England the widow of William Walker deceased of the second part ARCHIBALD WALKER of the City of Sydney on the Colony of New South Wales Esquire of the third part ALEXANDER WILLIAM RILEY of the parish of Saint Leonards in the County of Cumberland in the Colony of New South Wales Esquire and JAMES JOHN RILEY of Mulgoa in the said County of Cumberland Esquire of the fourth part1
.
1859
5 May 1859
FOR SALE, 5000 fine-wooled EWES, the last clip of which brought 25d. (twenty-five pence); of ages from 2½ years old to 6½, all in good condition. To be delivered at Loowee. 20 miles from Mudgee. Apply to H. W. BLOMFIELD, Esq., Loowee, by Rylstone2
.
1899
23 September 1899
FARMING OPERATIONS.
Mr. V. J. Dowling, of Lue, has gone in largely for agriculture3
.
1903
V J Dowling, Lue, 247 horses, 388 cattle, 28196 acres4 .
1905
THE LUE SHEEP.
Our illustration shows the pen of three ewes entered by the executors of the late Vincent J. Dowling, of Lue Station, in the Mudgee district, at the late Sheepbreeders' Show., in Sydney, for the scouring contest. The sheep were shown at the 1904 show as 2-tooths, and brought again to this year's show, where they, with the other competitors' sheep, were shorn, the wool being sent to Messrs. Wright and Abbott's wool scouring establishment at Botany to be scoured. They were afterwards valued by well-known wool experts. The result of the valuation placed the Lue sheep at the top, consequently, they were awarded first prize. A full description of the contest appeared in the 'Sydney Mail' of the 26th ultimo. The particulars of the valuation of the Lue fleeces we now repeat.:— 144oz. fleece at 22 1/2d per lb, 16s lO 1/2d; 84oz first pieces at 20d, 8s 9d; 55oz second fleece at 17 1/4d, 4s 11 9-64d; 43 1/2oz stained pieces at 12d, 2s 8 5-8d; total, £1 13s 3 27-64d. No higher criterion of the quality of the Lue sheep than the result of the contest could be given5
.
1907
15 April 1907
15 April 1907
One travelling from Wallerawang to Mudgee for the first time could not be very prepossessed with the country till after Rylstone is passed. It is wild and rocky, the valleys and ridges, while forming good scenery, are in most parts hopeless from a more useful point of view.
After leaving Rylstone, however, the country wears a more generous aspect, the hills are better covered with soil, and the undulating flat country greatly improves, but it is not until Mudgee is reached that the richest country is seen.
Taking the State of New South Wales generally, there are many districts richer in soil, but the Mudgee district lays special claim to producing some of the best and finest clothing wool that finds its way to Bradford and other markets.
A good deal of the country I saw was light shingle on the ridges, frequently changing to basalt or granite, and always better on the fiats. The hills are impossible; they are poor and rocky, and it seems that it would not pay to kill the timber on them.
Last year a big drought prevailed throughout the district, and most of the big stock was sent away. Now the country is looking its best, and all kinds of stock are in great condition. The dry seasons of late years have done good by sweetening the soil, which had got rather sheep-sick because of the number of sheep carried before the drought.
My hasty trip through a part of the district left impressions of the excellence of two things - the sheep and the horses.
