Mudgee Havilah

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See also Havilah Merinos, Havilah Ram Sales, Havilah School, Havilah Homestead, Havilah Devons Havilah Horses

1870

8 September 1870
The Havilah dam is not supplied from the river, but filled mostly by surface water coming over red soil trap and gravel, and is one of the largest artificial reservoirs in the colony. The embankment is 394 feet long, and 140 feet broad at the base, holding when full 24 feet 6 inches depth of water. The engine is of 10 horse-power, portable, driving a centrifugal pump by P. N. Bussell, which Mr. Bayly pronounces perfect. The catch pens are open batten floor, every fifth batten being raised as a check to slippery boots. The wool-shed is at some distance on the rise, and measures 72 x 30. Thinking us perhaps a little weak in the pins, Mr. Bayly ordered our horses to go about two miles in all.
The arithmetic of Havilah stands thus in detail: - Purchased land, about 20,000 acres; leased land, 72,000. Wool prices 1870 - Average on the whole clip, 31¾d; average of fleece wool, 37⅞d; highest price, 44d. Rams sold from 50s as high as £100; stud ewes, from £4 to £5; and have been sold at £20. Weight of fleece, average on the clip, 2lb 14½oz; dry sheep, 3½lb. At lunch we drank Buckholtz's frontignac out of silver prizes awarded by the Mudgee Agricultural Association to Mr. Bayly, for victories obtained at their annual exhibitions. He informed us he was about to build a two-storey house on a very extensive scale in brick and stone, some of the material being already on the ground; the hall is to be 11 feet wide, four of the rooms to be 24 x 19 feet each, and balcony 9 feet broad1 .

1872

8 June 1872
A Week among the Mudgee Stockowners.
A VISIT TO HAVILAH.
THE pride of the district in the matter of residences, so far as I have seen, and, I believe, by common consent also, is "Havilah," the property and homestead of Mr. N. P. Bayly, who is known far and wide among sheep-owners as the grower of the highest priced wools, and breeder of the most sought after rams; while to sportsmen his name is familiar, and always well received, as a staunch friend to racing, a capital judge of horses, and President of the Mudgee Turf Club, whose annual meeting has just been brought off so successfully. I had received a pressing invitation from the hospitable proprietor to visit Havilah during the races, at a time when business prevented me availing myself of it; but I had no idea of returning to Sydney without seeing this show place of the Mudgee district, and I found my way thither on Friday, before dusk. This beautiful place is situated about thirteen miles from Mudgee, on Lawson's Creek, close to the right of the main road to Rylstone; and after proceeding up a gentle declivity to the end of about twelve miles from Mudgee, the traveller on surmounting the highest point of a gap in the granite range, and commencing the descent on the other side, suddenly comes in sight of the home of Mr. Bayly. This consists of a large brick two storey house, standing back from the road, say a third of a mile, and approached through an extensive piece of park-like grass land, which has a most pleasing appearance, as it bursts on the view from the top of the gap. In forming this place to his liking, Mr. Bayly has used the axe and cross-cut with the eye of an artist and hand of a master; the land has been extensively cleared, leaving just sufficient green trees dotted about to relieve tho eye, and afford a welcome shade to the deer which by-and-bye will browze upon the slopes; and the surrounding hills which form the background of the panorama, are seen to great advantage through the various openings left for the purpose among the timber belts nearer the house. The topmost elevation line of this range is bold, and diversified by hills of every conceivable form and size; and Mr. Bayly is now judiciously clearing some of them which lie on the opposite side of the road from the house; thus adding to the view several fine grassy slopes studded with some very picturesque pine trees, and creating one of the prettiest peeps in the home landscape. The range I have been speaking of is that which divides the Cudgegong River from Lawson's Creek; and the latter stream runs through the centre of the park-like paddocks which form the foreground to Havilah. Leaving the road at the foot of the gap, the visitor goes along a carriage drive, which crosses the creek in the hollow, and bearing to the right conducts him up a gentle rise to the entrance to a very well laid out flower garden entirely surrounding the house; to the right, are the new stables of brick, and between them and the flower garden are the kitchen, bathroom and other out offices, which are connected with the house by a covered way. The house is a square two storey building, built of brick, relieved at the corners by white freestone, tastefully chiselled: and a deep verandah runs along each of the four sides, on the ground floor; French windows opening from all the rooms of the upper storey, on to a balcony of equal width with the verandah below; whence a splendid view of the surrounding country is obtained on every side. What particularly strikes one looking down from the balcony, is that on whichever side one happens to be, there below at one's feet lies the flower garden; for, as I said before, it extends on all and every side of the house; but this part of the improvements I saw at a disadvantage, the ground being very bare and brown, owing to the long continued drought, from which few places have suffered more than Havilah. The flower garden is, however, laid out with very great taste, with here and there a portion of grassy lawn; the beds being divided from each other by neatly gravelled walks, while a broad carriage drive leads with a graceful sweep to the main entrance. Beneath one moiety of the garden ground at the back, and covered by a lawn is a huge tank, built to contain thirty odd thousand gallons, and receiving all the water from the slates of the house, as well as from the zinc roof of the stable. Hitherto since this tank was finished, and the house built, there has not been rain enough to put more than a few inches of water into the former; but seeing that the little rain which fell while I was there on Friday night gave water about a foot deep, I should say that the tank will soon be full, never again to be empty. By way of grassing over the newly made lawn portions of the garden, Mr. Bayly tried English grasses; but though they came up well, and looked green and nice in the summer, the frosts, which are very severe, cut them down without compunction, and left the ground as bare as ever. Then recourse was had to couch, which is now under the icy difficulties of this region of frosts, spreading over the ground in a most marvellous manner; and the rain now falling will, in all likelihood, make everything beautiful and green in a very short time. Unlike Mr. Blackman's place, where everything seems to grow well, the soil is not by nature encouraging to the growth of shrubs and trees; and this want of normal fertility being rendered still more contentious by the prevailing frosts, no small skill and trouble are required to make good flower gardens, plantations, and orchards at Havilah. Seasons, of course, can alone do what is required. The house that Mr. Bayly has built himself here is one the like I have nowhere else seen in my pilgrimages through New South Wales; for although like his neighbour, Mr. Blackman, Mr. Bayly was his own architect, and built for comfort, he spared no expense, and finished his house in the most tasteful, as well as costly and substantial manner. The rooms are large and lofty, the drawing, dining, billiard, and one bedroom, being all of one size, while the others are smaller; and the walls throughout on the inside are covered with cement, which shines like finely polished marble. The entrance hall which runs through the house is floored with encaustic tiles in a very neat pattern; and the staircase windows are relieved with some appropriate subjects stained on British plate glass, of which material are also all the windows throughout the house; each window consisting of two large squares. The patterns of the cornices and ceiling decorations are exceedingly well chosen, and appropriate. The door and window frames, architraves and other wood works, have been completed in the most substantial and lasting style; and the marble chimney-pieces are the most beautiful that could be procured for money, each room in the house, with one single exception, having a grate of the newest improved pattern, and most fashionable shape. The new house has only lately been occupied, and when I was there the furniture had not arrived from Sydney.
The Havilah run is extensive, consisting of excellent sheep country, and will carry up to about 30,000 sheep; but Mr. Bayly never keeps more than 10,000; believing in the plan of sticking to pure blood, and keeping up the credit and character of his wool more than in sacrificing quality to numbers, and at the same time rendering efficient superintendence and management doubly difficult. At present, as is well-known, the character of the Havilah sheep stands second to none: the rams are sought after by breeders throughout Australia, and fetch very high prices; and I believe I am within bounds when I say that the whole of next season's crop of ram lambs are already bespoke. The appliances for getting up the wool are very complete, and among them is a brick built woolshed, with glazed windows and zinc roof, which has only lately been built. This adjoins the old shed, which now does duty as a sweating house, for the accommodation of the washed sheep on wet nights. At the washpen, a tremendous dam has been erected at an expense of about £1200; behind which is taken in the watershed from an extensive line of range running at the back of Havilah; and I should be afraid to hazard an opinion as to how much water can be saved in this well constructed reservoir. Besides this large receptacle, Mr. Bayly has two or three other smaller dams in the different paddocks, which save a great deal of water, and are very useful for supplying small mobs of sheep in dry seasons. The washpen is made upon a good plan, for the use of hot water soak and cold spouts; and that the wool is well got up, as well as properly classed, is amply proved by the periodical lists of prices at the London sales. It would seem that the proprietor of this fine estate is never tired of improving; for on all sides of the property something is going on, tending to make the place more perfect, and increase the capabilities and value of the laud; and in a few years time, it will indeed be a beautiful spot, with very little left to desire.
On Mr. Bayly's property are situated the old pipe clay diggings which are just about being opened up by a company in whom the proprietor has vested the mineral rights; and from the character of the ground and the richness of the portion already worked, it is probable that the now co-partnery will be a lucky one. Besides this, I am glad to see Mr. Bayly encouraging respectable and enterprising parties of miners to come on to his land in other places and search for gold; and here I may say that the wish of all the landed proprietors in this district seems to be to allow gold mining on their properties, at a fair rate of royalty. Not that I am an advocate for any act to legalise mining on private lands; for it appears to me that any such legislation must be fraught with most disastrous consequences, and would quite upset any fancied security of the freeholder. No landowner will then be safe of his property from day to day; the free selection clauses of the Land Bill may as well be expunged, as they will become inoperative; and it will manifestly be the interest of the freeholder and the Free Selector to retard as much as possible the discovery of gold, instead of assisting by every means in their power to develop the country's resource; among the greatest of which may be named the magic word gold.
My time at Havilah was unfortunately short, and I could not either look through the sheep, or go on to the neighbouring gold-fields. I have to thank the proprietor for great kindness in showing me round his improvements, as well as for much hospitality; and I trust that opportunity will be afforded me before long, of making another visit.
Next week you shall have an account of my journeying to see the horses and cattle of Mr. Robert Lowe, and Mr. Richard Rouse. CLYDESDALE.
Mudgee, 20th May, 18722 .

