History: Guntawang Station

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1870

15 September 1870
JOTTINGS BY THE WAY.
MUDGEE. - (Concluded.)
FROM OUR TRAVELLING REPORTER.
Guntawang and Biraganbil are twin stations on an extensive scale, sixteen miles down the Cudgegong, and half a mile apart on opposite sides of the river. I preferred walking down the valley, and on arriving made a curious and amusing mistake as to the respective properties and their respective owners, both the gentlemen being named Richard, and the surname of both also being Rouse. I was invited to Biraganbil, but went to Guntawang without a shadow of doubt as to its being my destination. However, after sundry adventures, they both became highly interesting subjects to give (I am sorry to be compelled by pressure of time and matter to say) an abridged account.
Biraganbil (place of leeches) is picturesquely posted upon the eastern slope of a greenstone range that meets the river on the south side. It is a high, well drained, healthy spot, and often commands a breeze when the valley is smoking in heat.
Mr. George Rouse, sen., one of the most enterprising men in New South Wales, laid the foundation of a first-claas establishment here, and Mr. Richard Rouse, his son, is well able to carry out his plans.
The house is a large two-storey brick building, with long wings but incomplete, the main front not having as yet been added.
Several very fine trees grace the immediate vicinity and a large garden, under Mr. Hassall's care, flourishes in the alluvial ground below, and a very useful lake formed accidently, stands close to the house, a watering place for the horses and an arena for aquatic birds.
In the rear, and at some little distance from the house, and of course from each other, are the wool
shed, a flour mill, a boiling-down establishment, drafting yards, piggeries, stores, wheelwright's and blacksmith's shop, and houses of the employed.
The very neat plant for grinding the Mudgee district corn consists of one pair of stones, grinding seventy-five bushels a day, driven by a ten horse power portable engine by Hornby and Son, supplied with water by a large oblong brick tank; close by is a splendid chaff-house, for Mr. Rouse cuts all his own hay.
The boiling-down establishment is costly and complete, but idle. The work was done by steam, the boiler being eighteen horse-power with five coppers, and the piggeries and yards are well planned and substantially made.
The Biraganbil stud alone are worth a sixteen-mile walk to see. They run about three miles away, but Mr. Rouse sent for them, and in a short time they came rattling in. Newington, is a grey entire (8 years) out of an old Arab mare by old Sir Hercules, used by Mr. E. Blaxland at Newington. He ran second to Eclipse for the Mudgee Maiden Plate five years. Won the Homebush Maiden Plate in 1868; ran second for the Trial Stakes at the same meeting, and second for the Trial Stakes at Randwick the same year; won the Squatters' Stakes at the same meeting, and ran second to Glencoe for the Corinthian Cup, finally breaking down at Mud gee for the Maiden Plate. Punch is a powerful draught horse, acting like a father, and is taller than he looks, for his breadth and muscular development detract from his height.
The celebrated mountain team of eight giants of the Wiltshire cart-horse breed, next present themselves, with the falling rump and deep set tail, peculiar to that family. In striking contrast to their powerful forms, comes Flirt, a grey mare (5) by Newington out of Whitepatch, out of Black Diamond, out of Lady of the Lake. Flirt in 1868 won the Corinthian Cup at Randwick, and at the following Homebush carried off the Squatters' Stakes and Corinthian Cup, also the Cudgegong Handicap at Mudgee. Darling is a horse by Atlas, broad as a Hereford bull, and a model of equine power and beauty.
Frisky young candidates far future feme also passed in review, whose names will in future occupy more space than I can spare now. In wool, Mr. Rouse is very high up.
Crazy, is a bay mare, blazed and neatly fitted with a pair of white stockings; she is by Reprieve (imported) out of the late Mr. C. Smith's Crazy Jane. The foal is a little wonder of beauty about the head, and lurking power in the shoulder; its little head, bright eye, black muzzle and arched neck, would make a beautiful photograph. Revenge is a yearling by Newington out of Crazy. Bronzewing is a b. m. aged, out of Langar Queen by Bronzewing. Toxophilite is one of Archer's foals, and Langar's No. 11 belongs to Jackie, out of Langar Queen, her Majesty being now in foal to West Australia (imported). Exchange is a grey filly by Newington, out of Langar's No. 11. Pretender is a big bay horse rising four by West Australian, out of Langar's No. 11. Mentor is a bay horse by West Australian, out of Crazy.
By the time we had done admiring and criticising the blood stock, lunched and draughted some fat cattle, a choice little flock of wool-bearers had been yarded.
Biraganbil like Havilah, is renowned for the quality of its wool, and it would be a nice eye and experienced hand that could discriminate and decide between them. The close, even, elastic texture of the German Merino is there, and the characteristic serrations in their zig-zag and wavy forms are there also. Perhaps the rising yolk has not been so much deranged by the unpropitious season; on the other hand, the hoggets here seem to have been in the water, and somewhat discoloured the belly fleece.
Mr. Rouse's stud flock consists of 550 ewes, and the rams in use are four, three of which belong to the imported Saxon ram No. 233. Two of the rams come from Havilah at a high figure (£100 and £50) and the handiwork of one of these is quite satisfactory.
The wool-shed is conveniently built on high and well-drained ground, and is a good, substantial building, 114 feet long, ex sweating shed and overseer's house. The shearing accommodation is for sixteen - eight on each side - the catch-pens being in the centre, and the exits by small slide doors in the galvanized iron walls. All gates and doors slide in top and bottom grooves; those of the centre aisle up and down, but all other to and fro, while special drafting is provided for ewes and lambs to avoid pinching and dragging them about. Mr. Rouse classes all the wool himself.
The average weight of a fleece is two and a-half pounds, and the average price realized to date (but not all accounted) 29¼d. Mr. Rouse shears 33,000 sheep, using Holmes's press, and the Biraganbil brand is R. MUDGEE.
The wool-washing machinery is one of the most expensive and complete plants in the country. It stands on a broad, shingly bend of the Cudgegong, having a reservoir behind the river bank, supplied by a pump driven by a sixteen horse-power fine portable engine with reversing gear, by Robey, of Lincoln. The pumps are two; a ten inch barrel horizontal, throwing 2500 gallons a minute, and a sixteen inch vertical, not in use.
Three entrance gates admit sheep one by one from a divided pen to the passage leading to the soak tanks, a flap hanging at the bottom to check the rush of the sheep's descent into the tank which is of iron 17ft 8in long by 3ft 8in wide by 3ft 5in deep, and parted by an iron slide door, into two, for first and second soaks, the soapy contents being discharged, to the extent of two-thirds once a day, by discharge pipes and plugs on each side of the central slide door. A similar slide door rises at the opposite end of the tank, to allow the sheep to pass out and up an incline to a catch platform, battened and fenced, where a man stands to direct the sheep which of two shoots to pass down under the spouts, according as the washers require them.
The soak-tank is filled from a copper heated by a boiler close at hand and supplied with cold water by a pipe direct from the reservoir, regulating the temperature at 100 degrees, and mixing thirty pounds soft soap a day.
The washing tank is circular, in cement, and 24ft 2in in diameter, by 7ft. deep. Three horizontal and parallel 6in cast iron pipes convey water from the reservoir by four flat down-spouts on to the sheep below, where eight washers stand in circular iron tanks, two to each sheep. The exit is by a small tunnel in the side of the tank towards the river, whence the sheep cross the river by a temporary plankway on to the clean river shingle on the opposite bank to dry.
But a buggy from Guntawang has been waiting an hour and a-half, so, recrossing the river, the good owner of Guntawang and I paid a visit to the stables where Crusader and Valeria were undergoing the chamois-leather touch, which puts the gloss on. Valeria, is a bay filly with black feet, and rising 3yrs, going down to Randwick. Crusader is a chestnut horse, and in driving through the paddocks the next morning the following beautiful specimens of equine grace came round the vehicle and examined us with much the same curiosity that we did them. Hermia is a nugget, a dark bay mare, with a star in forehead. Viceroy is a blazed chestnut with grey hairs. Wanderer, is a chestnut foal, with white face, and Lydia, is a blazed chestnut filly with four white feet. Glaucus, is a noble horse destined to try his luck at Randwick in the autumn; and Yorkshire Hero is a bay entire, and a magnificent sample of the Yorkshire coach-horse. This entire is turned loose with the mares, getting as many as fifty-one foals out of fifty four mares. Brigadier is a 2yr old English chestnut intended for Randwick in autumn. He is a very handsome horse with a beautiful loin and powerful forehand, but of an extremely gentle and sociable disposition. Star of Peace or Lelica, is a three-year old bought at the sale of Mr. Dine's blood-stock, a lovely dark bay mare with the prettiest little head, but she is atrociously branded.
In pure bred cattle Guntawang shows well - Monmouth is an imported two and a-half year roan bull, with fine level spine and table back, a well set tail, a splendid shoulder and quarter, and well up in the front rib. Monmouth has taken five prizes in England, the first two at six months' old. Emperor is a white bull, eighteen months, bred here - he is a fine growing young lord of the herd, and intended for exhibition in Sydney. Fashion is a red roan cow just over two years, intended for Sydney Exhibition. She is of great breadth of beam and symmetry with a deep-set tail, and square and compact in the barrel, She is out of Beauty and is certainly Beauty No. II Young Daisy is an eleven months white heifer. Rosebud is a roan and white four-year-old - a sweet thing in cows. Dewdrop is the very ditto in age, colour and sweetness to Rosebud. Florence is an English cow, that having produced two calves, has another at foot. Beauty is such - being a white and roan cow with calf at foot. Daisy is a very handsome cow with four month's calf at foot, but she is also milked to save her teats, the calf not being equal to the task - truly lucerne works wonders.
The Guntawang flocks came originally from Messrs. Lawson and E. K. Cox, but they are now the progeny of an imported ram from Mr. Stur geon's estate in Essex, brought out twelve years ago. Four years since a Steigar ram was added, and the effect of the cross on the fleece is worthy of note. The ewes wear excellent breeches, some as fine as their backs, from the Sturgeon ram; the first cross from which produced wool of a short quality, but the second cross though equally short, was finer and remarkably silky; and the third cross is magnificent. Mr. Rouse's wool-wash is distinguished by simplicity. A Chinese pump, driven by an eight horse-power engine, keeps four spouts going, and to get additional power he is having a race cut, but the river doesn't much approve of it as yet. The engine is one of Robey's earliest and best, being fitted with dampers to check the fire in the flues. The woolshed and yards are convenient, and the sorting table, shearer's, and wool compartments very handy, and Mr. Rouse prefers the rack and pinion press to late patents, finding he can do more work with less men, as much as a bale to the half hour being got through.
Compared with the twin station across the river, Guntawang lies low; yet it is a remarkable fact that up to ten years ago the father of the present proprietor experienced no floods; but since that time they have been almost annual and quite unwelcome visitants.
Icely, 19th August, 18701 .