The Mudgee sheep have achieved a high reputation among the different types of Australian Merinos, and the rams are widely used in different parts. Nevertheless they are not so prominent as they deserve to be. Of late years conditions of showing sheep have changed considerably, and unless rams are heavily folded and have a good length of staple, they have little chance at shows. Realising this, breeders of the use ful, but plainer, type of sheep have held aloof from shows, and thus other breeds and types have loomed large in the public eye. I saw some very wrinkly Merinos round Mudgee, but the typical sheep of the district is perhaps that represented by Havilah, where the sheep are plain in body, with a good fold on the neck. Nearly all the sheep I saw had undoubted good characteristics. First, one could not but notice the straight, firm backs, which are often rather weak in flocks. On all the grass-fed sheep the wool was in good condition from the shoulder to the tail, and one rarely saw any weakness behind the shoulder, or any slackness over the rump. Of course, the sheep have not yet their full fleeces on, but the Mudgee wool is not of great length, being clothing wool of very high quality. Compared with other types, Mudgee sheep are on the small side, but that is due to the country, and it is a well-known fact that when the Mudgee rams get away into other country, say, in Queensland or in the west of New South Wales, they hold their own, as regards size, with most other types. Here it would be well to repeat a truism, i.e., that soil and other local conditions are responsible for growth in sheep, and if a ram has all the good attributes of a sire, except that he is small, the latter, provided he is robust, is no draw back if he is from a locality where size is not attainable, and if he is going to a part where sheep got large. Most breeders know this, but latterly South American and South African breeders have been turning great attention to the various types ol Australian Merino, and from the writer’s experience of the sheep demanded, those of Mudgee should merit every consideration, despite the fact that they are inclined to be small. They are reared on good, but not by any means rich country; they have good constitutions, and are densely and very evenly covered. As to the wool, local and London prices pay sufficient tribute; Mudgee clips are always on or near the top as regards prices. Manufacturers speak most highly of the fineness and strength of staple.
I left the train at Lue Railway Station, and was met by Mr. Willoughby Dowling, and had the pleasure of seeing the well-known Lue flock, which was established as far back as 1823. In that year the late James Walker imported a small draft of Spanish Merinos, direct descendants of George III.’s pure Spanish flock. With these ewes pure Saxon rams were used, and the flock was carefully bred within itself for about eleven years, when imported rams and ewes from the Gadegast flock were introduced. In 1877 the Lue flock passed into the hands of the late Mr. Vincent Dowling, who was a very keen and enterprising sheep-breeder. He introduced two high-class rams from the Rawden flock, and later purchased rams from Sir Thomas flock at Belle Vue, Tasmania. Under Mr. Dowling’s management, the Lue stud produced some magnificent rams, of which King Billy, Silesian, Woolly Head, Sam, and Waxy are a few. Waxy did a tremendous amount of good in the stud, having stock of great value. He had a peculiar characteristic in the way of absolutely smooth horns, which he transmitted to his progeny. He had a beautiful fleece, which generally weighed about 21 lbs. Another good Lue ram was Clinker, having a stronger type of wool and greater length of staple. He shore about 21 lbs., though grass-fed only.
Mr. Willoughby Dowling took over the stud on the death of his father a few years ago, and the results of his management are just now apparent. After experiment with the several families in the stud, he finds that the original old Lue strain comes out best, and this he means to keep to. With increasing density the Lue sheep have developed plenty of folds, but Mr. Dowling, while wishing to maintain a bold, well-balanced style of sheep, intends to avoid excessive folds on the body. He has rams growing beautifully fine, attractive wool, carrying well-defined serrations right to the tip, and he has other rams with a much more robust staple, though it would not he called a very strong wool in some parts of Australia. One characteristic of the Lue sheep is the well-covered legs, bellies, and Heads - a beautiful quality of wool is put all over the head right to the nose. This style of sheep is not so popular now with some woolgrowers on account of causing blindness, necessitating wigging, but our recent Uruguay visitor, Senor Bidart, was very keen on the woolly heads. He would certainly have found sheep to his fancy at Lue.
The Lue stud numbers about 500 ewes, and it is carefully culled. The stud runs out on the pastures, and is not pampered in any way. During my visit a few show sheep were housed, and they looked in tip-top order and handled well.
The Lue flock is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, in Australia, except, of course, what is left of the old Camden flock. Mr. Dowling has a long line of good blood to work on, and as he is going strongly for a popular type, the Lue sheep should come even more into prominence.
He is aiming at a big symmetrical sheep, with a bold appearance and even fleece of what, taking Australia generally, would be called medium strength. He is obtaining this not by means of the introduction of outside strains, but by careful selection a surer way, if not so quick.