1879

18 October 1879
The estate of Havilah, which is situated on the main road to Rylstone, is about 12 miles from Mudgee, and here it was that the late gentleman surrounded his residence with gardens which proved that his taste as a horticulturist was of no mean order. On 53,000 acres of land, of which over 20,000 acres were freehold, Mr. Bayly depastured 17,000 sheep; and, as he employed no manager or overseers, and would allow no eye but his own to supervise the station work, this vast estate kept him fully and profitably occupied3 .

1880

2 June 1880
FACTS AND SCRAPS.
(From the Papers.)
The Havilah Estate, Mudgee, owned by the late N. P. Bayly the well-known sheep breeder, was lately sold at Sydney. The purchase money is £80,000, the buyer Mr. H. C. White4 .

1884

OUR STUDMASTERS.
Mr. H. C. White, Havilah.
IX.
Mr. H. C. White, the pastoralist, whose portrait appears in this issue, is well known as one of the most enthusiastic breeders of pedigree stock in this colony. During his career he has spared neither trouble nor expense in securing the best specimens of the several varieties of stock with which he determined to improve. He was born at Ravensworth, on the Hunter River, and is the brother of the Hon. James White, and also of Mr. Edward White, whose portrait appeared as No. III of this series. In 1850 he went to sea, and visited China, Sumatra, the Cape of Good Hope, and England, where he spent six months previous to his return, in 1852, to Edinglassie. In 1857 he went to the Barwon River, and took charge, for the White family, of the Boorooma station, now the property of Messrs. Mein. In 1859, in conjunction with his brother, Mr. J. White, he purchased, Terridgerie station, now called Calga, in the county of Bligh, which at present belongs to Ryder Brothers, where he remained until 1860, when he joined the firm of J. F. and H. White, and took the management of Bando, on Liverpool Plains. In 1867 he went to reside at Belltrees, on the Hunter River, another of their famous properties; and in 1868 purchased the Woodlands and Wallon estates, on the Hunter River, where he resided for some years. In 1875 he purchased the Glenalon Estate, adjoining Murrurundi, and removed there, selecting it as a more central position for the general management of Belltrees and Bando, over which, up to the present, he has continued to exercise a general supervision. In 1860 he commenced using Havilah or N P B rams at both Bando and Belltrees stations, and has continued the same strain of blood ever since, with the most marked and satisfactory results. During the last four or five years the WWW brand has brought the Highest average for New South Wales grease wools in the London market, and now the clip averages 7lb. per sheep, including the fleeces of 30,000 breeding ewes, a very satisfactory tribute to the excellence of the Havilah blood. For 40 years prior to his death, Mr. N. P. Bayly, of Havilah, occupied the position of premier breeder of fine-woolled sheep in this colony. The state of perfection which his stud had reached was amply proved by a test applied by himself and three Victorian breeders, who, for a stake of £500 each, forwarded their clips to the London market. The NPB clip proved the most valuable, and won the prize. Under such conditions it is not surprising that in 1881, when the Havilah estate and stud was for sale, Mr. H. C. White, whose experience of the stock had been so satisfactory, was the purchaser. Many of the chief sheep-breeders in thin and the neighbouring colonies owe their success to the infusion of the Havilah blood, and the enumeration of the different cups, plates; and valuable prizes awarded to Havilah during the last 20 years would occupy far too much space; suffice it to say that they are substantial relics of success on the showground, the saleyard, and the London wool market. The sheep are distinguished for their shape and frame. They possess great length of staple, density, lustre, freeness, and softness. Descended from the progeny of rams of George the Third's flock, and ewes which Mr. Lawson imported from Saxony, the stud flock of Havilah was mainly indebted to an imported Saxon ram, purchased by Mr. Bayly in 1861 from Mr. Walker, of Louee, for its reputation; and no infusion of fresh blood took place until in 1881, when Mr. H. C. White purchased that great sire Prince II., bred by Messrs. W. Gibson and Son, of Scone,in 1876. Sired by Prince I., first-prize ram in 1875, Prince II. was never beaten in Tasmania. He was considered after a long term of service at Scone the most perfect ram ever bred there. His progeny have been sold up to 460 guineas, and for a 4-tooth son of his Messrs. Gibson have refused 750 guineas. This celebrated sire, one of the best ever sent to this colony from Tasmania, was purchased by Mr. H. C. White at 5 years old for 510 guineas for the Havilah stud, and his stock are now very promising. The breeding stud ewes at Havilah number about 4500, and the annual cast of isms and ewes from this number of sheep bring in from £12,000 to £13,000 per annum, exclusive of the clip of wool. Since the purchase of Havilah, Mr. White has erected about 160 miles of seven-wire fences, subdividing the estate into upwards of 40 paddocks, and has also Constructed numerous dams, and tanks thereon. The Mudgee railway passes through Havilah estate, and passengers can land within 400 yards of the homestead. We observe that the fifth annual sale, comprising about 1500 shearling rams, and 70 choice stud rams, 2 years and upwards, will take place on Friday the 22nd instant, at Havilah (the day following the Mudgee show) and have thus noticed the Havilah stud sheep at some length. Former sales have been duly chronicled. But it is not in sheep alone that Mr. H. C. White may be considered a representative breeder. In 1870 he was a noted Shorthorn breeder at Woodlands, where he owned several imported animals of great value and was well known in the prize lists of the day. In 1874 he imported 11 of the best Devon heifers that could be selected in England and the best Devon bull that could be procured. These Devons were selected by Mr. T. Duckham, a sufficient guarantee of their being first class. With Devons he took numerous first and champion prizes at the principal showgrounds on the Hunter and in Sydney, and sold young bulls at prices varying from 100 to 300 guineas, the latter being the highest price ever paid in the colony for a colonial bred Devon. Owing to lack of competition Mr. White retired from the showground in 1880, and has not since exhibited Devons. The pure-bred herd now numbers about 150 females, all descended direct from the imported heifers. Recently during a visit to Zealand Mr. White was much struck with the Polled Angus herd of the New Zealand and Australian Land Co., atTotara, and their economic value to this colony in size, robustness of constitution, and fattening aptitude for crossing the common herds; and at the sale of these imported cattle here the other day, as we reported on the 26th ultimo, he purchased the best bull and all the heifers offered, as a nucleus of a Polled Angus herd in New South Wales. In horse-breeding Mr. White has also been to the fore for several years, and at Woodlands owns a number of thoroughbred mares, descended from Valetta (imp.), Ariel, Cloth of Gold, Aveline, and Victress; but has never fed up the youngsters for sale. He owned Lecturer and sires of undoubted points and pedigree, and has bred some good race-horses, notably Gleam, Blazes, Troy, and Caliban. He is also famous as the breeder of carriage horses and weight-carrying hacks, many of which have been sold and shipped to India. In noticing Prince II. as a stud sire we omitted to say that Grand Prince, lambed in 1879, find fully noticed as the celebrated stud sire in the sketch of Mr. A. L. Faithfull's stud, No. VII of this series, was the progeny of Prince II., and did full credit to his ancestry5 .