1872

15 June 1872
Guntawang.
During my last year's trip to this district I visited Guntawang, and gave your readers some account of that very nice home; but I should have been sorry not to have seen it again, and I was not long at Gulgong before a kind invite and a buggy took me out there, l have had occasion to remark before to-day on the horses of the Mudgee district, and especially Mr. Richard Rouse's harness horses as being the best in the colony: and further, that this gentleman's four-in-hand are by odds the best team we ever see now-a-days in Sydney, whenever he brings them down to the metropolis, and drives his drag out to Randwick on a race day; but I never saw a nicer team than the Guntawang Squire has at present. There's a brown horse that is a real beauty, and good as he looks; and a big bay horse that has few superiors; but the pride of the lot, and by far the best horse I saw on my travels, is a grey horse, Mr. Rouse brought from Tasmania, who is really one of the finest goers in harness I ever saw. He travels along in great style, goes as straight as a line, carries himself splendidly, and is a very clever and reliable horse as wheeler in a team. I was last year through the new house at Guntawang, and a remarkably fine house it is; but it was then uninhabited, and I could not help remarking this time, how much more beautiful the best finished rooms look when they are made civilised by the presence of ladies. Guntawang is now furnished, and the rooms look especially well. Outside, the services of a skilled ornamental gardener have been called into requisition in the laying out of the garden and shrubbery which will surround the building; the ground on two sides is being tastefully terraced, for planting with well selected shrubs and flowers; and a sunk fence allows of an uninterrupted view of the meadowy flat that stretches along the river bank in front. It will yet take some time to complete - the laying out and planting of this extensive shrubbery. Behind, and situated at a convenient distance from the house, the ground plan of extensive stabling had just been laid out. These buildings, which will be as near perfect of their kind as possible, are to cost something over a couple of thousand pounds; and they are, as Mr. Rouse told me, on the plan adopted by Mr. Walter Lamb for similar buildings at Greystanes. The front elevation which is to face the house, will be of an ornamental character; and a sweeping carriage drive will lead from the stable courtyard, round to the main entrance to the house, which is on the opposite side. There's always a lot of good young stock of all sorts to see at Guntawang; for not only does Mr. Rouse go in for breeding the best and purest, but he takes care to rear them, whether they be horses, cattle, or pigs, in a proper manner. Of thoroughbred horses I saw the now purchase, Lord Lyon, and the two-year-olds, Nydia and Wanderer, all doing walking exercise; and besides this very creditable trio of chestnuts, Harry Rayner has a tremendous big two-year-old colt called Viceroy, by Kingston from Problem, who, if he's only blessed with the gift of travelling should be one of the most wonderful animals in the land. He's a light chestnut with white hairs all through his coat, a good many white legs, and plenty of white everywhere; and I don't think I ever saw such a set of legs under a horse. I'm afraid he's too big to be of much use at three years old. This is a great place for horse breeding; and there's another great boomer, an almost black grey, sprinkled with white who is a remarkably fine strong colt, and called Dread; but, stupidly, I didn't make a note of his pedigree at the time, and it has escaped me. Brigadier I saw, looking well; but he will never race; and I was sorry to find that Mr. Rouse had lost old Atalanta shortly before, who, being the dam of Nydia, must be a severe loss to any breeder of race-horses. On the whole, I should say the Guntawang training stable looks more promising than it has ever done in my recollection. The Guntawang herd of pedigree cattle is, like that of Greystanes, largely indebted to Wilbetree; many of the animals having been purchased from Mr. Robert Lowe; and nowhere else would Mr. Rouse go to purchase heifers so readily as there, at the present time. Here at Guntawang is adopted the excellent plan of making the young stock quiet by early handling; and it’s quite a pleasure to walk through the milking yard, where all the pedigree heifers are broken in, and the calves receive their early training. I saw this time some rattling good calves at the side of their dams, and I'd like to see Mr. Rouse's herd represented next show on the Alfred Park, for I'll be hanged if the cracks of the Metropolitan District, the Hunter, and the Clarence, wouldn't have to keep a sharp look out. A lot of very good young bulls occupy the boxes, and are looking very well; and after looking carefully through them, as well as among some very nice heifers in the home paddock, and the little calves in the milking yard, I came to the conclusion, that the Wilbetree cows a capital foundation, and that the bulls Mr. Rouse has been using during the last two years must have been very good indeed to get such a number of beautiful stock, and all so very even, and without any rubbish among them. The Prince Albert pigs, bred from imported stock, are a capital lot; and every-thing on the place, from the blood horses to the sheep dogs, and terriers are of the very best description; and kept in a style which shows that the master not only knows how the thing should be done, but is determined to see that it shall be done well. The operations connected with the farm and gold-field are on a very extended scale; no fewer than thirty-five to forty heavy draught horses are constantly stabled and in work, consuming something like a hundred bushels of corn a week; and the puddling machine, where all the washing from the Guntawang diggings is done, is situated down at the river below the farm buildings, where a good steam-engine pumps up the water for the machine. Mr. Rouse drove me twice through the goldfield, where are a public-house, store, butchers' and bakers' shops, and other such necessaries, managed by Mr. Rouse's commissioner, who seems to have everything in capital order, the work of this offshoot of Gulgong appearing to be carried on with threat regularity, and to the satisfaction of the claim-holders. I was sorry l could not this time visit Biraganbil, but will still hope to do so. With thanks to Mr. Rouse for his kindness in showing me round, I left Guntawang after a very pleasant visit, and retraced my steps to Gulgong; and next week I will tell your readers about Rawden, where I made my next and final visit in this very prosperous and hospitable district. CLYDESDALE2 .