Lue comprises about 91,000 acres, and it was taken up about eighty years ago). A lot of money has been spent, and a tremendous amount of work has been done on it, yet even now the present owner finds that there is plenty to do. Mr. Dowling goes in extensively for cultivation, breaking up the deepest soil, which is on the flats, and slight undulations for wheat, after which it is put down in lucerne. This comes up, not as luxuriantly as on the best flats, but sufficiently thick to greatly increase the carrying capacity of the country. If one could make the grain crops pay for the cost of the necessary cultivation, this sowing of lucerne wherever possible should be an excellent system to pursue. In the Mudgee district there is lucerne growing where one would hardly expect to see it.
Mr. Dowling has commenced a trial of Sheep’s Burnett, and the first year has given such satisfactory results that he intends to go in more extensively for this crop. Stocktake to this readily, except in cases where it is sown with lucerne, and then it seems that sheep eat the lucerne, and leave the Sheep’s Burnett.
Another crop at Lue worth calling attention to is Kentucky blue grass, which Mr. Dowling has well established in a small paddock. It apparently supplies a tremendous amount of feed. Paspalam was also put in this paddock some eighteen months ago, but is only now making its appearance.
Lue has acquired a good reputation for horses, and Mr. Dowling now breeds from about 100 mares. There is a lot of Arab blood running through his stud, and the stallion Marvel is still in use. He is about the usual height for an Arab, but is getting on in years. In order to get hone and size into his mares, Mr. Dowling is using an imported Oldenburg horse, which is the only one of his kind I have seen. He is very thick and rugged in appearance, having tremendous bone. He was just recovering from a bad injury to his leg, and I could not see him in action, but I was told that he handled himself well, and is anything but clumsy. Certainly the stallions at Lue the Arab and Oldenburg are the very antithesis of each other10
.
1909
V J Dowling (Execs. of), Lue, 266 horses, 578 cattle, 29291 sheep11 .
1910
HISTORY OF LUE STATION
From 1823 to 191O. Eighty-Seven Years of Progress
The following interesting history of Lue Station, gleaned from authentic sources, appears in the April issue of the "Pastoralists' Review":
Much of the pastoral history of New South Wales centres round the Mudgee district. Several of the early pioneers settled on that tract of country which now surrounds the township of Mudgee, and in a few years the district became famed for the quality of its stock. Merino sheep were taken in hand by the early Mudgee sheep-breeders, and the result of their skill and attention to their flocks placed the Mudgee merino in the very front rank. They became famed for a magnificent quality of dense, bright clothing wool, and the demand for them was great. In regard to the horse, the district has also played a prominent part in the early days, and from then to the present time it has been the home of noted studs.
Of all the old pastoral holdings in those parts, Lue Station, the property of the Exors. of the late Mr. V. J. Dowling, is one of the best known. The late Mr. Dowling was one of the State's leading authorities on pastoral matters, and he will always be remembered for his skill in the production of high-class merino sheep and horses. The estate, which is 20 miles from Mudgee, comprises about 21,000 acres of secured land, and it is subdivided into 70 paddocks. As far as can be ascertained, it was originally taken up by a Mr. William Walker, in 1823, when the district was thickly infested with blacks. He was evidently attracted there by the same reason as the blacks, namely, it was the first naturally open, undulating country after leaving the mountains. It was attractive and well watered. In those days the natives gave a great deal of trouble, and were counted among the dangers of the pioneer's life. However, as time went on, they were gradually civilised, and made use of as shepherds, and now they have become quite extinct. When Mr. Walker took up Lue there were no improvements of any kind, and sheep roamed over a radius of 50 miles, under the care of shepherds. Outstations were established at Green Hills, near Cassilis, Sports man's Hollow, near Gulgong, and at Cooyal and Bara, besides at places nearer home. Those outstations consisted of a shepherd's hut and log yard, and it is interesting to note that when Mr. Walker settled at Lue he had the run of all the country right out to Coonamble, embracing Gummin Gummin, Tonderburine, Cogan, etc. Gummin Gummin was also later acquired by Mr. Bloomfield, and worked in conjunction with Lue, and the two properties have ever since been worked in conjunction by the late Mr. Dowling and his executors.