1898

5 March 1898

6 7

5 March 1898
HAVILAH.
A Day With the Cranbrooks.
By Milroy.
Mr. H. C. White's famous Havilah estate is situated about 12 miles east of Mudgee. The magnificent Havilah residence is faced and backed by giant hills, between which runs a comparatively narrow stretch of arable flats and ridges, on which graze the priceless flocks and pure-bred mares of Havilah. One could not have struck Havilah at a worse time than I did, as no rain worth mentioning had fallen there for three years; yet the stock looked well, and, as a poor horse or sheep is a rarity there, what little grass there was about must have been of the best quality. However, since my visit inches of rain have fallen, and the world-famous estate now looks, I am told, splendid. Mr. White has of late gone in a deal for cultivation on the share system, and I am told the season's crops panned out profitably in spite of the lack of the life-giving liquid. Parts of the estate are divided into farms worked on the share system, and after three seasons of cultivation these small farms will be left sown with lucerne and grasses, and the farmer will move on to another vir gin patch.
The stables at Havilah are palatial, splendidly drained, and roomy. After breakfast Mr. White led the way to them, and the majestic lord of the harem - Cranbrook - was led out. This magnificent chestnut giant is in rare buckle and, though he had but just finished the season when I was there, he is as quiet as a Quaker's hack, and allows strangers to handle him without the least suspicion of resentment. Cranbrook is one of the biggest thoroughbreds alive, as he stands well over 17 hands, and is massively made in proportion. His girths have to be made specially for him, as no ordinary one would go near him. His shoulders are immense, and, in all probability, he can give any pure-bred horse alive a start and measure him from the withers to the shoulder point. His great arms, thighs, and gaskins are towers of strength; while his wealth of bone is, indeed, marvellous. He is a thoroughly masculine horse from his great, plain, but intelligent head back to his tail. All this tremendous strength, no doubt, is due to the invaluable double crosses of Melbourne and Stockwell that are in him.
Barcaldine was, I am told, another such horse as Cranbrook in the matter of size. He came direct from Melbourne, and had three strains of Bird catcher, one of them through Stockwell, and one of Newminster. Cranbrook has two strains of Melbourne, one of Newminster and two of Birdcatcher, through Stockwell. Like Barcaldine, Cranbrook was a great racer, and he gets his stock, as did the great Irishman, in his own likeness, and with much of his great size. Barcaldine won four good races on the English turf as a five-year-old, but, with the exception of beating Tristan in the Westminster Cup at Kempton Park , not one of his efforts was equal to Cranbrook's Newmarket Handicap, in which the giant three-year-old was asked to jump off the mark with 8st 12lb in the saddle, and run his race from end to end. It is a matter of history how he won that race in a common canter, and put up record time for it, and beat 27 others, some of which were the pick of Australia.
A horse of Cranbrook's conformation should not have been trained as a three-year-old or worked on a tan track. Had he, like Barcaldine, been kept till he was five years old he would, in the opinion of many good judges, have been a world beater, and had he performed as well in England as he did in Australia his value would have been reckoned by more thousands there than it is by hundreds here. Those tan-track gallops he used to do in his young three-year-old days must have taken a deal out of him, as his great weight used to drive his legs deep in the bark at every jump. I will never forget the wild rush to get on that took place when his number went up for the first time in the mile and a half Maiden Stakes at the A.J.C. Spring Meeting in 1887. He was opposed by The Australian Peer, who had come into notice on the opening day of the meeting by running third to Abercorn and Niagara for the Derby, and among the others that started was Dainty, who ultimately won the V.R.C. Oaks. The punters gladly laid 2 to 1 on Cranbrook, and in the last half furlong he put in those giant strides of his and landed the odds. Trident was the king of the Australian turf just then, and when the Australian Peer beat him in the Randwick Plate, and followed that performance up by beating Abercorn and Niagara in the V.R.C. Derby, he made Cranbrook out a real top notcher.
At the V.A.T.C. Spring Meeting of 1887 Cranbrook opened his Victorian account by cantering over Silvermine and Dunlop for the Caulfield Stakes. The two horses ran first and second in the Melbourne Cup a fortnight later. In that race Cranbrook was with the leaders from the start until they turned for home, but it was too much to ask a young unfurnished giant like him to run two miles out. The two-year-olds, Lady Betty and Consequence, just beat him in the Flying Stakes on Oaks day, but he made amends for this defeat by downing Niagara and Mentor in the Foal Stikes on the last day of the meeting. He did no more racing after this win until he ran away with the Newmarket in the autumn. On the last day of the Newmarket meeting he took a bitter revenge on Lady Betty for his spring defeat by running clean over her for the All Aged Stakes, and among his victims in that race was the flying My Lord. The excessive racing and work which he had undergone now began to tell on the young giant, and Lady Betty neck beat him in the A.J.C. All Aged Stakes. This was his last good race, and he never afterwards regained his form. His owner and breeder, the late Hon. James White, not having any use for him then sold him for a large sum to his brother, Mr. H. C. White, who bought him for the purpose of raising a stud of big mares - a task which the big horse has succeeded in doing in a most satisfactory manner.
With the exception of one, Mr. White has kept all his Cranbrook fillies for the express purpose of crossing them with a small stallion of the highest quality in order to breed racehorses of fair size with bone and quality combined. For a long time he was on the look out for a suitable mate for these great Cranbrook fillies, and at last accidentally stumbled upon the very horse he required during one of his visits to England. The horse he bought for the purpose is Yardley, by Sterling (12) - son of Oxford (12) and a daughter of Flatcatcher (3), by Touchstone (14) - from Geisla (11), by Musket (3) - son of Toxopholite (3) - from Siluria, by Lord Clifden (2) from a daughter of Rataplan (3). Through Sterling's dam, Musket, and Lord Clifden, Yardley gets four strains of Touchstone, who was a grandson of Whalebone (I), while Cranbrook's strong point is five crosses of Whalebone's brother Whisker (1), two of Whalebone, two of Melbourne (1), and two of the beautiful Glencoe (1) - sire of Stockwell's dam. Besides these Cranbrook gets two crosses of Partisan (1), one of Pioneer (1), and 10 of Woodpecker within reasonable distance of his top remove.
In order to show the "foundation," so to speak, of Cranbrook's breeding, I append two small tables showing how the blood of Prunella is the predominant power.
The first table is that of Cranbrook's sire, Chester.

~~j Whisker (1) ~ | Sir Hercules (3) %$S*?l }? | Partisan (1) Yattendon ? Partisan (1) . ! Cassandra, (17) Pioneer (1) Jj; Woodpecker (I) j=; Whalebone (1) « Woodpecker (1) Stockwell (3) Whisker (I) Lady Chester Woodpecker (1) Glencoe (1) Anl)_ ? g- Stolen Moments Melbourne (1) ; (8) Woodpecker (1) 'C W halebone (1) t* Woodpecker (1) « Stoekwell (3) Whisker (1) ?' Prices of Woodpecker (1' *ales Glencoe (1 ) I j The Bloomer Melbourne (I) J ? ! (13) Wonripecker fl) ?