1874

18 July 1874

Guntawang, The Estate of Richard Rouse Esq 1874

18 July 1874
GUNTAWANG.
GUNTAWANG, the splendid estate of Mr. Richard Rouse, is sixteen miles from Mudgee and four from Gulgong. In the year 1825 Richard Rouse, of Rouse Hill, in the county of Cumberland, the grandfather of the present owner of Guntawang, received Government authority to take up 1200 acres of land. This document, which I inspected, bears the signature of Sir Richard Bourke, and is dated 21st March, 1825. Mr. Richard Rouse sent his son, Edwin Rouse, in search of new country. Mr. Edwin, with his flocks and herds, travelled for some time in search of suitable land, and after frequent disappointments heard, accidentally, of good country to the west. This was Guntawang; and in the year 1828 he camped on the site of the old homestead, on the right bank of the Cudgegong river, sixteen miles north-west of Mudgee. The only settlers in the district at the time were Messrs. Cox, Lawson, and Lowe. Beside his grant of 1200 acres, Mr. Rouse purchased 4000 acres additional. On the death of Richard Rouse, of Rouse Hill, his oldest son, Edwin, the pioneer, inherited Guntawang. In the year 1863, Mr. Edwin Rouse died, and the property then passed into the hands of his eldest son, Mr. Richard Rouse, the present proprietor of the Guntawang estate. It is pleasant to call attention to the pleasing fact that the families of the Lawsons, the Lowes, the Coxes, and the Rouses have all retained uninterrupted possession of their properties in the west since they were first taken up by their ancestors to the present time.
Recently there were published in these columns a list of the Seven Wonders of the World. I think that I can speak with some authority, and I have formed a curious notion that there are seven principalities in the west, of which Guntawang is one; therefore, the following description was written by me to append to the above brief but interesting history:
The Guntawang Estate now consists of about 13,000 acres of purchased land-of soil acknowledged to be unsurpassed for richness of its pasturage in Australia. The estate has a frontage of five miles to the Cudgegong river. The whole of the estate is fenced in, and the paddocks of the subdivisions vary in size, from 40 acres to 2000 acres.
Guntawang may almost be called a small principality. The population on the estate usually numbers about 250. At shearing time this number is increased to about 300. Of the 250 usual residents, there are 34 married, and having 128 children; four of these families consist of seven and four of six children.
Guntawang House, Mr. Rouse's residence, is situated in a commanding position. The river winds and stretches away bounding the estate below the house, and the view extends across luxuriant artificial grass and lucerne paddocks to the hills in the distance. The house has not long been completed. The style of architecture is that known as "The Villa." The building is of brick. The first or basement story contains kitchens, laundry, &c. Altogether, there are twenty-three rooms, which are lofty and spacious, and the whole of the buildings are well designed. The house has a northern entrance, with a main hall ten feet wide. The great drawing-room is perhaps one of the finest in Australia, and the large bow window gives somewhat of an Elizabethan appearance to the front. In the courtyard there is an enormous tank, capable of containing 30,000 gallons of water. A gas apparatus, capable of making 500 cubic foot, was in course of completion at the time of my visit.
The grounds immediately surrounding the house are on a plan which embraces some novelties. The two approaches are through large gates, and the serpentine drives are planted with oaks, elms, pines, &c. To the west of the residence is the croquet lawn, which is approached by a series of grassed terraces. The croquet ground is artificially drained, so that no water can lie on it. A continuation of terraces to the right and left bring the visitor to the lower grounds, immediately below the house, and these are also laid out with much taste, and planted with trees from almost all climates. A three-feet-six sunk stone wall bounds the grounds, and gives an uninterrupted view over the adjacent country from the verandah of the residence. Mr. G. E. Darby is the landscape gardener employed.
The stables of Guntawang are to the south-south-west of the residence. These have been recently completed, and are perhaps the finest in the West. The entrance is into a courtyard surrounded by a brick wall about 12 feet high. The main stables have pointed gables, the centre one of which contains a large clock facing into the courtyard. In this stable, which is a lofty and well-ventilated brick structure, there are five stalls or loose boxes. Water is laid on by piping into every stall. To the left is the harness-room, capitally arranged, and fitted up in a very tasty manner with large glass and cedar cases, containing some magnificent harness for four-in-hand teams, beside saddles and other equestrian appurtenances. Passing from the harness-room into the next apartment, we come to the forage-room, which is fitted up with bins, for corn, bran, &c. At the rear of this main building there are five other loose-boxes for racehorses. In three of these, at the time of my visit, were Reprieve, Nydia, and Viva, respectively. The right wing of the stables contains a house for carriage-washing, a two-stall stable, a buggy-house, a gardener's tool-house, and a store room. The left wing contains a series of rooms-apartments for the coachman, grooms, and boys. To the right of the principal stables is the couch-house, capable of containing half a dozen vehicles. In it Mr. Rouse's well-known four-in-hand came under notice. In the centre of this courtyard there is another immense brick and cemented tank, capable of containing upwards of 40,000 gallons of water, which is raised, as required for the stables, by a force-pump.
In connection with the history of Guntawang, I should add that the Gulgong gold-field was first discovered on Mr. Rouse's purchased land, and that the private gold-field was very effectually worked for 2½ years, giving, during that time, employment to about 500 men.
Before entering into a description of the flocks and herds on the estate, I will undertake the pleasing task of referring to some of the old servants at Guntawang. One old pensioner called Tuckerman, or Thara, has been on the station ever since Mr. Edwin Rouse's time in 1833-forty-one years ago. He came to the colony as a sailor. There are other servants who have been many years at Guntawang, and one on the neighbouring estate, Mr. George Rouse's, Biraganbil, who has been there twenty-six years. These facts are highly creditable to both masters and men.
The herd of horses on Guntawang numbers about 350, all told. Of these half are draught horses. The light stock came from Fisherman (imported), and the coach-horses from Yorkshire Hero. Then came the thoroughbred horse Skirmisher, sire New Warrior; and now Guntawang possesses the thoroughbred imported horse Brigadier, a chestnut, bred by the celebrated Blenkiron. The heavy stock has Lofty, a bay an imported Clydesdale, doing the honours of the stables. With a view to securing the best character of draught horses, Mr. Rouse has lately procured from the Hawkesbury between twenty and thirty heavy draught mares.