Mr. Walker sold Lue to Messrs. H. Bloomfield and J. Riley, who sold it to Dr. J. C. Cox, from whom the late Mr. V. J. Dowling purchased it in 1877. He purchased Gummin Gummin from the late Mr. George House. Mr. Willoughby Dowling now manages the property. The country on Lue, as it at present stands, is basaltic in nature, with red soil and granite ridges, timbered chiefly with box. The rich black soil flats, timbered with appletree, run right back into rough sandstone mountains on the boundary. There is a good natural water supply, the numerous running creeks and springs obviating the necessity for many improvements in the way of tanks and dams. The rainfall for the past 20 years has averaged about 30 inches per annum. The fencing has been well arranged and thoroughly done. There are about 50 miles of wire netting dividing the estate into about 10 rabbit-proof paddocks, and the rest of the fences are of six or seven wires, posts 15 feet apart, with two battens in between. Nearly all the fencing on Lue has been renewed during the last few years. As far as rabbits are concerned, all the net ted paddocks have been cleared of the pest, by digging out the burrows and burning off.
Ringbarking Lue was a considerable undertaking, and on some parts of the run the cost was well over 10/ per acre. All the timber has now been completely killed, and the scrub is gradually being wiped off. This is done by treating blocks systematically, and suckering them for three years in succession. This treatment has proved sufficient to kill the most vigorous growth. The indigenous grasses on Lue are hardy varieties, which provide plenty of good feed, though' not of a fattening nature. The flats, however, produce a thick sole of herbage, clover, and prairie grass, which fatten stock quickly. This herbage, and also barley grass, is increasing every year, due, no doubt, to the sheep brought in from Gummin Gummin Station.
Taking the various netted blocks on Lue separately, the description is as follows:- 1 and 2 comprise 1500 and 1000 acres respectively, and during the past 12 years they have been cultivated and laid down in lucerne. Blocks 3, 4, and. 10, comprising 600 acres, 500 acres, and 3500 acres re respectively, are looked upon as the best sheep country. Block 5 consists of 600 acres, set apart for the stud sheep, and blocks 8 and 9, of 50 acres and 700 acres respectively, are utilised for maize growing and cultivation generally. There are 100 acres around the homestead (block 6), and 200 acres in the horse paddock (block 7).
Over 3000 acres on Lue have at different times been cultivated, chiefly for wheat growing on the share system. The method has been to clear and fence the land, lease for three years, the tenant to do all the work, and hand over one-third of the crop each year. The third year he has to sow lucerne with the wheat. The average wheat yield on Lue has been 10 bushels to the acre, though up to 55 bushels has been obtained. The above method has paid for the expense of getting the lucerne in, and the crop has been satisfactory for grazing purposes, but if it is required for cutting Mr. Dowling does not recommend the system - lucerne grows better if sown by itself.
All the improvements on Lue are of a substantial nature. The stables are built of weatherboard and iron, and they contain five loose boxes. three inside stalls, and 12 stalls un der skilling, with passages for feeding in front. There are also three harness rooms, feed room, and two detached roomy stallion boxes, each with a separate yard. The coach house will hold 12 vehicles, and there are also machinery sheds, black-smith's shop, engine room, chaff house, and granary. The shearing shed is a modern building made of iron, and it contains 12 stands of Wolsely machines driven by, a 7 h.p. portable engine. The shearers' huts more than meet the requirements of the Act, and the overseer is provided with a comfortable cottage close by. The drafting yards, in good repair, are situated on most convenient por tions of the run.
THE STUD FLOCK.