Cathedral gets Whalebone in the third and one cross of Woodpecker in the fourth remove. Stockwell is already mentioned, while both Stolen Moments and The Bloomer are by Melbourne, who was by Humphrey Clinker (8) out of a mare by Cervantes (8). It will be noticed that Chester, Cathedral, and Newminster belong to the 8 family, which through Otville and Sultan is very strongly represented in the back lines of both Chester and La Princesse, The backbone of Cranbrook's pedigree is, as shown, Prunella, by Highflyer. Whisker and Whalebone were by Waxy out of Penelope, by Trumpator from Prunella; Partisan was by Walton from Parasol, by Pot-8-o's (sire of Waxy) from Prunella; Pioneer was got by Whisky from Prunella; Glencoe was by Sultan from Trampoline, by Tramp from Web, a sister to Whalebone. Prunella and Melbourne descend from Bonny Lass, by Bay Bolton, and Woodpecker descends from a sister to Bonny Lass. Leaving the backbone of Cranbrook's pedigree and coming nearer home, it will be noticed that of the first seven sires in his top removes six of them come from potent sire families and are backed up with the blood that has worthily stood the test of time - namely that of Birdcatcher, Touchstone, and Melbourne.
An idea of the value in which the Whisker blood is held in England may be gained from the fact that Mrs. Langtry was offered, and refused, £6000 for Merman. I am told that the offer was made by a breeder who was anxious to get the horse for the sake of his five crosses of Whisker. This line died in England with King Tom, but it has flourished well here, thanks to the vitality of the Yattendons. It is to be hoped that Cranbrook's daughter will succeed as well at the stud as have his sons on the racecourse. These said sons have shown their sire in a very bright light on more than one occasion. One of the best horses of our time was Atlas, who beat Hova pointless at weight for age, and in a trial before the Caulfield Cup he beat his stablemate, Trenchant, so badly that the chance of the latter in the Cup was regarded as forlorn indeed, but he finished second, and Atlas returned to the paddock, crippled by a foul rider. Taking a line through Trenchant, Atlas should have come in by himself, but the interference he received not only extinguished his chance, but rendered him useless as a racehorse. Horse watchers still talk of the speed possessed by Cranbrook's son Huret, and the records of the December Stakes show him to have been out of the common. Form once galloped the Derby distance in such style that the majority of those who saw it would not hear of his defeat, but he ran out of place to Bob Ray, and before the meeting ended it was clearly proved that he had done a gallop too many, and like many another good colt be had left his Derby on the training track.
Mr. White thought Form good enough to take to England, but the colt was not at all forward during last summer, when the ground was hard. Had he been got fit, then he would have made a much better show in public when he could hear the rattle of his hoofs than he did in the mud at Liverpool when he ran for the Autumn Cup and finished sixth. All the Chester tribe are useless in mud. Phidias would have followed his relative across the seas had he lived and kept well. It is a thousand pities such a fine colt did not lire. Philip was never the least use to him in private, which shows that he could at least gallop, because Philip has proved in public that he is out of the common. If he is not a good one the handicappers are altogether wrong in their estimate of him, because they never neglect to weight him as first class. It is a pity Mr. White did not either sell Cranbrook's stock or race more of them than he did in past years, because judging from those we have seen, there are plenty good ones left behind that have never been tried, and had he but had all his stock running for him he would doubtless have taken a much higher place on the sire list than he has done.
Mr. White has at last decided to sell some of his stock, and in April the big horse will be represented at the yearling sales by a couple of colts that will make the cognoscenti stare. A photograph of one of them - the Tiwoona colt - is given in this issue. I never saw a grander foal than he, and he still retains his grandeur. With him will come a brown half-brother to Clarion, who is in my opinion a better-shaped and much sounder colt than Clarion. The Tiwoona colt has got three crosses of Stockwell (3), one of Rataplan (3), and one of Sir Hercules (3) in him, as well as three strains of Touchstone (14) and two of Melbourne (1). The Clare colt has no less than four crosses of Stockwell, three of Melbourne, and one each of Sir Hercules (3), Richmond (3), and Maribyrnong (3), and two of Newminster (8), by Touchstone (14). With these two will be submitted a lovely chestnut colt by Antaeus from Legardo, by Vespasian from Legacy, a full sister to Le Grand. This colt is inbred to Stockwell and Touchstone, and he must be seen to be fully appreciated.
His sire, Antaeus, is one of the handsomest thoroughbreds alive, and his tried stock all inherit much of his racing abilities. l can only remember two of his sons - Valiant and Spark - that have raced, and it cannot be gainsaid that these two were honest and fast gallopers. Anticus is one of the few Sir Modred horses we have, and it is to be regretted that more of his stork were not raced. All Idalia's (dam of Sir Modred) sons have a happy knack of getting racehorses, but unfortunately America captured the pick of her sons. Her grandson, Little Bernie, is said to be the best sire in Queensland, and though his first season stock have not yet reached their third year, one of them, Coronation, has been sold to go to England. If Anteas had been in a public stud, where he would have got all sorts of mares, he would have, without doubt, made a great name for himself, but until last season he was used exclusively on a few of the Havilah mares. He is a beautifully moulded blood bay with black points, deep in the fore ribs, while his back ribs and loins look strong enough to carry a 16st man to hounds. He is a very quiet, contented horse, and as healthy and as robust as one need wish. All his young stock and young brood mares show a vast amount of quality and strength, and the majority of them are moulded in his own beautiful likeness.
An old Mudgee friend of mine tells me that Yardley is very remindful of Bav Camerton, who flourished in the "thirties," and was one of the very best stallions ever imported to Australia. Yardley was bred by Messrs. Graham at Yardley stud in England, and is by Sterling (12) - son of Oxford (12) - out of Geisla (11), by Musket (3) from Siluria, by Lord Clifden (2) from a mare by Rataplan (3). Yardley is a very active, hardy-looking little horse, that barely touches 14.2, but he is a model of symmetry, and as game as an ant. He is closely related to Endurance, a horse for whom Mr. Young Graham refused £14,000 from a Continental buyer. Endurance is by Sterling out of Yardley's granddam. Though Yardley is low in stature, no practical horseman would mistrust his ability to carry 15st from sun to sun, or from week's end to week's end. Mr. White has given him a great chance at the stud, and has bred several of his mares to him to English time. The last of the Havilah stallions is the English-bred Impetuous, by Salisbury (32) - son of Camballo (2) - out of Impetus (11), by Voltigeur (2) from It's Curious, the dam of Marvellous. Impetuous is a lengthy bay colt, with plenty of liberty and a good, plain, honest head. His stock look very well, and it is evident that Mr. White sets good value on him as a sire by giving him some very choice mares8 .

1899

23 September 1899
FARMING OPERATIONS.
Mr. H. H. White of Havilah station has gone in largely for the half system. Land practically lying for years has now been worked to advantage9 .

1904

8 November 1904
Gold has again been found on part of the Havilah estate, near Mudgee. It is said to be in payable quantities, and is on the lead where good gold has been found10 .

1905

22 March 1905

11

30 September 1905
Threatened Land Job at Mudgee.
According to accounts there is a threatened land job at Mudgee, something after the character of the smellful My bawl Creek business. The Government are looking into a proposal to buy out the Havilah Estate, owned by the White family, for the purpose of closer settlement, which should at ruling prices cut up £20,000 boodle for some persons, whoever they may be. But this is a small item, viewed from a political standpoint. Within a few miles of the Havilah Estate, on the road between Mudgee and Gulgong, the Government recently absorbed a large area of Crown lands, and, instead of offering the area to the hundreds of decent hard working settlers in the district, are devoting it to the purpose of a State Labour Farm, where Hyde Park squatters from Sydney may be taught the industry of farming. Again, in a straight line as the crow flies, are the stolen lands given to Messrs. Mack and Austin, many thousands of acres of Crown lands, the greatest wheat growing country in Australia, which rightly belongs to the people, and which The Newsletter will see they get. The weakling Minister for Lands, Ashton, and his Simon Pure colleague, Josef Carruthers would rather plunge the country into a big debt to buy out Havilah Estate than run counter to Crick and Willis, and unlock the stolen Crown Lands, or sensibly give the Gulgong area to the local farmers or their sons. The whole business reeks with jobbery, and stamps the Government as a gang of political impostors of the first water. However, before the scheme can be got properly going, the Land Frauds Enquiry judgment will be known - and the public will be up and doing12 .

2 December 1905
A portion of Havilah Estate (White's) is to be brought into the market, and it is announced that 3500 acres, are to be offered for sale13 .

1912

Hunter White, Havilah, Mudgee, 380 horses, 645 cattle, 20104 sheep14 .

1914

17 August 1914
To Builders.
TENDERS are invited for the erection and completion of a COTTAGE on the Havilah Estate for Hunter White, Esq. Plans and Specifications with the undersigned, to whom tenders are to be delivered not later than September 1st, 1914. Lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted. HAROLD HARDWICK, Architect15 .