The herd of cattle on Guntawang was formed many years ago, and originated from cows purchased from Mr. Robert Lowe, of Mudgee. Latterly, several imported cows have been added. The first sire of note was the imported red bull, Sir Wm. Armstrong. He was succeeded by the white bull, Frederick, bred by Mr. Francis Cox, of Mudgee. Next came the celebrated imported bull Monmouth-an English prize taker, bred by Mr. Richard Stratton. Since the death of Monmouth, they have bred from a son of his-Monmouth the Second, out of one of Mr. Lowe's cows. In November last, Messrs, R. and B. Rouse purchased for 1000 guineas, of Mr. Robert McDougall, of Victoria the celebrated bull Ajax; sire-the more celebrated Field-Marshal Booth; dam-Alhambra, &c., &c. There are now over sixty head of pure-bred cows and heifers, and about thirty pure-bred young bulls, on Guntawang.
The merino sheep on Guntawang were originally selected from the flocks of the best breeders in the district. Since then they have gone on improving by all those means so well known to the Mudgee flock -masters, and which have raised the reputation of the wool of the district so high in the English market. This year Guntawang expects to shear about 33,000 sheep. I was shown in the house paddocks six or eight Leicesters, which had just been brought over from Tasmania. These, I was told, were simply ornaments to the place, as Mudgee breeders are not partial to Leicesters.
The Guntawang woolshed, just erected, is situated about a mile from the house, on the summit of a hill above the road. It is constructed of sawn timber and corrugated iron. The dimensions are 145 feet in length, and 50 feet in width. The floors are of pine, obtained from Dubbo. The divisions for the shearing floors, entrance gates, yards, &c, are well arranged. The wool-press is on the rock-and-pinion principle. There is accommodation for twenty shearers, and covering for 1000 sheep. There are nine divisions, or bins, for properly classified wool, after coming from the folding-table, which is a very spacious one. The
shed is covered with a treble roof-the first spreading over the wings, the second sloping three-quarters of the way up, and the last forming a kind of raised hood over the second. By this means ample light and cool ness are obtained in the building. The battened yards and shearers' pens are formed on the hill slope; conse quently they are easily kept clean. The scene from the woolshed is a very fine one, embracing an exten sive view of the country, with hills in the distance, and spreading green fields below. Immediately to the west, beneath a steep, almost perpendicular point, the Cudgegong River flows, secluded, deep, and cool, in a picturesque manner, past great river oaks, and other trees.
I am indebted to a friend for the following more detailed description of the stock on Guntawang:
The Guntawang Short-horn herd was commenced by Messrs. Richard and Edwin Bouse some years since, with a few imported cows; but the principal portion of the female element was derived from the old and scrupulously pure blood of Mr. Robert Lowe, of Wilbetree, near Mudgee. From this gentleman the Messrs. Rouse purchased 20 heifers, of the Middleham tribe, which, on arriving at maturity, displayed all the characteristics of the highest caste short-horn blood. Among these cows, we particularly noticed Dowdrop 2nd, by Prince, by Middleham-out of Dewdrop the 1st, by Middleham (imported), her dam, Beauty, by the same sire; thus having three strains of the same blood. Those who advocate in breeding to very perfect animals, with a view to short-horn perfectibility, would have rejoiced over this remarkable cow - one of the most symmetrical, elegant, and richly furnished animals it was ever our good fortune to view. With these wisely chosen mothers of the herd, the bull Monmouth, purchased in England hy Mr. Edwin Rouse from Mr. Stratton, was used, the produce of which has been highly satisfactory - the peculiar features of the progeny being great solidity and levelness of form, combined with that elegance of head and horn, in which the "Lowe" cows have always been considered to excel. The young bulls have usually found ready sale as yearlings and two year olds at what must be considered to be paying prices -the average being high, and one of last year's lot, Monmouth the 3rd, fetching two hundred and fifty pounds.
The paddocks of Guntawang are judiciously subdivided - "In meadows rich the heifer lows," the valley of the Cudgegong river being eminently calculated to alford the measure of "natural comfort" in which the veteran breeder, Mr. McDougall, so firmly believes. The Messrs. Rouse apparently hold the same faith with regard to growing stock, as all that we passed in review bore the appearance of having had development aided by unstinted good keep; they had evidently never suffered from intervals of privation following those of plenty too often the drawback of colonial management. The yearling and two-year-old heifers, most of which were stalled and fed during a portion of each day, struck us as an unusually promising and well grown lot. A few evidenced a tone and quality of handling, a degree of attainment which will be hard to rival at the forthcoming shows. Besides Monmouth, who unfortunately died last year, not however, without leaving his mark plentifully and indelibly upon the herd, the white bull Frederick purchased for that experienced breeder Mr. Francis Cox, has been used. This very level and highly bred sire has a large infusion of Middleham blood, joined with that of Sandysykes, the foundation strain of Mr. Cox's most successful tribe. The cows and heifers from his bull are remarkably uniform in appearance and show the "prepotent" effect of long and uncrossed pedigree. Such being the general character and uniform standard of the herd, it will not be thought remarkable, that the owners determined to preserve, and if possible to add, to the reputation they had built up. To this end the best bull of his year, in the opinion of many of the best judges, was secured in "Ajax Booth," bred by Mr. McDougall, in Victoria; he was from very early age a wonder of form and quality. At the age of 15 months he weighed 1700 lbs., and at rather less than two years, when he was introduced to the Guntawang herd at a cost of, well, let us say, a cool thousand or thereabouts, his size and symmetry were such as few breeders had ever dreamed of associating with that im mature period of bovine life. As his name denotes this grand animal is a "Booth of Booths" from the muzzle to the tip of his tail, full of Warlaby blood. Ho is one of the largest, longest, and fully furnished arrivals of his ago that whoever looked at. The most inexperienced eye must note the extraordinary depth, (roundness, and development of the fore rib. The formation is perfect, the girth immense, and in the region immediately behind the shoulder - where many short horns are deficient- he is without flaw. His middle piece is good, though the back ribs, well sprung and