The Lue stud flock was founded in 1823 by the late Mr. James Walker with a number of imported sheep descended from the pure merino flock owned by King George III. With these sheep were used rams bred by Mr. E. Riley, of Raby, whose flocks were descended from sheep selected from the pure merino flock bred by the Elector of Saxony. In 1855 and 1856 Mr. Archibald Walker imported some rams from Germany, and they were the last additions made to the stud until 1877. In that year the late Mr. V. J. Dowling took over Lue, and he introduced a couple of rams from the Rawden stud. The next year he purchased a ram bred by the late Hon. James Gibson, of Belle Vue, Tasmania. In 1891 fresh blood was introduced into the flock by the purchase of several rams and ewes from the old Saxony flocks of Gadegast and Steiger. Among the notable sires bred in the Lue flock were Waxy, who cut 21lbs.; and Clinker, who cut 21¾1b.; and Wrinkly, who cut 20¾ lb. In 1892 two high-class ewes by Sam (by Waxy) were sent to the Havilah ram, Progress, and the progeny, two rams, subsequently proved good sires in the Lue stud. Mr. W. V. Dowling, the present owner, is going out of the old wrinkly type of Mudgee sheep, and is aiming at bigger frames, plainer bodies, longer staple, and good constitution. Already he has derived advantage from the change, for the sheep cut 2lb. more per head, and the wool brings better value. The change is being done with the pure Lue blood, and without outside aid. In 1908 the stud ewes with lambs at foot averaged 12½ lb., and the average all round of the station clip was 9½ lb. As showing what strides have been made in the Lue flock, it is interesting to note that when the late Mr. Dowling purchased the estate, the average weight of the station clip was 5lb. 12oz., considered an unusually good weight at that time. Lambing takes place about October and November after shearing, and Mr. Dowling finds that time for lambing is an effectual method for guarding against the fly pest, as it obviates the necessity for crutching. Crossbreds have been tried at Lue with satisfactory results. The sheep do not fatten readily on the native grasses, but the results on the cultivated areas are surprising, the weights being nearly double.
THE HORSES.
In the late Mr. Dowling's time Lue became noted as a horsebreeding establishment, and Mr .W. V. Dowling has continued to breed useful sorts. The thoroughbred stud was originally founded by the purchase of mares from the late Mr. Andrew Town, of Richmond, and the progeny were carefully culled. The sires used at various times at Lue include such horses as Penrith, by Yattendon, used from 1877 to 1883; Blenheim, by Yattendon, from 1887 to 1891.
In 1895, Meangra, by Waxlight, was used, and from 1899 to 1901 Lycergus, by Julian Avenel from Richmond Belle, was used. From 1902 to 1905 the sire was World, by Atlas form Fleck, by Glenalvon, bred by Mr. Hunter White, of Havilah.
In breeding utility horses both Arab and coaching stallions have been used, the former to impart quality and endurance, and the latter to give stoutness. Among the Arab stallions used at Lue were Farharn, in 1884: Arab Chief, from 1894 to 1898; Snow from 1896 to 1901; and Marvel, still in use. The Norfolk trotter Confidence was used from 1885 to 1889, and Norfolk, by Confidence, in 1891. Prickwillow, by Confidence, bred by Mr. J. L. Brown, of Caigan, was used from 1893 to 1890. In the year 1893 Mr. Dowling obtained useful results from St. Patrick, an Irish hunter, and in 1896 he purchased Gilbert, and imported Oldenburg stallion, still doing duty at Lue.
The stud of draught mares now numbers about forty mares, and among the sires used were the following Clydesdales: - First King (first prize Hawkesbury and Sydney shows 1878), from 1878 to 1883; Clinker, by First King, from 1884 to 1890; Caigan, bred by Mr. J. L. Brown, from 1895 to 1898; Heart of Oak (first prize Wollongong), from 1899 to 1901; and Westward Ho, bred at Mudgee, from imported stock. The last-named is still in use. Careful records of breeding have been kept at Lue during the last 33 years, and the system carried out by the late Mr. Dowling and his successor has been a very profitable one.
About 15 years ago there was a herd of pure Hereford cattle at Lue, but at that time the demand for that breed fell away to nothing, and Shorthorns were substituted, and they have been bred ever since.
PERSONAL.
The late Vincent J. Dowling died on November 5, 1903, after a pastoral life of great activity in New South Wales and Queensland. He was born in Sydney in 1835, being the eldest son of the late Willoughby Dowling, who came to New South Wales in 1830 as associated to his uncle, Sir James Dowling, Chief Justice of the colony. He received most of his education in England, and on returning to Australia he entered pastoral life in the back country of New South Wales and Queensland. He gained his first experience at Pomeroy, near Goulburn, and then he spent some years over-landing cattle to Victoria at the time of the mining boom. Later he established Fort Bourke Station on the Darling, then he pushed out on to the Paroo, the Warrego, Cuttaburra, and Yantabulla. Subsequently he entered into partnership with the late Hon. G. H. Cox, and formed stations on the Bulloo and at Thargomindah.