1915

31 March 1915
THE TURF: NOTES AND COMMENTS.
BY 'MILROY.'
Ventura's Half-brother.
MR. HUNTER WHITE, of Havilah, has restricted his yearling output this year to four select colts, and probably one of them, a half brother to Ventura, will be classed by connoisseurs among the best we have seen from this stud, which has given us such performers as Antaeus, Atlas, Cranberry, Huret, Sir Leonard, Georgie, Form, Paris, Bangebah, Ventura, Jinnee, Mazarin, and Lowland Chief. The colt mentioned is a chestnut with three white feet, a white face, and light mane and tail. He is by Orzil from Sonoma, by Cranbrook out of Undine, by Kelpie from Aveline, the dam of Autonomy and Bungebah and a half-sister to the dam of Paris (winner of two Caulfield Cups) and of Ensign, who beat Carbine in the V.R.C. Derby. This colt's half-sister, Ventura, was a racing machine as a two-year-old, and she is by Traquair, a son of Ayrshire. Orzil is also by Ayrshire, and, like Traquair, is a true Ayrshire in make and shape, and is chestnut in colour. Orzil has sired many brilliant two-year-olds, such as Kilfera, The Owl, Zilka, Oriellet, and Brookong, and many stayers, among them Overdale, Dumont, Nushka, and Orline, and scores of other winners. The Sonoma colt is a bold, big, handsome fellow, a true Birdcatcher from stem to stern. He will answer for himself when he comes to hand, without any assistance from me. A colt by Mountain King from Skopo, by Skopos from that great sprinter Fulminate, by Gossoon from Percussion, by Musket, looks all dash and speed, and is the bully of the paddock. He is a masterful customer of medium size and beautiful quality, in fact, is a born aristocrat, and big enough and game enough for anything. Mr. White has a beautiful brown colt by Abundance from the Doncaster Handicap winner Djin Djin, by Forest King out of Cumino, a half-sister to Gozo. This fellow has most perfect shoulders, line reach, and liberty of action, and if he were by Maltster the thousand-guinea mark would be passed before the auctioneer could get his second wind. The fourth is a chestnut colt, a long strider and a typical Orzil, by that horse out of The Prize, dam of that game bit of stuff and genuine stayer Prizefighter.
Among the Poseidons.
FROM Havilah we motored to Mr. H. R. Denison's stud, Eumaralla, upon which the owner has spent heavy money in transforming it into a beautiful country residence and a delightful home for horses. Here we found Poseidon in great form, and his English stud mate, The Nut, has developed into a splendid horse. Little wonder he carried off the champion stallion prize at Mudgee a few days later. I almost forgot to mention that Orzil is as sprightly as ever, and carries his years very lightly; and Mr. Hunter White's Gallinule horse John o' Lorne is a very fine style, and a true Ayrshire of the Jolly Beggar type. His dam is by Ayrshire, and a sister to the dam of the St. Leger winner Night Hawk, to whom John o' Lorne is a brother in blood. Mr. Denison has 13 yearlings in the stables at Eumaralla, including one belonging to Mr. W. H. Mate, as well as three young-sters bred to English time by The Nut, Black Sand, and Lally, a brother to The Nut, and a successful stallion. One of the best at Eumaralla is a big, powerfully-built bay colt by Poseidon out of Oriet, a sister to the Maribyrnong Plate winner Oriellet, by Orzil from Infanta (a descendant of Quadroon), who had a cross of Gibraltar and Yattendon in her. This colt walks very like his sire, but, curiously, he is more like his handsome dam in style, particularly about the head and neck and deep forepiece. A brown colt by Poseidon from Court Beauty, the dam of Ma Gosse, is a strapping, big-boned, even-tempered youngster, with a strong horse head, lengthy shoulders, and square quarters. His dam is by Royal Artillery, and his grand-dam is a sister to Multiform: therefore he has three crosses of Musket, and two of them through Hotchkiss, the sire of Royal Artillery and the colt's. granddam.
St. Simon Blood.
ANOTHER fine upstanding colt is a bay by Poseidon out of that well-bred English mare Pleasant Surprise, bv Orme out of Blue Hat, by Blue Green, a half-brother to Orme. The pair were both out of a sister to St. Simon, the grandsire of Poseidon. The colt is a good paddock galloper, and is a brother to Constis, but he is bigger and belter-looking than that horse, a bay colt by Poseidon from Dudu, who is by Linacre's sire, Wolf's Crag, from a Cyllene mare, has a rare racing pedigree, and he is a nobby, powerfully-built fellow, who looks like a galloper and an early beginner. A bay colt by Poseidon out of Lady Molly, an imported mare by Aurum from Dainty Lady, by Surefoot, belongs to the same family as Bend Or, Traquair, Cicero, and Co. He is another that strikes one as an early beginner. Another bred the same way is a bay filly, a big, strapping individual with a galloping hind leg, by Poseidon from Trinket, by Trenton (sire of Aurum) from Crown Jewel, whose dam was a sister to Bend Or. This handsome, high-bred young lady is a sister to Telecles and a three-parts sister to Westcourt. Astolat's brown filly by Poseidon is the best and the biggest foal the mare has reared, and she has three crosses of Musket in her to recommend her to breeders in search of brood mares. A brown filly by Poseidon from Zephey, a Havoc mare and a descendant of Betty by Hector, looks more like staying than any of them; but a filly by Poseidon from Miss Florence, by Grafton, may be an early beginner; while a big, lengthy, bay filly by Poseidon from Cannie Lassie, by Scottish King, is declared by the stud groom, Bob Kennedy, to be the smartest galloper in the collection, which is easily the best Mr. Denison has bred since he began as a studmaster in such a big way on the Cudgegong16 .

1922

20 October 1922
STOCK, FARM & STATION
By R. S. ALLAN
OUR TRAVELLING REPRESENTATIVE
Havilah Merino Stud, Blood Horses and Devon Cattle
While on a visit to Mudgee, N.S.W., I was fortunate to find Mr. Hunter White at his historic station, Havilah. This beautiful old place is a land mark in the history of Australia, the present merino stud having been in existence for the better part of a century.
Havilah merino wool holds its place among textile houses, the clip being consistently true to type. All the wool from Mr. Hunter White's stud can be classed as fine-medium, beautifully crimped, light in condition, sustained in quality, white and soft. The consistent price paid by Continental and English buyers, is a lasting guarantee that the clip retains those textile requirements against strenuous competition.
THE WOOL TYPE.
The country on which these sheep run is eminently suited to the growth of high quality wool of a finer count. Until comparatively recent years, the wool was very free, and even now one finds no more seed or burr than will be seen on the bulk of New South Wales wool.
Mudgee district has created, and has always maintained its reputation for fine to medium wool of sustained character and quality, and it is largely due to Mr. Hunter White's Havilah merino stud that the wool type has been so universally achieved.
HAVILAH EWES.
During my visit to Havilah I had the pleasure of watching Mr. Hunter White classing some maiden ewes for the rams. This is a duty which the owner of Havilah will leave to no other man, and during the many years that have gone, he has got to know his sheep, gauging their capabilities, or their requirements when classed for future progeny.
Havilah ewes are not put to the rams till they are two years old, as sheep in this Mudgee country mature later.
The percentage of culls was very limited, and, I may say, I saw every ewe that passed under Mr. Hunter White's hands.
The ewes are deep-framed, square set, showing a heavy fleece, most evenly packed on, of fine-medium quality. I was particularly impressed with the unusually good back and belly wool; in fact, I have never seen on any sheep a more Evenly spread fleece. They cut a big weight fleece, with a very even average. I noted that all Havilah sheep have unusual depth of frame.
RAMS.
The rams I saw are of the same high quality as the ewes. The young flock rains which are bought for Queensland, and parts of western New South Wales, have made a distinct reputation, which statement is supported by the regular yearly consignment, extending over many years.
Some of the best wool grown around Cobar, N.S.W., is from sheep bred on Havilah blood, and one of the most noted flocks in the Northern State is built up on Havilah blood.
I inspected some very good 4-tooth flock rams, a number of which have been sold to New England buyers. The Havilah sheep are much favoured in this district.
Again, I must repeat the wool is full of quality, and cuts a heavy, fairly light-conditioned fleece of fine-medium count.