capacious, lose somewhat of their effect from the unusual excellence of the fore rib. His quarter is broad, very lengthy, massive, and deep; colour, light roan, of the regulation admixture of white, without blurring or confusion of tints. He is said to resemble very closely a once celebrated bull bred in Victoria many yours since by the Messrs. Bolden - then the possessors of a very choice shorthorn herd, principally composed of imported stock. The bull, to which we allude, " Young Mussulman" by "Mussulman," out of Lady Vane (both imported), was an animal of such blood and quality that if he, with his dam, could be resuscitated and offered to the competition of English breeders, we doubt not but that a second series of " Duke of Thorndale" prices would be reached. From the union of "Ajax Booth" and the female representatives of the Middleham and Monmouth blood, it is easy to predict that a shorthorn breed will arise, unsurpassed, if not unequalled in any district of Australia. The natural richness of the pastures in which they are reared, is great. No care or expense is spared in the management. Food, exercise, early handling, classification, are all amply provided for. One aim, one determination, has actuated the proprietors since the founding of the herd, to secure the " right blood" at any cost, to preserve it unstained, and to afford all the " natural comfort" compatible with high health and hardy habits. Such principles carried out unswervingly, joined with due discrimination and skill in selection, must result in success and celebrity. Such breeders deserve well of their country, and we hope always to bestow honestly, and fairly, our need of praise. Seasons may change. Prices may fall. Indiscreet amateurs may tire of or become discouraged at the necessarily expensive management of pedigree herds. But establishments of the character which we have described are enduring. They are not dependant upon the chance prices of a season or two. A steady progression is made. A permanent reputation is achieved. And these results attained, the profits extending over a series of years, rarely fail to be proportionate and perennial.
We take leave of this well managed and thriving short-horn herd with regret. Nowhere have we seen more systematic and is the same time, sensible management. We saw no unwieldy pampered animals, fraudulently fat and organically feeble. The entire herd, old and young, hardy, active, and in the enjoyment of natural freedom.
We could not for an instant disparage the efforts of contemporary breeders but we have no hesitation in affirming, that if the present system is unswervingly maintained, no short-horn herd in the colony will occupy a higher position than that of Guntawang.
HORSES.- Besides Short-horn cattle and a trifle of 10,000 high class merinos, the wool of which stand well in the London sale rooms, Messrs. R. and E. Rouse have always bestowed much attention upon their horse stock. Since one of the family was the possessor of the famous Jorrocks, they have never been wanting a few horses of Australian reputation, which, on one or other side of the river, have borne the tolerably well-known R brand. However, with the present tense only have we to do, and with Guntawang for the " locus in quo." Thoroughbred carriage horses and cart horses are all kept and bred in rather large numbers by the proprietors. The imported blood sire "Brigadier" commands the aristocratic division. He is a very striking and distinguished looking chestnut horse, now rising six years old, purchased in England as a two-year-old by Mr. E. Rouse. He has every appearance of great speed combined with staying power but we were informed that having suffered in some respect from the effects of the voyage he was never able to bear the requisite preparation of training. In all other respects his health and strength are undeniable, and though the turf may have suffered a loss, the services of a horse of his form and brooding, in the full vigour of constitution, may be even more valuable than the fleeting trophies of the racecourse. He is "every inch a racehorse" in appearance - with a muscular sloping shoulder, and loins and quarters so perfect that hack hunters and drag horses may be looked for as well as "flyers" from among his progeny. Last year's foals, which are the only stock to his credit as yet, are extremely promising. They are very truly shaped uniform in character, and have inherited the point of symmetry to which we have referred.
Some of the best blood in the land flows in the veins of the ladies of the Harem - Kingston, Yattendon, Lord of Lynne, Fisherman, as well as sires of earlier renown. We believe Nydia is about to be added to the Circassians - and those who have many a time seen "the Paleface " coming with a rush through her horses, or finishing gamely in one of those desperate struggles when the race is lost or won by a " short head," may speculate as to what certain of the Guntawang yearlings will resemble in days to come.
Considerable attention has also been devoted to a superior class of harness horse, for carriage and drag purposes. In this rather rare subdivision of the Messrs. Rouse may be said to have been unusually successful. From the Fisherman strain carriage horses have been produced, second to none in the colonies for size, beauty, action, and endurance. In a late contest of the Four-in-Hand Club for the Governor's Cup, their team, all of their own brooding or blood, was universally admired, as well by the crowd, as by the severer taste of experienced whips. Two of the horses in the winning team had also been bred by the Messrs. Rouse, so that they might be said to have proved their superiority in this department. Besides the well-known Fisherman, a Yorkshire coaching sire of very perfect shape, and singularly fine notion, has been used. Many of the stock of this fine horse have exhibited uncommon action and endurance combined with size and good looks. The mares struck us as being very level. Large, active and particularly well up in point, in our opinion, they cannot fail to produce, when matched with a sire combing blood and shape, as fine carriage horses as the most fastidious judge could desire.
The heavy draught section is also fully organised. In a comfortable box, with a spacious high-paled yard, resides " Young Lofty," imported, with the best blood of Lanarkshire in his veins. He is an immense animal bearing his vast form upon singularly short legs, his depth of shoulder very neat, and his movements are wonderfully light and free for such a mammoth Clydesdale. The original mare of the draught class at Guntawang, are by Commodore, a Windsor horse, of very true shape, and a reputation for producing extremely staunch stock. Added to these, is a contingent of selected draught mares of such size and form as must render the future waggon teams of Guntawang equal to anything in this or the old country. Nowhere did we observe finer teams than in the Mudgee district as to size, matching, and condition. Nothing better is to be seen in the farming districts of Britain, in Suffolk, or the Lothians, and we have now good warrant for thinking that this reputation will improve rather than diminish4 .

