Rylstone Lowanna

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1935

20 December 1935
RYLSTONE PROPERTY SOLD
Messrs. Suttie Eyles & Co. Ltd. report the sale from Mr. Gore to Miss Joan Harrison (of "Lowanna Southdown Stud," Goulburn) of "Warrawong," a stud farm property on Cox's Creek near Rylstone. On the property there are over one hundred acres of established lucerne and the balance consists of undulating basalt hills, the whole place having a beautiful park-like appearance. Miss Harrison intends to remove her stud-breeding operations from Goulburn to the new property early in the new year.
Other sales during the past few weeks:-
From Mr. D. Hussey, "Coolcalwyn," Rylstone, to Mr. McCann, of Forbes.
From Mr. S. Morrison, "Balcon Rock," Rylstone, to Mr. M. Webb, of Tarana.
From Mr. E. P. Bresnahan, dairy, Wildes Meadow, to Mr. Ovington, of New Zealand.
From Mr. E. Waltho, dairy, Old Toongabbie, to Mr. C. Maiden, of Rockdale.
The same agents also report that negotiations are in hand for the sale of grazing properties at Forbes, Mudgee, Werris Creek and Tenterfield, all of which should be completed within the next few days1 .

1936

12 June 1936
Lowanna Southdowns For the Show
Miss Harrison's Stud One of Biggest in the State
Her absence from the State for several weeks and pressure of work as a result of shifting from Goulburn to Rylstone prevented Miss Joan Harrison exhibiting at any of the sheep shows earlier this year, but the "Lowanna" Southdown Stud will be represented at the Sydney Sheep Show.
Miss Harrison, who is now widely known as the girl stud sheepbreeder, has not long returned from a visit to New Zealand where she visited thirty-four studs in search of additional blood for her stud. She was able to obtain 107 ewes similar in type to those now at "Lowanna" from Messrs. R. Perry (Masterton), Greenwood, J. Brooks and Westernra (Canterbury) - prominent New Zealand Southdown breeders - and the delivery of these sheep at "Lowanna" will make it one of the biggest Southdown studs in the State.
All the ewes bought by Miss Harrison were mated to good rams before their shipment to Australia.
The "Lowanna" team for the Sydney Sheep Show is expected to total about ten head and will consist principally of lambs of Miss Harrison's own breeding; a couple of aged ewes may be included.
Wonderful Show Record
Since Miss Harrison began exhibiting at the age of fifteen years (less than a decade ago) she has done remarkably well. Early she confined her show teams to country exhibitions such as Moss Vale, Queanbeyan, Crookwell and "Wagga, and, scoring many wins at all of these centres, she decided, in 1933, to send some sheep to Sydney. And still success came her way.
Cootamundra is another strong sheep show at which the "Lowanna" South downs have scored well; indeed, on one occasion there they won in every class but one for Southdowns and all the champion and reserve champion awards. The section was well contested, too, five breeders submitting entries.
Yet another good performance by the stud was at the Melbourne Centenary Exhibition when it supplied the winner of the 2½-years ram class, which was contested by eighteen entries from leading Victorian and N.S.W. studs.
A Good Sire
Much of Miss Harrison's success can be traced to the ram Lowanna Gad, by Gaddeston (imp.). Gad was champion at numerous country shows, and a prizewinner in Sydney and Melbourne, and he proved to be as successful as a sire as he was an exhibition ram.
The South Australian breeder and judge, Mr. W. S. Kelly, when he saw Gad at Wagga described him as the most perfect Southdown he had ever seen.
Unfortunately for his owner, Gad died as a result of an accident some little time ago, but in Lowanna Tim, a son of Gad's, Miss Harrison has another exceptionally good ram which is considered by a number of good judges to be even better than his sire. Tim was second in his class in Sydney and first at several country shows.
He is not to be given a chance to add to that record, his owner not wishing to take any risks with her top sire.
Rams for Sale
Miss Harrison has a number of stud rams for sale. All dropped in August/September, 1935, a few are by Gad, some are by Lowanna 111/33, the ram that was sold to Mr. S. Burt, of Wallendbeen (N.S.W.), and the others are by a New Zealand ram bred by Mr. L. A. Adams, "Parenga."
There are also some flock rams lambed in August/September, 1935, still available. True to type, they are ideal for fat lamb production.
Full particulars may be obtained upon application to Miss Joan Harrison, "Lowanna," Rylstone2 .