25 October 1922
EARLY HAVILAH HISTORY
By H. W. NEVELL.
The Havilah Estate, twelve miles from Mudgee, well known as the residence of Mr. Hunter White, was first taken up by the late William Hayes in the early thirties of last century.
Billy HAYES, as he was familiarly known, lived at Lukin Park, between Parramatta and Penrith, and he took up various runs in those early days, amongst which was a sheep station on Butheroe, near Coolah, which was known to the old hands as Hayes's. Another place he owned was Belac station, near Coonabarabran. The late Mr. N. P. Bailey was manager for the late Mr. William Lawson, and lived at Butta Bucca, near Mudgee, and at Coolah, where I first knew him. He was a most generous man in all charitable movements, and at a meeting in the Mechanics' Institute at Mudgee to consider means of providing relief for those who had been flooded out on the Hunter River, after different speakers had explained their views Mr. Bailey rose and said: "There is a well-known saying, and I believe a true one, that the horse starves whilst the grass grows. I have already sent £50 towards re lief, and you can now put my name down for £100."
AFTER managing the Lawson Estate, which included a large area of country, for some years, Mr. Bailey purchased Mr. Hayes's property near Mudgee. He named it Havilah, and commenced to breed up a flock of merino sheep. There was no man in Australia who took as much care and pride in the raising of good sheep as Nicholas Paget Bailey, and there was no one who got the same high price for his wool as he did. On one occasion he sent to the London Exhibition a bale of wool which realised 63d per lb. He built a dam at a cost of something over £1000 to wash his sheep in, as he always had the wool washed on the sheep’s back. He would only allow three hundred sheep to be washed in a day so that ten or twelve men would do this number properly. This dam is now to be seen along the Mudgee railway line near Havilah. He was a great believer in keeping the wool clean, and one of his methods towards this end was to give old men small whips with which they flipped off the heads of the grass seed as they walked through the paddocks. Another plan was for younger men to scrape off the rough bark from the trees, so that the sheep fleeces would not be torn against them. Then he always had the wool put into two covers, and on arrival in Sydney, whence it was taken by teams, the outer bale which had collected all the dirt of the trip was torn off, leaving the clean, attractive inner bale to be sold.
THE following letter on wool-growing, written by Mr. N. P. Bailey, may be of interest, to many of our sheep-breeders of the present day as showing the difference in the methods used by him in 1868 and those employed by others:- "It is notorious that for some years past the system of breeding sheep for numbers has been almost generally followed, quite regardless of the quality. The fact that like produces like is in no way regarded, and very many squatters prefer breeding from any mongrel-bred rams they can produce from their own flocks, or buy cheap, in preference to purchasing a few good rams. The consequences are manifest; scarcely a broker's report reaches Sydney that does not convey the fact that most of our colonial wool is sadly defective, and unmistakably shows that no correct system of breeding has been kept up. Stock-masters seem to forget that it costs as much to keep 1000 indifferent sheep; as it would 1000 of the best. I thoroughly believe that two-thirds of the sheep in the colony are absolutely rubbish, and will not pay the expense of their management. If stock-masters could be induced to cull their flocks to one-third of their present number, and put all the rubbish into the pot, they would find it greatly to their advantage. I do not speak without experience in this matter. Although my runs are extensive and would carry 26,000 sheep, I never keep more than 10,000, and probably, with one or two exceptions, I make more out of my 10,000 sheep that any person in the colony makes out of 50,000. I may be wrong, but such is my impression. For nearly a lifetime I have adhered to the system of culling, and never keep any sheep that; I consider in any way defecfive or objectionable. I can, with much satisfaction, point to my wool sales for the last twenty-five years; they have always maintained a uniform price and generally at the top of the market. This year (1868), with the miserable price we have had to put up with, my clip of 109 bales averaged upwards of 2s 7¼d per lb all round, and two-thirds of it was sold in the most depressed time of the sales. I mention these facts to show that when I tender advice it is merely to induce others to pursue the system so successfully carried out by myself. Good wool and plenty of it ought to be the study of all sheep-owners; but this can only be obtained by close culling and careful selection of breeding ewes, taking special care only to put among them the best rams obtainable. The introduction of good rams, not only gives good wool and plenty of it, but in a very short time they will double or treble the value of the flocks that have partaken of the change. There is the question. The 10,000 good sheep are considerably more valuable than 50,000 indifferent ones: therefore my urgent advice is, get the boiling pot to work as soon as possible, or else in a few years those who possess the most sheep will be first into the insolvent Court."
These were the views held by Mr. Bailey, who always obtained the best blood available for his flocks. On one occasion he bought a valuable ram for several hundred pounds, and when it arrived at Havi lah he found it was affected by scab. He had it washed with kerosene, which had the effect of destroying the wool. He was very distressed about it. His brother-in-law, the late Mr. Sam. Blackman, of Cooyal, jokingly said: "I'll give you £10 for him, Nick." "He is yours," was the answer; so the ram was taken to Cooyal, and it recovered there. Then Mr. Bailey gave Mr. Blackman £100 for him17 .

