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1910
10 February 1910
THE DABEE ESTATE.
Mr. Saxelby, the popular secretary of the F. and S. Association, has great hopes that through the death of its owner, Dabee station, which hems the town in on three sides, will be made available for closer settlement. It is well known that the land on this property is very patchy, and there are also many hundreds of acres of very fertile country; but, to make a success of closer settlement on Dabee, nothing less than 2000-acre blocks would meet the situation. For years this property has been a menace to the progress and prosperity of the town. It certainly has afforded employment to a few, but it has land-locked Rylstone for half a century, and now that the opportunity presents itself, efforts should be made by Mr. Dooley, or some responsible head, to ascertain whether there is any chance of having this estate subdivided1
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1923
14 November 1923
"DABEE"
Immediately on the conclusion of the sale of ''Tongy" Messrs. Goldsbrough, Mort And Co., Ltd,, will submit that magnificent wool-growing property, "Dabee" station, together with stock and plant. This sale is also by order of the Perpetual Trustee Company, Ltd., trustees of the late Robert Marsden Fitzgerald.
As in the case of "Tongy," the Fitzgerald family have held "Dabee" for nearly 100 years, and this station is also only being offered to wind up the estate.
The property is situated one mile from Rylstone town and railway station, 160 miles from Sydney. The area is 15,660 acres 3rds 25 perches freehold, undulating to hilly, unsurpassed for growing the highest class fine merino wool, as indicated by the prices realised for "Dabee" clip, which sold up to 32½d in 1921, 38d in 1922, and has invariably been amongst the highest priced clips of the State.
The property is splendidly watered by Cudgegong River, creeks, springs and numerous dams, and is fenced and subdivided into 33 paddocks. There is a stone homestead, and all necessary out-buildings are in good order; also stone woolshed with 8 machines, yards, dip, etc., manager's residence, 3 boundary riders' cottages.
The stock comprises about 9300 sheep, Dabee and Havilah blood, shorn September-October, 1923; about 4860 ewes, of which 3690 are now lambing; about 4300 wethers, 140 rams, 300 cattle, comprising 182 cows, 133 steers and 24 horses2
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1931
14 October 1941
From Stock Horse to Cup Favorite
ROMANCE surrounds the rise to fame of the Caulfield Cup favorite, Vigne. Once a stock horse, he was intended for use as a picnic performer, but so rapid was his advancement when taken in charge by J. Barden at Randwick that today he appears almost to hold a mortgage on the Caulfield Cup.
Vigne was bred by Mr. Robert Fitzgerald Evans, of Dabee, in the Rylstone district of New South Wales. Regard, his dam, also was bred by Mr. Evans. She is by Reputation from Miss Gladys. Vigne was put to use at his birthplace as a stock horse.
Appealed To Trainer
Mr. Evans decided to try him for picnic racing. He used to be a keen follower of these meetings, and up to 15 years ago rode regularly at them.
For the purpose of being prepared for picnic events. Vigne was sent to J. Barden at Randwick. That trainer soon formed a good opinion of the gelding. When Mr. Evans was asked by a firm of blood stock salesmen to put a price on the horse, Barden strongly advised him not to sell under any circumstances. Mr. Evans now is thankful that he took that advice.
Came a disappointment for Mr. Evans - picnic racing had to be temporarily abandoned and there was no use, other than a stock horse, for Vigne at Dabee. Barden prevailed upon the owner to try him in the metropolis. It seemed a big jump, but Mr. Evans agreed. Vigne more than fulfilled his trainer's expectations, and has been one of the outstanding handicappers of the spring so far.
Vigne is pronounced "Veen." The gelding got his name in an unusual manner. Mr. Evans's grandfather won the first Parramatta Cup, run in 1827, with a horse named Creeper. Mr. Evans was anxious to name a horse after his grandfather's champion, but as the name had been chosen by another owner it was not allowed. But he did the next best thing; he used the French word for vine or creeper - Vigne.
A Link with the Past
Mr. Evans is still the proud possessor of the Cup trophy won by Creeper away back in 1827.
The only other horse Mr. Evans has raced in Sydney is Repere, a half-brother to Vigne, who has won races there under the care of Barden.
Sheepbreeding is Mr. Evans's business; he has a flock of 20,000 on his estate. More than once he has topped the market for fine wool, and he proudly says that his brand is far better known in Melbourne wool markets than he is in Melbourne racing. That is at present. After Saturday it may be different3
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1950
5 October 1950
Proposed Aerodrome on Dabee Station
Rylstone Shire Council was informed at its last meeting that the president (Cr. Mactaggart), Cr. Lloyd and the engineer had interviewed Mr. R. F. Evans, sen., of Dabee station, on September 7, concerning the proposed aerodrome; Mr. Evans had expressed his willingness to lease the site to Council at a nominal rental for 20 or 25 years, provided certain fencing alterations to his requirements were made. He had since supplied a plan with those fencing requirements marked on it.
The clerk reported having been informed that a proclamation over Dabee under the Closer Settlement legislation meant that no dealing in the land could take place without Government approval. He also said he had discussed the proposal with a senior official of the Local Government Department, particularly in relation to the difficulties raised by the expenditure of public money on a fixed asset on private land under lease to Council. However, it was believed that the difficulties were now insuperable.
Council, resolved that details of the proposal be submitted to the Minister for Public Works and Local Government with a request for a grant for £5000 towards the contribution to construct the aerodrome, on condition that the balance of the construction be covered by a special loan4
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1953
16 November 1953
Record price for Historic Dabee clip
Mr. Fitzgerald Evans, great grandson of the late R. Fitzgerald, who established the Dabee merino flock at Rylstone in 1820, is shown inspecting his top line of wool in Dalgety's store on Tuesday last, when it established a new seasonal record for N.S.W. at 210d for 5 bales. 30 bales realised over 200d, and 54 bales made over 190d. (Photo, Dalgety's News Service.)5
1954
10 December 1954
War Service Land Settlement
"DABEE" ESTATE RYLSTONE
Attention is invited to a notification in the Government Gazette of 3rd December, 1954, setting apart 3 farms on "Dabee" Estate, about 7 miles south-east of Rylstone, for Closer Settlement Lease, available exclusively to ex-members of the Forces.
The farms are suitable for sheep breeding and woolgrowing. The areas of the farms range from about 1,262 acres to about 1,678 acres and the annual rents are all about £286.
Applications must be received by the Crown Land Agent at Rylstone between 13th December, 1954, and 7th January, 1955.
Full particulars, map and application form, are available free of charge, from the Department of Lands and any District Surveyor or Crown Land Agent.
A. R. JONES,
Under Secretary for Lands7
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1999
9 October 1999
8One of Australia's oldest rural properties, Dabee, at Rylstone, is for sale by tender closing on Wednesday, October 27.
The property was selected by Richard Fitzgerald and approved by Governor Macquarie in 1819.
The 1,883 hectare property is seven kilometres from Rylstone, 60 kilometres from Mudgee and 3 1/2 hours drive from Sydney.
From a long frontage to the Cudgegong River the property runs along a wide and fertile valley. It has open farming and grazing land with rich alluvial to loamy brown soils. Fine-wool merino sheep, shorthorn and simmental cattle are part of operations on the property.
Dabee's classic stone homestead dates back to the early 1800s and features thick cavity walls, three-metre stone-flagged verandas, formal reception rooms, five bedrooms, country kitchen, butler's pantry, billiard room and farm office.
The agents are Chris Meares from Meares & Associates on 9262 6884 and Peter Garry of Wesfarmers Dalgety on 9335 6165. Inspections are by appointment only. More than $3 million is expected9 .