1880

2 October 1880

Guntawang Homestead 1880

1899

23 September 1899
FARMING OPERATIONS.
Mr. R. Rouse, of Guntawang, is going in for farming, and was the first to introduce a complete harvester in the district last year6 .

1904

3 March 1904
Sale of Guntawang.
Messrs Wilkinson and Lavender, Ltd., in conjunction with Messrs. Crossing and Cox, will offer at the Wool Exchange, Sydney, on Wednesday, 30th March, the Guntawang Estate, together with all stock. Full particulars appear in another column7 .

28 March 1904
Sale of Guntawang
The far-famed Guntawang estate will be submitted for auction at the Wool Exchange, Sydney, on Wednesday next, by Messrs. Wilkinson and Lavender, in conjunction with Messrs. Crossing and Cox. The property is being offered in accordance with the will of the late Mr. Richard Rouse8 .

1907

15 April 1907

Guntawang Homestead 1907

Stanley Rouse's Harness Mare, Guntawang, 1907

15 April 1907
From Mudgee I went on to Gulgong, a quaint little township, once very much alive as the centre of a big alluvial goldfield. All round the township are the remains of the workings. Things are quiet there now, but diggers yet peg out claims.
Mr. Stanley Rouse met me at Gulgong, and drove me out to Guntawang, which has been the home of the Rouses for several generations, and a grand old home it is. The house is situated in beautiful grounds, and the first impression one gets is the English air about everything, which is all the more peculiar when it is remembered that the late Mr. Rouse had never seen the old country. The stables are splendid, and the way they are kept is sufficient evidence that the present owners appreciate horses at their full worth. For many years Guntawang has had a name for horses of very high standard, and though the death of the late owner necessitated the dispersion of the stud, there are horses now on Guntawang of a rare stamp. Such stallions as Banquo and the New Zealand bred Hukatere, mated with the big, well-bred Guntawang mares, produced stock for which there was always a great demand.
Guntawang comprises about 8000 acres, a valuable portion of which is rich flat, through which the Cudgegong river flows. Across the river is Biraganbil, the property of Messrs. Rouse Bros., who own a Merino flock that has acquired a good reputation. It was a thick-set, densely-covered Biraganbil ram that won the champion prize at the Mudgee Show. Messrs. Rouse Bros. had some very promising thoroughbred yearlings by Brakpan to be offered at the Sydney sales; one out of Gloriosa is an especially attractive colt11 .

1909

4 March 1909
RAINFALL AT EUMARALLA.
During February 444 points of rain were recorded at Eumaralla station (late Guntawang)12 .

1918

7 January 1918
The Eumaralla Estate.
The well known Mudgee district property known as Eumaralla (formerly Guntawang) has been sold by Mr. Denison to Mr. D. Clark, until recently of Monivae, Lue, which he disposed of to Mr. McMaster13 .

1922

17 August 1922
NEW BUICK FOR GUNTAWANG.
Mr. A. G. Leresche, the live district distributor for Buick motor cars, reports having sold a remarkably fine buick to Mr. L. R. Coward, of Guntawang station. The car is a model 49 seven seater, dark wine color, and is fitted with wire wheels. The model 49 Buick is noted for its fine lines and easy riding qualities. This is the second Buick car that Mr. Coward has purchased14 .

1932

11 August 1932
ACCIDENT
ON Friday morning, when Mr. Tom Wolton was proceeding from Orange to Guntawang station, near Gulgong (of which he is manager), his car struck a culvert after he had passed Molong, near Foy's Farm. Fortunately Mr. Wotton escaped injury, but the car was damaged. The front axle was bent and the mudguards and running board on the left side smashed15 .

1951

28 June 1951
Death of Former Owner of Guntawang
A former owner of Guntawang Station, near Gulgong. Mr. John Whitehead, died at his residence, Dalton Street, Orange, last Sunday week.
Deceased, who was one of the best known identities of the Euchareena district, was 77 years of age.
Until two years ago when he sold his property, Weandre, Boomey, via Molong, to go to Orange to live in retirement, Mr. Whitehead had spent practically the whole of his life on the land, principally in grazing activities.
His wife predeceased him by seven years, and he is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Lyons (Molong), Mrs. Doris Baird (Stuart Town), Mrs. J. Edwards (Euchareena). One son, Darvel, predeceased him. There are five grandchildren. Sisters are Mrs. Bourke, Mrs. J. Sloane and Mrs. R. Barrett, all of Wellington. Mrs. Withers (Dubbo), Mrs. Bayliss (Dubbo), Mrs. J. Barrett (Euchareena), Mr. Les Whitehead, of Dubbo, is a brother, and Mr. W. Whitehead, of Uarbry road, Gulgong, is a nephew16 .