1937

3

9 September 1937
Lowanna Importing English Southdowns
Miss Joan Harrison's Progressive Stud in Rylstone Hills Big Shipments from New Zealand
RECOGNISED as Australia's most successful woman breeder of sheep, Miss Joan Harrison, charming young proprietress of Lowanna Southdown stud, Rylstone, landed several shipments from New Zealand last season, including a ram which was second in a strong class at the 1937 Sydney Sheep Show.
Miss Harrison has about 160 ewes lambing this season. The flock is in great order, despite a severe winter, and a good demand is reported for sale stock.
A transformation has been made in the Rylstone property since Miss Harrison took it over last year. It has been subdivided into small paddocks and nearly 100-acres has been sown to lucerne and various grasses, the latter being chiefly white and red clover, cocksfoot and perennial rye.
In many respects the property resembles New Zealand. The climate is cold enough to test the constitution of the most hardy sheep, and the background of lofty mountains contains peaks that would provide hard going for an expert climber.
At the foot of the range Lowanna Southdowns have their home, and the stud is prospering under the patient care of a youthful, but enthusiastic and capable studmistress.
Miss Harrison has by no means reached the end of her resources in the importation of stock. She has commissioned Mr. W. R. Ross, of the Commonwealth Wool and Produce Co., Ltd., to bring her back a ram from England. Its arrival is expected early next year.
Lowanna stud was founded In 1932 with twenty-five ewes and a ram purchased from J, Metcalf, Greenhills (Vic), Success came quickly, and from this line she bred an outstanding ram Lowanna Gad, which accumulated an impressive list of show wins. In 1934 he was first at Sydney, champion at Melbourne, and reserve champion at Wagga. The following year he was champion at Cootamundra, and at Cowra, in addition to winning the Southdown championship, he was supreme champion ram of the British breeds.
The Victorian sheep and progeny have practically all been disposed of and replaced by the Now Zealand importations which are of excellent quality, low set, and carry beautiful soft-handling Southdown wool.
In 1936 Miss Harrison visited N.Z. to gain first-hand knowledge of fat lamb raising in the Dominion, returning with one of the largest shipments of South downs brought to this State.
She again crossed the Tasman at the beginning of 1937 augmenting the stud by a further forty ewes and two rams.
One ram, Punchbowl 0.107, bred by H. J. Andrews, Punchbowl, Mabeno (N.Z.), was a prize winner at this year's Sydney Sheep Show. About fifty ewes lambed this season to this ram.
Another prize winner, from the stud of J. Metcalf, Hillgrove, Green Hills (Vic.), was given thirty ewes.
A ram of Miss Harrison's own breeding was first in the shorn class at Sydney.
Possessing an enviable reputation for quality, Lowanna has never experienced difficulty in making a complete clearance of sale stock. Last year seventy cast-for-age ewes were disposed of. This season's complement of sale sheep includes between forty and fifty rams (imp. N.Z., in utero) all well grown and in excellent condition. Many inquiries have already been received, so immediate application is advised.
Miss Harrison's property, of 430-acres, is situated seven miles from Rylstone, on the Cox's Creek Road. If it is desired to see quality Southdowns in a picturesque setting there is no better place to go than to Lowanna,
(PHOTO) Southdowns in a Picturesque Setting at Miss Joan Harrison's Lowanna Stud, Rylstone4 .