1931

18 February 1931
Around Australia's Great Stud
Havilah, "The Land of Gold" - Famous Horse and Cattle Country - A Family of Eminent Sportsmen
(BY W. M. SHERRIE)
MR. WHITE'S Havilah is one of the most widely-known breeding establishments in Australia. It is situated a few miles from Mudgee, on the Sydney side, and is ideal country lor the production of high-class horses, sheep, and cattle. Wool from this district, often tops the market; its Devon cattle have Australian-wide fame; and it has produced many noted winners on the turf.
HAVILAH was first owned by Mr. H. P. Bailey, of Mudgee, and dates back about 70 years. When it was acquired by the late Mr. White, father of Mr. Hunter White, only a few head of horses and cattle were running on the place. Since then Havilah has become famous as an estate which produces high-class horses, Devon cattle, and merino sheep.
The estate embraces about 28,000 acres. At the present time, in addition to the horses, there are 20,000 sheep and 900 head of cattle on Havilah. Coming into the valleys and flats which make up the best of this country is like emerging from hard and inhospitable regions into a sort of "promised land," a land of milk and honey and scenic beauty. Going from Mudgee to Havilah, one passes through a series of rough ironstone ranges which do not seem to be even fertile enough to keep rabbits, bandicoots, or other wild animals in reasonable comfort. These mountainous ranges give but little suggestion of the charming and fertile country through which flows Lawson Creek, and near which is situated the fine old Havilah homestead. Apart from the ranges Havilah consists of decomposed granite hills, sweeping slopes and valleys, and highly productive flats. The property is served by two creeks which supply an abundance of crystal clear water. The place was at first known as Lawson Creek. It was named after the explorer of that name. The Story goes that the name was changed because of gold being found in this locality. A man was one day washing some dirt in a dish, when a bush parson came along. Seeing the man wash out some gold the traveller suggested that the place should be called Havilah, as that was the "land of gold" mentioned in the Bible. Many people think Havilah an aboriginal word.
Alien Note
One of the first notes that strikes one's ear on entering this beautiful country is a distinctly alien note. Usually it may be heard rising clear above the calls of indigenous Australian birds and suggesting color and pageantry and Eastern life. One discovers that there are peacocks running wild along the creek, but is not surprising when he recollects that the Whites have always been great lovers of wild life as well as of thoroughbred horses and other animals. Those birds are given sanctuary at Havilah, and one gathers that Mr. White will not have them molested.
Their only effective enemy is the fox. The birds cannot match reynard's cunning, and many of the family are captured when nesting. However, they seem to be able to quite hold their own and their numbers serve to enhance the decorativeness of a landscape that has natural beauty in abundance. The late Mr. H. L. White (Belltrees, Hunter River, N.S.W.), a member of the same family, did more for the study of Australian ornithology, and for the development of a proper national attitude towards birds and wildlife generally, than any other Australian of his generation. Mr. White spent thousands of pounds annually on research work, and whenever funds were needed for any ornithological enterprise he was happy to supply them. His great, enduring, and public-spirited work in this direction, won for him a place in the memory and the affection of Australian bird-lovers never held by any of the other generous workers who have come into this field of national endeavor.
Of course it is hardly necessary to mention that Havilah is a sanctuary for other birds as well as the gay imported species from the East. The spacious gardens resemble a section of the Sydney Botanic Gardens, so great is the variety of trees and shrubs, and morning and evening the place is happily vocal with the melody of magpies, thrushes, whistlers, and some of the minor bush songsters. Among the trees one of the most striking and beautiful of the "foreigners," is the deodar, which makes a highly decorative display in the gardens. Round about the homestead there are also acacias, wild-apples, magnolias, pines, yellow box, willows, elms, and various other trees and shrubs which create a delightful atmosphere of restful and appealing beauty.
SHOCKED BRISBANE PUNTERS
Guy Mala (J. Gorman) gave Brisbane punters the shock of their lives when he won the February Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Two days previously he was one of the last horses home in an Albion Park Purse, against a field of novice performers.
Though not as old as some other Australian studs, Havilah has for more than a generation been a famous name in the turf-world. Many good horses have carried the colors of the Whites of this branch of the family. Away back in the last century one of the best of them was Paris, who was afterwards raced in England, but was then past his prime and won only some minor races. In 1892, running in the colors of J. Monaghan, Paris, carrying 8.8, won the Caulfield Cup as a six year-old. In the following year, running in the name of J. Allsopp, he carried 9.2 and won the A.J.C. Metropolitan. Next year, with 9.4, carrying the colors of Mrs. H. C. White, he won his second Caulfield Cup, making what was a record weight-carrying performance which stood until Purser won with 9.5. For a small horse this was great form.
The owner of Havilah (whose father, the late Mr. H. C. White, formerly owned Woodlands) is a nephew of the late Hon. James White, who dominated the Turf in Australia over a great part of the last quarter of the 19th century. For more than a decade his colors were practically invincible in the two year-old and the classic races of Australia. He bred many great horses and acquired many others. He was an able student of horses and of breeding and his unparalleled success was due to judgment and system rather than to what is called "luck" among racing men. The "blue and white" livery was a standard of integrity, of great sportsmanship. It has been the same with the other branches of the family. They have been sportsmen first, last, and all the time. The public confidence in the colors of James White was so implicit and so thorough that horses which were to carry them were made favorites for important events before they had been seen on a racecourse.
When Mr. James White was at the top of the racing tree in Australia he was ambitious to breed a winner of the Derby in England. With this object in view he bred from several of his best mares to English time. One of these mares was La Princess, dam of the great sprinter, Cranbrook, winner of the Newmarket Handicap at three years, carrying the record weight of 8.12. Horses bred to English time, and sent over were Kirkham, Narellan, Wentworth, and Mons Meg, a sister of Singapore, by Martini Henry out of Malacca. Mons Meg won the Gold Vase at Ascot and Kirkham sired a winner of the Grand National Steeplechase, but otherwise Mr. White's spirited venture was not crowned with anything like the success it merited.
There are 20 men permanently employed at Havilah. When Mr. Hunter White is not there, his son, Mr. Peter White, is in charge, and what with sheep, cattle, and horses, he has his hands full. The stud groom, Les. Barr, modestly disclaims expert knowledge of horses, but if you get him to talk, you soon find that he knows more about the subject than many of those who think they have nothing to learn - Just as if any one ever could, in the mortal span of life, learn all there is to know about the equine family! One would suppose that a stud groom would have little time for recreation, so strenuous is his task; but apparently Mr. Barr's idea of "recreation" is to do a little gardening as a change from the stables. He is fond of gardening and puts in a good deal of his "spare" time there. It is not surprising that so many stud grooms are light-weights! In the job of putting condition on their horses they probably lose the knack of keeping up their own weight.
The stables and the yards at Havilah are all on a spacious scale and admirably suited to their purpose. Horses have plenty of light and room, and clean, wholesome surroundings. Stalls have the aroma of fresh hay. Out in the paddocks there is a group of fine stalls so designed that they give all the shelter needed and are at the same time practically open air structures. The roof is like a shed on a large scale, so that the whole of the stalls are open to the air. This place was designed by Mr. Hunter White, who takes a keen personal interest in the horses and their welfare. In this respect he is true to type, like his famous uncle and other members of the family, just as he is in racing for love of the game and always with the primary object of maintaining the highest standards and traditions to the turf. From generation to generation, from father to son, the Whites have been great sportsmen in the best sense of that often abused term, and they have always had the unshakeable confidence of the people whose support keeps the turf going in Australia.
Among the yearling colts at Havilah is a chestnut half-brother to Rogerson, by Tippler from Sweet Alison by Havoc from Sweet Alice by Gang Forward (imp.). Tanjore has a nice chestnut colt by Roger de Busli. Tanjore was bred by Mr. Hunter White in 1918. She is by imported Brakespear from Madura by Ayr Laddie from Madras by Chester from Gymkhana, going back to Kingston.
There is a smart looking bay colt by Tippler from the Rossendale mare, Rossenie, but he is rather on the small side. He is a nicely turned youngster, an October foal. A good little bay colt is by Tippler from Threcord by Three from Clarichord by imported Orzil from Claribella by Wallace. Claribella was the dam of Belle of Clare, who produced Joan Clare, dam of Malvina. Bell of Claire was by Imported Flavus. These mares belong to the great Instep family.
Belle of Clare has a big, raking type of bay colt by Tippler. He is framed on generous lines and has very good bone. Another nice bay colt by Tippler is out of a half-sister to the dam of the great jumper, Les Paddington.
Promising Colt
One of the finest of the colts is by Tippler from Coble. This mare's first foal was a winner and it will be surprising if her yearling (a second foal) does not do well on the turf. He certainly gives great promise. He is well grown, standing about 15 hands, has good shoulders and quarters, reach, and pronounced quality. Coble was bred in 1916. She is by Brakespear from The Dhow by Grafton from Felucca by Hazlehatch, a son of Hermit and Hazledean by Cathedral (8). A strong boned, blaze-faced bay colt by Tippler is out of Sweet Form by Multiform from Sweet Thorn by Medallion.
A big, solid brown colt, with a good, honest, and intelligent head, is a full brother to Firbolg, but he is better grown than Firbolg was at that age. This fellow looks as if he would make a racehorse out of the common. He is by Tippler from The Dhow, dam of Coble. The Tipplers have uniformly good heads, which suggest courage and honesty.
Running with the yearling fillies is a splendidly grown sister to Malvina (Tippler - Joan Clare). She has fine fiat bone and a big frame and looks like a galloper. ln any case she should be valuable for the stud. It is understood that this filly is to be sent to Melbourne to race. Present intentions at Havilah seem to be that none of the yearling fillies will be sent to the Sydney Easter sales. If they are raced it will probably be by their owner. Among them is a good sort of chestnut filly by Tippler from Trice, bred in 1921. Trice is by Three from The Top by Louis XIII. A very classy looking chestnut filly is a half-sister to the brilliant Figure, winner of the Oakleigh Plate. Figure is now at Havilah and has furnished into a beautiful type of brood mare. The yearling is by Tippler from Forfar Lass by Brake spear from imported Forfar Gal by Forfarshire, sire of Eudorus. There is a bay filly that is a sister to Tippo. She is by Tippler from Wollara Maid, by Orzil (son of Ayrshire and Merry Miser, by The Miser, (son bf Hermit) from Nandilyan Maid by Lancas ter, a half-brother to Trenton, by Hotchkiss (son of Musket and Petroleuse) from Frailty by Goldsbrough. There is a brown filly that is a three quarter sister to Tippo. A very good sort is a sister to Toper, by Tippler from Tehama, by imported Developer from Sonoma by the great sprinter, Cranbrook, son of Chester and La Princess. Developer was by Pioneer, a half-brother to Gallinule, from Photo by Springfield. Pioneer was by Galopin.
A very attractive type of mare is the good performer, Valley. She has a nice chestnut foal by Tippler - her first. Valley was bred in 1924. She is by Valuis from Beanbri by St. Alwyne from Birida by Wallace - stout breeding.
Among the many fine mares seen at Havilah is imported Admired, dam of Whitewash (by Roger do Busli). Whitewash is running in the paddock and there seems to be some doubt whether or not she will race again. Admired was bred in England in 1921. She is by Bachelor's Double (son of Tredennis) from Myra Blake, by Myram, a son of Flying Fox. She is a very fine type of mare, and the same may be said of Joan Clare, dam of Malvina. Another very good class mare is imported Cither, bred in England in 1910. She is by Simontault from Guitar II, by Endurance, Simontault is a son of St. Simon. Bright Vamp (by Bernard out of Bright Siren, by imported Bright Stool) has a bay colt by Tippler.
Figure and her dam have been this season mated with Tippler. Many of the Havilah horses are now at Mr. Hunter White's 6000 acres property on the Goulburn River, a tributary of the Hunter.
There are two sires at Havilah, Tippler and Roger de Busli. Tippler has "delivered the goods." Few horses have made a belief start at the stud. He had good winning two-year-olds and his stock go on winning. His oldest are now four-year-olds. Among them are Cathmar, Malvina, The Doctor's Orders, Bosmina, Havenspot, and Toper. He sired Malvina (A.J.C. Gimcrack Stakes winner) in his first season; also Cathmar, who is good up to ten furlongs at least.
As a racehorse, Tippler demonstrated his worth as a two-year-old. Competing against the best class horses, he had ten starts. He won twice and was four times placed. At three years he ran third in the Dee Stakes (1¼ mile) and was unplaced in Sansovino's Derby. He was then bought by Mr. Hunter White, who has, no doubt, great hopes that he will yet sire an outstanding horse. Tippler was foaled in 1921. He is a beautifully bred horse, and "looks the part." He has quality and well distributed power and (what is important in a sire) abundance of vitality. He is a strong and symmetrically formed horse, with attractive head and good legs, and he moves like a racehorse. He has all the class that is characteristic of his famous family.
Bend Or - Isonomy
Tippler comes, primarily, of two great lines - Bend Or and Isonomy. His sire, Polymelus, was head of the winning sires' list on five occasions in England. Polymelus sired many famous horses, including Phalaris, Parth, Silvern (sire of Silvius), Fifinella (winner of the Derby and Oaks), Black Jester (winner ot the Leger), Humorist (winner of the Derby), Pomme de Terre, and Pommern.
Polymelus was by Cyllene (himself the sire of four Derby winners), a splendid horse, and one of the best stayers descended from Bend Or Cyllene was by Bona Vista (l) from Arcadia by Isonomy from Distant Shore by Hermit from Land's End by Trumpeter (1).
Trumpeter was a son of the Touchstone horse, Orlando, and his dam traced back to the Derby winner, Emilius. Bona Vista was by Bend Or from Vista by Macaroni (sire of Lily Agnes and Tiger Lily), from Verdure, by King Tom, half-brother to Stockwell and Rataplan.
Maid Marian (dam of Polymelus) was by Hampton from Quiver, who is so closely related to Musket. Quiver was by Musket's sire, Toxophilite, from a daughter of Young Melbourne and Brown Bess, dam of the dam of Musket. Young Melbourne was a son of Melbourne (1), who sired West Australian, sire of the dam of Musket. It will be seen that Quiver's bloodlines are practically identical with those of Musket. Quiver, moreover, was the dam of La Fleche, and La Fleche was the dam of John o' Gaunt, sire of Swynford, grand sire of Tippler's dam. The Isonomy line has produced the last two Derby winners in England (Trigo and Blenheim), and Tippler has Isonomy blood through both his sire and his dam. Sippet (dam of Tippler) is out of Snip, a daughter of the great winner, Dono van (Galonin - Mowerina, by Scottish Chief) and Isabel, by Plebelan, from Parma, by Parmesan from Archoress, by Longbow, grandsire of Musket.
Isabel was the dam of St. Frusquin and San Francisco, and Snip was a three-quarter sister to St. Frusquin, one of the world's greatest sires. On the turf St. Frusquin won the 2000 Guineas, Prince of Wales Stakes, Eclipse Stakes, Middle Park Plate, Dewhurst Plate, and other races, and the success of his blood in Australia has been unsurpassed.
Plebelan also brings some Musket blood into the pedigree, as he was by Joskin (son of West Australian) from Queen Elizabeth by Autocrat (1). Parma, dam of Isabel, was a good winner and had 20 races to her credit.
Roger de Busli has not had the success at the stud of his stablemate though a good individual and a finely bred horse who showed good form on the turf and won up to a mile and a half. He is a big chestnut, of commanding appearance, but does not seem to possess as much life as Tippler. He has plenty of power and exceptional reach, and is of massive proportions.
Roger de Busli is by Hurry On from St. Genevieve by the Derby winner, St. Amant, from Gally Bawn by Gallinule (Isonomy - Moorhen, by Hermit) from Nat, a member of the number 2 family. St. Amant was a son of St. Frusquin and Lady Loverule, a daughter of Muncaster by Doncaster, sire of Bend Or. Nat was by St. Florian from Hampton Figlia by Hampton from Oblivion by Speculum, ancestor of Sundridge, sire of Absurd and Sunstar. St. Florian was by St. Simon from Palmflower, by The Palmer, brother to Rosicrucian and Chaplet and sire of Pilgrimage, famous ancestress of Swynford, Chaucer, and others.
Hurry On was one of the greatest horses to race in England and has been an equally great sire. On the turf he was not beaten and never once met a horse capable of trying him right out. He won up to two and a quarter miles and was a genuine stayer, as would naturally be expected of a horse of the famous staying Barcaldine line. Here again we have some of the same blood which produced Musket, Hurry On is by Marcovil from Tout Suite by Sainfoin, sire of Rock Sand, sire of Tracery. Tout Suite was out of Star (2) and Marcovil was by Marco from Lady Villikins (12). Marco was a son of Barcaldine (never beaten), who was by Solon, a son of West Australian, sire Never Beaten of the dam of Musket. Star was by Thurio (2) out of Meteor by Thunderbolt, (son of Stockwell and Cordelia) from Duty by Rifleman, a member of the great number 8 family. Thurio was by Tibthorpe or Cremorne (Derby winner), by Parmesan from Rigolboehe (2). Lady Villiklns was by Hagioscope (a grandson of Vedette, sire of Galopin) from Dinah by Hermit from Ratcatcher's Daughter by Rataplan. Sophia, dam of Hagioscope, was by Macaroni. The dam of Marco was Novitiate by Hermit. Thurio was out of Verona by Orlando, son of Touchstone and Iodine (2).
Sainfoin has a double strain of Stockwell and his dam, Sauda, was a granddaughter of Lord Clifden, sire of Hampton. Hurry On sired three Derby winners, Call Boy, Captain Cuttle, and Coronach, and he is also sire of the successful New Zealand horse, Hunting Song. Sixteen yearlings by another son, Diligence, this season realised over £11,000 at the English sales, averaging 690 guineas. Ten yearlings by Hurry On averaged 1462 guineas. Two by his soil. Coronach, realised 3300 guineas each.
Mr. Peter White, who attends to the managerial affairs of Havilah while his father is discharging his A.J.C. and other duties in Sydney, is representative of the third generation of the family here. His grandfather was the late Mr. H. C. White, who in earlier years had the Woodlands Estate.
The "fourth generation" of the White family is now literally in "possession" at Havilah, though, being only twelve weeks old, he takes little interest in the "land of gold." In due course, no doubt, he will be found upholding the splendid sporting traditions of the family18 .