1976

7 August 1976
HONEYMOON CASTLE' NEW HOME FOR GREY
John Foyster junior is full of surprises when you visit his magnificent Guntawang stud at Gulgong.

I had walked in unannounced to renew acquaintance with the former brilliant racehorse John's Hope whose first foals will arrive this spring.
John Foyster is a toiler these days but he still has time to indulge his sense of humour.
Who else would set up an elaborate sign, Honeymoon Castle, above the door of the concrete serving barn where John's Hope and King Apollo do their chores?
"Come with me, I've got a surprise for you," was John's greeting when I caught up with him.
He bustled me into his Land Rover and we shot off. bumping and jerking through several paddocks until he pulled up alongside this big lump of a foal.
A grey, the foal obviously had been born out of season.
"There you are, the fastest stock horse in the West," John told me, a huge grin on his face. "What you do you think of him?"
I didn't know what to think and I had a feeling that John was testing me out. So I offered no comment.
"That's the foal that resulted from the fertility test we gave John's Hope," he explained "It was born last February."
The mother is a 20-year-old stock horse who belongs to one of the staff. It was the first time the mare was put to a horse and they've named the foal Magic Hope."
John produced his second sui prise in the next paddock, where a bulldozer was filling in a water dam.
"I'm filling in every dam on the property," he said. "Tom Smith told me that you can never breed good horses on dirty dam water that is full of sediment."
We got back to John's Hope who looked a picture of health and contentment as he roamed his large paddock.
This is definitely the life for you, old boy, I thought as I admired the big grey.
This is better than having Kevin Langby kick you in the ribs.
John's Hope has let down into a magnificent individual. He arrived at _Guntawang in August, 1974, a month before the start of the breeding season.
"It was a hell of a temptation to give him a few mares," John Foyster said. "But that idea can mm a young horse's chance at stud."
"The breeding game is so competitive, that you have to ensure that a stallion has a good crop of foals on the ground from his first season.
"Giving a young first season sire a handful of mares is the best way to ruin his career."
I immediately thought of Farnworth, another son of Wilkes, who has had a. hard struggle to make good at stud after getting a very light book of mares in his first season, almost immediately after he retired from racing.
John's Hopes (Wilkes-Fraction)_, whose fee is $1,250, served 46 mares in his first season. Forty one are due to foal this spring.
"I could have got 100 mares to him. Evervone wanted a service," John explained.
One of the few mates who did not get in foal to John's Hope was the brilliant sprinter Nook who was mated only a few weeks after she won at Warwick Farm.
The mare who took my eye among those who were carrying John's Hope foals was Sparkling Red. Her first foal was a colt by Wilkes.
Sparkling Red has furnished into a beautiful broodmare.
John's Hope, who cost $18,000 as a yearling, was a brilliant racehorse. He won at his first four starts, including the 1972 Golden Slipper Stakes and Blue Diamond.
He came back to run second in the Challenge Stakes, VRC Lightning Handicap, Liverpool City Cup and Healy Stakes. And he set a course record at Doomben when he outsped Bcngalla Lad in the Booroolong Handicap.

John's Hope, in his second last suit, finished thud to Chailton Bov and Bcngalla Lad in the Doomben Ten Thousand.

In addition to being a son of the champion sire, Wilkes (imp), John's Hope also is beautifully bred on the side of his dam, Fraction.
Fraction, who is the dam of Somebody and Wilkonon was produced by Favour, a winning daughter of Nizami (Fi).
Favour was a half-sister to Lady's Budge who was the dam of Melbourne Cup winner Hi Jinx.
Somebody, a brother to John's Hope, won 10 races in Sydney before he was sold to the USA where he also won before being retired to stud.
John's Hope was syndicated to stud and among his owners are Sir John Austin, Dave Chrystal, Jim Fleming, Mark and Lloyd Foyster. And his original owners, John Foyster and the Ingham brothers, are major shareholders.
John Foyster, like his brothers Lloyd and Mark, is sparing no expense to develop Guntawang into a leading thoroughbred nursery.
The Australian thoroughbred breeding industry is indebted to the free-spending Foyster family. I'll tell you more later in this series17 .

1981

29 April 1981
'Jester' retired to stud duties
Crown Jester's racing career is finished and he will begin stud duties at Mr John Foyster's Guntawang Stud, Gulgong, this spring.

Mr Jack Ingham, who bred the outstanding colt and retains a major share in him, announced this yesterday, ending speculation about Crown Jester's future.

Crown Jester, who won six of his seven starts and $50,850, will have a first season fee of S15,000 and will be mated with probably 45 mares.

The colt was highly sought by several big commercial studs.

The decision to stand him at Guntawang, beside Mighty Kingdom and John's Hope, is a boost for NSW breeding and Mr Foyster, who owns Guntawang.

Mr Ingham said Mr Foyster was one of 10 breeders who had paid S50.000 for a share in the robust colt.

"He will have a terrific book of mares in his first season," Mr Ingham said. "I will be sending some of my best mares and the other shareholders will, no doubt, do likewise."

Crown Jester (Baguette-Anjudy) is bred to be a great success at stud. He is a speed horse and, as Mr Ingham pointed out, sires of this type, such as Biscay, Kaoru Star and Bletchingly, were now dominant in Australian breeding.

"I would have loved to have squared things with Full On Aces, who beat him on a heavy track in the Golden Slipper Stakes, but I'm sure his future lies as a sire of top gallopers," he said18 .

1989

22 July 1989
TITLE DEEDS
IT SEEMS Elizabeth Yuill now holds the private financial reins of her high-profile bloodstock financier husband, Brian Yuill.

Not content to idle time away at their Edgecliff mansion, Elizabeth has just paid the Honeysett family $700,000 for two Gulgong cattle-fattening properties near Mudgee.

The 1,200-hectare Thornbury Station adjoins the larger Guntawang Station which Bondoro Pty Ltd, a shelf company which Elizabeth said was associated with her husband, bought in 1987 for $4.78 million19 .

