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A Duggan, Brymair, Rylstone, 172 shep1 .
THE COX FAMILY
Great Pioneers
BURRUNDULLA AND RAWDON
A VERY Interesting account of the great work of the Cox family in the Mudgee district in years gone by appeared In the last issue of 'Country Life.'
It was as follows: -
Well over a hundred years ago George and Henry Cox took up the right-hand side of the Cudgegong at Mudgee, worked and developed it. Today it is Burrundulla.
Came a time when some of their cattle strayed, and, tracking them down this Cudgegong, they found them on the rich pasture, some 30 odd miles away. The country appealed so much that they took up this land, and eventually it passed to one of the younger sons. This was the beginning of Rawdon - later to become famous for the wool and blood stock bred by Edward King Cox.
From Rawdon came the wool which was considered so wonderful that at the World Fair, in England, a special gold medal was struck to commemorate the exhibit. This Cox blood - the blood still holds - was the foundation of the best of our fine-wool flocks. The Cox sheep were bred from Capt. Waterhouse's flock which William Cox bought, then improved by the shipment he brought from Spain.
Here also - at Rawdon - old Yattendon, who plays such a large part in our stud book, was at stud.
PIONEERING GOES ON
Rawdon was sold. For years two brothers of this clan had been inseparable - almost one in ideas. Just over the range some 10 miles was a piece of country, unimproved, over-run by rabbits, but they, with the old pioneering spirit, had seen its possibilities. It had belonged to Rawdon for years - neglected and unable to be put in order.
So, when the old place was sold, Alfred and Jim Cox came and took up this country - to make something of it. Not young men, but the old blood was there. They came on to this 4000 acres from an old, old homestead to camp in tents! There was one fence about it - that was all. With them they took an old hand from Rawdon, and the place was divided up for work. Each looked after his own particular piece of country. It was a big job; the country had never been cleared up - they burned it off, cleared it, kept their sheep going, and then tackled the rabbits. Forty thousand rabbits were taken off. Then the fencing. It had to be subdivided, water to be made available, stock to be tended.
To-day, if one goes down the Glen Alice Valley from Rylstone, one thinks how poor really the land looks. Then about 14 miles out one turns in to the left, and after going through the stock route and part of Bogey one comes to Brymair.
THE VISION SPLENDID
It is a wonderfully beautiful place, locked on three sides by mountains - on the left Mt. Marsden, made famous by Rolf Boldrewood in 'Robbery Under Arms,' the same Rolf Boldrewood to be interconnected with the Cox family; on the right, Mt. Tian.
Brymair stands as a monument to what the old pioneer spirit can do. A quiet, peaceful homestead, not large, but dignified in its comfort, looking out over land which has few places to compare with it. Improved, cleared, no rabbits, and its carrying capacity 5000 sheep, plus lambs, and 3000 head of cattle. Surely a tribute to the hard work and the vision of these men of the old stock.
Jim. has gone, but not before he saw his dreams realised. Remains only Alfred, an old man in years (71), but still young in ideas; young enough to be able to readjust his ideas to the trend of the times. He has improved his pastures. Rye grass (Wimmera) has been one of his successful efforts.
SHEEP BREEDING
Then he had foresight, too - a merino man; brought up to the prejudice, yet seeing the trend of the. times, realising the value of his land and its potentialities he did not hesitate to strike out in a new line.
When they came to Brymnir they brought xbred (Leicester-merino ewes). They persevered, found they had a definite type and proceeded to try and make it uniform. They turned to Corriedales, and surely their foresight was rewarded, for their wool has not only topped the market on several occasions, but always holds its standard.
To-day, what a lesson: A. E. Cox Is establishing a stud of Corriedales which even the breeder of his sires (Guthrle) will have to acknowledge. Putting Into practice his experience of many years, he has graded his ewes, brought rams to suit them, and the wool from the progeny Is indeed a lesson; as to what can be done by knowledge, application, care and the holding of an ideal. The r??? from every point of view, quality, bulk, lustre and uniformity, are astounding.
Then you come to consider the man, tall and broad, kindly much loved by all, most at all his employees, with a broad ??? sympathy for every man's point of view - surely a wonderful example of the sterling qualities of the stock2 .