In 1875 Mr. Dowling sold out and took an extended trip to England, and on his return, two years later, he purchased Lue Station. His Queensland pioneering days were hard and eventful. When at Thargomindah he was the farthest out magistrate, and it was his lot to administer justice, register births and deaths, and solemnise marriages - there being no ministers of religion in those parts at that time. Mr. Dowling took considerable interest in the Royal Agricultural Society, the New South Wales Sheepbreeders' Association, the Stockowners' Association, the A.J.C., and similar institutions. He married the fifth daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Breillat, of Sydney, and his family consists of three daughters, viz., Mrs. R. H. Daugar, Mrs. J. H. Fairfax, and Miss Lue Dowling, and two sons, Messrs. Willoughby Vincent Dowling, educated at Eton, and Frank Osborne Dowling, at Armidale. Mr. W. V. Dowling has taken up some of his father's duties, such as representing his district in the Pastoralists' Union, and on the Council of the New South Wales Sheepbreeders' Association12
.
1912
V J Dowling, Lue, 260 horses, 370 cattle, 19834 sheep13 .
1919
13 March 1919
Lue Station Sold.
Mr. W. D. Raffan has sold his fine property, Lue Station, to Mr. T. Rogers, of North Queensland, who will take possession in about a month's, time. The sale was effected through Messrs. Stubbs and Co. of Sydney14
.
14 May 1919
This Indenture made the fourteenth day of May on the year One thousand nine hundred and nineteen BETWEEN JOSEPH BERESFORD GRANT of Sydney in the State of New South Wales Real Estate Agent and WALTER GEORGE FORSYTH of Sydney aforesaid Solicitor of the first part WALTER DOUGLAS RAFFAN late of Lue in the said State Grazier of the second part THOMAS DANIEL ROGERS of Leura in the said State Grazier of the third part and JOHN WILLIAM FISHER of Mosman Sydney in the said State Grazier (hereinafter called the Purchaser) of the fourth part15
.Book 1153 No 92
1922
17 August 1922
In fact one station, Mr. Fisher's, has his boundary fence running right along the town boundary. This station is a very fine one, having a nice homestead which is about a mile and a half from the town and a first class private road has been constructed from the boundary to the station16
.
1997
3 August 1997
2017
A shift back to Merinos at Lue Station
FLOCK rams have allowed Mudgee region producers Tom and Susan Combes to build numbers quickly at Lue Station after a few years out of the wool industry.
The couple, with help from their son Ted, run 1200 breeding ewes on the 4850-hectare property, along with 550 breeding cows and their progeny, while also running the Louee Enduro and Motocross Complex.
The Combes family uses rams from Andrew White at Havilah North Merinos, Mudgee, purchasing 20 top grade young flock rams last year.
"We bought 1200 ewes, from Andrew and John Webb, but we're trying to take that up to 2000 breeding ewes," Mr Combes said.
"In the past we've had 5000 breeding ewes but we're not going to that level again."
Markets have driven changes on the property for many years, resulting in Mr Combes and his father Ned both leaving the industry after a long history in wool production.
"My father got out of sheep in 2005 and I stayed in until 2012 then I sold all of my sheep and moved to cattle production," Mr Combes said.
"In the past we haven't really had much success as far as generating a profit, but market has come up and it's a good opportunity to get back into fine wool sheep.
"We've got some country that lends itself to fine wool production, and some of the property is steep, so it's good wether country."
RELATED READING:
The first drop of Merino lambs are on the ground now, and Mr Combes plans to keep a large portion of ewe lambs to build numbers quickly.
"We've got 1000 Merino lambs on the ground at the moment and we'll keep 400 wether lambs and retain the best half of the ewe lambs. We'll keep them all for a year and class them out at 12 months of age."
Classed out sheep will be sold through the Dubbo saleyards.
Mr Combes has already experienced good returns from his wool.
"We had 250 Merino ewes that we'd purchased. We shore them and got $54 a head with seven months wool, which is a huge change - it was about $5 a head when we got out of sheep."
CREDIT: Ruth Schwager18