1991

4 May 1991
The Ceaseless Strife of Brian
In July 1987, a shelf company called Bondoro bought two properties at Gulgong, in the Mudgee area, for S3.1 million and $1.6 million. One was Guntawang, with 93 spelling paddocks, a race-training track, breaking yards and stables for 56 horses; the other an adjacent property, Westwood, which supported 700 head of cattle. According to Mr Miller's report on Spedley, the directors of Bondoro remained as the original shelf company directors but the property was "frequented by Mr and Mrs Yuill. The purchase was, in essence, funded by Spedley Securities ... but, in turn, GPI was debited with the cost." ,

The Guntawang homestead, an 1860s colonial home listed with the National Trust, was restored at a cost of $I million. It now has seven bedrooms, a billiard room, swimming pool and children's rumpus room. Two 17th-century fireplaces were imported from England. A local man involved in the restoration says the carpets were imported from England complete with the carpet layer, who complained of jetlag one day as he laid the carpets' floral borders.

"It makes Milton Park look like a Travelodge," said one frequent guest. Brian and Elisabeth visited the home most weekends, often hiring a Lear jet for themselves and their guests.

Bondoro was placed in receivership a year ago and the receiver, Richard Brien, is hoping to sell its horses, which are costing $3,000 a month. The receiver has a claim against the Yuills personally to recover $300,000 he believes was spent in entertaining and flying people to the homestead. There will be a further claim involving the cattle, which the receiver believes were transferred around late 1989 to a company called Binali Pty Ltd, registered in April 1989. The directors of Binali are Elisabeth Yuill and Louise Costigan, the Yuills' housekeeper who lives in a flat next to Fenton and who worked as an upholsterer with Elisabeth in her interior decorating business. In mid-1989, Elisabeth also bought Thornbury Station, a 1,200 hectare property adjoining Guntawang.

Guntawang is still on the market, a "Marie Celeste", Yuill's lawyer has called it. The horses have not yet been sold, neither have the antiques.

Perhaps in Yuill's mind is the thought that one day, he can regain it all.

Perhaps he is right. After all, no real rain has fallen on Brian's parade yet.
Additional reporting by JONATHAN CHANCELLOR20

1992

17 March 1992
Former Yuill property goes to auction
The liquidator of Bondoro Pty Ltd, a company which owns Brian Yuill's former horse stud and country estate, has rejected a $3.5 million offer for the Mudgee property and will auction it next month.

Two properties, Guntawang and Westwood, have been for sale by tender as one parcel for the past 18 months through Raine & Home Commercial. However, Mr Richard Brien, Bondoro's liquidator, rejected two offers of $2.5 million and $3.5 million as unacceptable.

The properties will now be offered for sale in four parcels at an Elders Real Estate auction on April 30.

Guntawang, which is about 25 kilometres from Mudgee, is well known for its preparation of racehorses under the management of Cheryl and Max Crockett.

Guntawang comprises 452 hectares of unrestricted freehold with a fully operational horse stud and training and spelling complex.

It has stables and attendants' quarters, 30 horse stalls, 13 covered breaking yards, 84 holdings yards, 15 sand roll yards, a lunging yard, and a 2,000-metre grass and sand track.

The 1860s homestead, which has undergone much costly renovation, has seven bedrooms, three with en-suite bathrooms, a billiards room and large family rooms with underfloor beating. The bouse is decorated with quality furniture, ornaments and utensils which are included in the sale.

Other accommodation on the estate includes a four-bedroom furnished guest house and three staff cottages.

Brian Yuill — whose merchant bank Spedley Securities collapsed 2 1/2 years ago with debts of $1.4 billion — put a lot of money into Guntawang after the collapse, and apart from major renovations to the house, a swimming pool was installed and subsequently relocated. In 1990 Mr Yuill was reported as having attempted to buy back the Mudgee property. The selling agent, Mr Tim Sbortis, of Elders Mudgee, said the Westwood property was being offered in three lots at the auction — one of 325 hectares in seven paddocks with a cottage; one of 265 hectares divided into four paddocks; and one of 217 hectares split into three paddocks.

It is expected that Guntawang will sell for about $3 million while Westwood is expected to bring about $1 million, which equates to about $1,200 a hectare.

ANDREA DIXON21

2022

1 August 2022
Sydney couple buy famed horse stud near Mudgee: Equine oasis
Guntawang, a vast colonial-era estate and renowned horse stud near Mudgee, complete with a full-size racetrack and colourful 200-year ownership history, has been snapped up by Gulgong lamb producers Peter and Louise Pethe.

The Australian Financial Review understands Guntawang, which was offered for sale by thoroughbred horse breeder Charlie Cropper, changed hands at close to the $15 million asking price. Title deeds show Guntawang Rural, a company jointly owned by the Pethes, slapped a caveat over the 594 Goolma Road property in Gulgong just to the north of Mudgee two weeks ago.

The couple run a White Suffolk purebred lamb operation across more than 1000ha on a nearby Gulgong property called Omeo (as well as owning a home in Sydney's eastern suburbs) and supply meat to online Sydney butcher Kingsmore Meats.

They declined to comment on the acquisition of Guntawang. Richard Royle and Deborah Cullen of Cullen Royle brokered the sale.

The 452ha property on the banks of the Cudgegong River includes a magnificent seven-bedroom Italianate homestead dating to the 1870s, with an in-ground pool, tennis court and a separate pavilion.

The homestead sits on a hill overlooking the vast estate, which is home to a 2000-metre grass and sand racetrack, modern equine complex and many of the original buildings including red-brick stables and coach house.

Guntawang's origins go back to about 1825 when it was part of an original land grant of 4000 acres given to the pioneering Rouse family. The Rouses produced fine wool and beef cattle, as well as racing and carriage horses at Guntawang. They held on to it until 1908.

Louisa Albury, the mother of the Australian poet Henry Lawson, was born in one of the buildings in 1848. By the 1860s, Guntawang had become a self-contained community with its own school, post office, church and inn, catering to miners working on the Mudgee goldfields.

In 1987, it became the country estate of corporate high-flyer Brian Yuill, then the big-spending boss of merchant bank Spedleys, who owned racehorses, an $88,000 Bentley and a townhouse in London's Chelsea. However, Mr Yuill held on to Guntawang only briefly. In 1989 Spedley Group collapsed owing creditors $1.4 billion. Mr Yuill, who used Spedley as his personal bank, was jailed for four years in 1995. He died in 2014.

In 1992, Mr Cropper acquired Guntawang from liquidators for $2.29 million. Since then it has sustained its reputation as one of the country's leading horse studs and equine complexes, producing a string of champion thoroughbreds. "It's had a pretty amazing history," co-selling agent Mr Royle said. "This sale is likely a per hectare record for the area."

He said a confidentiality agreement prevented him discussing the buyer or price. Mr Royle said the top of the market - Cullen Royle specialises in the rural lifestyle market - had not been impacted by rising interest rates. "A lot of them are cash buyers22 ."

CREDIT: Larry Schlesinger

References