1939

8 June 1939

19

8 June 1939
Havilah Is 104 Years Old
MUDGEE occupies an important chapter in our Merino history, for it was one of the earlier breeding spots for the sheep that, predominating in our primary development from the days of early settlement, became so great a national wealth producer as to give rise to the saying that we ride on the sheep's back.
Devon cattle have played no small part in another branch of primary production. Havilah, Mudgee, is inseparably linked with Merinos and Devons, the stud being a historic one.
There was a tune when "on Mudgee blood" was a phrase of considerable account among woolgrowers, Mudgee sheep were small and wrinkled, carrying wool of superb quality. This district was the home of noted studs that widely distributed rams bearing these characteristics.
One or two of those early studs that kept abreast of the development in the Merino world towards the plainer bodied sheep, and at the same time retained the legacy of wool quality handed down to them still remain to play as great a part in the industry as before fashions changed. One is Havilah.
Havilah was founded in 1835, on the progeny rams imported from King George 3rd's Kew flocks, mated with Saxon ewes, by Mr. N. P. Bayley. This man, who was skilled in sheep raising, then obtained ewes and rams from Burrundulla, the original Waterhouse Spanish Merino flock. From then on no new blood was introduced for a quarter of a century.
In 1860 Bayley bought an imported Saxony ram. Further importations of pure Saxony rams followed, and the Havilah flock became recognised as one of the best in the colony. When Bayley died in 1870, Henry Charles White purchased the Havilah property and stud. It passed on to Mr. H. C. White's son, Mr. Hunter White, the present owner. It is managed today by Mr. Peter White, representing the third generation of the Whites of Havilah.
Havilah covers undulating country and fertile flats astride Lawson's creek (named after Australia's national poet) a running stream that joins the Cudgegong River below Mudgee.
As a stud property it is ideal. It carries good pastures and lucerne paddocks. It grows good Merinos, and the imported Devon cattle thrive on it.
In spite of the dry weather experienced in Mudgee district of late Devon cattle in the Havilah stud are in good condition. Mr. White reported that sales of Devon bulls during the season had been particularly good.
The manner in which studbreeders can develop the type of animal demanded by changes in the industry, making improvements where desirable, and retaining original qualities, is best seen in the Havilah Merino flock.
Havilah, today, has the plain-bodied sheep with length of fleece, maintaining density and character. Because of this Havilah has held its ground, and is as well known as the home of good Merinos as it was in the early days.
The stud is sending a team of twenty-four 2-yr.-old rams to the Sydney sheep sales, to be offered by the Farmer and Graziers Co-op. Co., Ltd in single pens. The offering is of the usual Havilah standard20 .

1950

12 May 1950
Historic Havilah Enjoys Widespread Popularity
SUCH is the expert breeding which has gone into the Havilah Merino stud, Mudgee for well over a century, that quality and evenness of a type rarely seen in Australia, has been developed.
Founded in 1835 by the late N. P. Bayley, Havilah has an historic background. A selection of sheep from the Lawson Estates, Mudgee, flock formed the nucleus of the stud. These sheep, purchased from King George 3rd's Kew flock, were mated with Saxon ewes.
A further infusion of Mudgee sheep was made from the Burrundulla flock, followed in 1860 by the introduction of an imported Saxon ram. Four more imported Saxon rams were later added, and were used prior to the infusion of 25 Saxon rams, exchanged from Rawden stud, Rylstone.
It was in 1881 that the late H. C. White purchased Havilah. In the 20 years that followed, he conducted several experiments with outside blood, but because no striking successes were made, these sheep were discarded.
Two rams and 20 ewes of Nigrette blood were selected by Mr. White towards the end of last century. This strain gave encouraging results, and a small flock of that blood is still maintained at present, but is not mixed with the general flock. The Nigrette strain is being slowly reduced.
Havilah came under the control of the late Hunter White in 1904, and great work was done by the owner in building up the stud, and maintaining the high quality blood lines which are apparent to-day.
Mr. White's son, Mr. Peter White, has managed the stud in more recent years. This competent studmaster is now in complete control of the undertaking.
Noted for their excellent frames, and the exceptional softness of their wool, Havilah sheep have always been popular.
Coming to Sydney for the show are these three stylish ewes. Bred in Murlingbung Merino stud, Berridale, they are (left to right) champion fine wool and reserve grand champion, champion medium wool and grand champion, and reserve champion fine wool ewes at last Bombala Show21 .

References