1939

28 September 1939
ALL RECORDS BROKEN
First Lady Sheep Judge
Rylstone Girl Makes History
WELL known as one of the very few lady sheep breeders in the Commonwealth, Miss Joan Harrison, of "Lowanna," Rylstone, who judged the Southdown sheep at Cowra show, thereby achieved the distinction of being the first lady sheep judge in this State.
Miss Harrison was only 15 years of age when she first began exhibiting at Sydney sheep show. Now, barely seven years later, she owns her own stud, has a list of show awards to her credit and is recognised as Australia's most successful woman sheepbreeder.
Her career began when, as a young girl, she was encouraged by her father to try her hand at sheep breeding on his estate at Goulburn. In 1932 she achieved her first success at Sydney sheep show. She was successful in 1933 and 1934, and being determined in her choice of career, acquired her own stud in 1935.
The site chosen was portion of the original Cox grant in the Rylstone district. The property was then quite unimproved, and she began by subdividing it into small paddocks and sowing these with lucerne and grasses, chiefly white and red clovers, cocksfoot and perennial rye.
EARLY SUCCESS
Her flock consisted of 25 ewes and one ram, purchased from J. Metcalf, Greenhills, Victoria. Success followed quickly, for she bred an outstanding ram - Lowanna Gad - which accumulated an impressive list of awards. These included the Melbourne championship (1934), the reserve grand championship at Wagga and a first prize at Sydney sheep show.
The following year it was champion at Cootamundra and Cowra, won the Southdown championship and was declared supreme champion ram of British breeds.
In 1936 Miss Harrison disposed of her Victorian sheep and their progeny and restocked with New Zealand importations of excellent Quality. She went to New Zealand herself in order to gain first-hand knowledge of fat lamb raising in the Dominion, and returned to New South Wales with one of the largest shipments of fat lambs brought to this State.
Again in 1937 she crossed the Tasman, augmenting her stud with a further 40 ewes and two rams. Punchbowl, a ram bred by H. J. Andrews, Punchbowl, Maherno, New Zealand won first prize at Sydney sheep show. A ram of her own breeding was first in the shorn class.
In 1938 she added to her knowledge of the industry by passing an examination in sheep and wool classing, and this year was again successful as an exhibitor at the various shows, at the same time adding to her stock. She imported an English stud ram the same year5 .

1941

2 October 1942
Great Changes Made at Lowanna
LOWANNA Southdown stud, owned by Miss Joan Harrison and situated at Rylstone, is a household word among breeders of top quality lambs. Since 1932, Miss Harrison has been supplying sires that feature early maturity and depth of fleshing.
Lowanna stud is situated in country that is typically English in aspect. Surrounded by picturesque mountains, it is about 2000-ft, above sea level, where the climate is such that makes sound constitutions inherent features of sheep bred on it.
Although the property was unimproved when Miss Harrison took control in 1935, she has wrought a wonderful change. Pastures have been improved to a high degree and on the river flats, the property being intersected by Bell River, lucerne and oats are grown for grazing and hay.
Miss Harrison founded her stud at Goulburn in 1932 with the purchase of 25 ewes and one ram from Mr. J. Metcalfe, Greenhill, Vic. In 1936, a year after the owner had transferred the location of Lowanna, 105 ewes were imported from leading New Zealand studs. This draft was one of the largest single consignments to have been sent to Australia from the Dominion. The following year another 40 stud ewes and two stud rams were acquired.
It was on this select basis, combined with the consummate skill Miss Harrison displayed in selecting for mating, that Lowanna stud was taken to an exceptionally high level.
Although the war has interfered with the management of Lowanna, Miss Harrison is undeterred, despite the fact that since early this year the owner and her sister, Miss Marion, have been doing all the work on the property.
Lambing is still in progress at the stud and holds every prospects of a good percentage. The winter was extremely dry and sheep were hand-fed during the last few months. In spite of this the sheep are in good heart and the lambs sturdy and showing a lot of quality.
The stud was represented by a small team at the recent Sydney sheep show. Pressure of work did not allow the owner to prepare a large team as she usually does, but those that did appear justified their exhibition. One of the team, a second prize winner in the under 2 yrs. class, was sold to Mr. H. N. Pollock, Quirindi. Another recent sale was that of 15 ewes of various ages to Mr. J. H. Newland, Narracorte, S.A6 .

1942

7

1944

22 September 1944
Lowanna Run On Good Lines
SOUTHDOWNS of excellent quality are bred by Mrs. B. D. Blomfield in her Lowanna stud, Rylstone. Main features of the flock are early maturity, strong constitution, plenty of good flesh in the right places. In fact, the sheep in the Lowanna stud combine all the good features of a breed that is widely known as one of the best for fat lamb production. Rylstone district suits the southdown and Mrs. Blomfield is conducting her operations in a very efficient manner. Her flock is based on a splendid foundation and no effort is spared to keep the standard at a high level. Particulars of sheep for sale, will be supplied by Mrs. Blomfield, who welcomes prospective buyers to the property8 .

References