Gf)z Pastoral fjomes of Australia.

Gostwyck, New South Wales. Gostwyck, the property of Captain Clive Collingwood

Dangar, merits inclusion among the Pastoral Homes of Aus-tralia for many reasons, but especially for the fact that it is the home of one of the most beautifully-woolled Merino flocks in the Commonwealth, and, secondly, because it is typical of a very highly-improved sheep station; indeed, Gostwyck is one of the best improved pastoral holdings in the Commonwealth. Situated about 3300 ft. above the sea level on the New England tableland, Gostwyck is fine, open, healthy country. It is principally of basaltic formation, the surface consisting partly of undulating, well-grassed plains, the carrying capacity of which has been added to by sapping and burning off unnecessary timber, and also to the fact that all the low-lying land in the property has been drained, and a large proportion of it has been broken up and laid down in grasses.

Gostwyck was originally taken up in the early thirties of the last century by the late Henry Dangar, grandfather of the present owner. It subsequently beeame one of the pro-perties owned by the firm of Dangar Bros., and on the dis-solution of partnership it passed into the hands of Mr. F. H. Dangar, who afterwards sold it to his brother, the late Mr. A. A. Dangar. In 1911 the property was transferred to the present owner.

The Gostwyck Merino flock is noted for the high quality of wool, and the stud flock is one of the oldest in New South Wales, it having been in possession of the Dangar family for over sixty years. It is not on record where the foundation of the flock originally came from, but Merino sheep were first taken on to Gostwyck in the thirties of last century, and at once proved themselves to be the type of sheep best suited to the New England tableland. It is on record that

that in 1912 30,200 Gostwyck-bred sheep averaged 8 lbs. 12 ozs. In some specially favourable seasons they have cut up to 10 lbs. average. This result has been achieved by con-tinuous use of Saxon Merino blood only for the last sixty years, accompanied by steady, systematic culling of the whole flock, which is rigidly carried out to the present day. No ewes of outside breeding have been introduced into the flock during the period mentioned.

WOOLLY LEGS. One of the leading sires. By Togo, by Napoleon, by Waterloo.

The foundation of the Gostwyck stud flock dates from 1854, when the late Henry Dangar, the founder, selected 28 rams from Herr Gadegast's well-known stud near Oschatz, in Saxony, and sent them out to the late Sir A. H. Palmer, who was then general manager of his stations in New South Wale,3. Some of these sheep proved extremely good sires, and left their mark on the flock, where they and their progeny, with other imported Gadegast and Steiger rams that followed, were used for many years in the stud. It was in 1878 that

GOSTWYCK EWES, which won the First Prize for Best Pen of Ten Ewes, Sydney Show, 1909.

59,654 Gostwyck sheep shorn in 1858 gave an average yield of 2 lbs. 8 ozs. clean spout-washed wool. Washing was dis-continued in 1882, and the whole flock that year averaged 6 lbs. 2 ozs. in the grease. Since that time greater attention has been paid to studbreeding, with the gratifying result

Tasmanian blood was first introduced, and since that date no other rams have been used in the stud save those of Tasmanian origin. The first Tasmanian rams used were two bred by Mr. David Taylor, of St. Johnstone, one of which cost 76 guineas, considered a high price at the time. They

T H E HOMESTEAD AND ORCHARD.

GOSTWYCK, N.S.W.

VIEW OF HOMESTEAD, SHOWING STUD SHEEI> PADDOCKS.

ENTRANCE TO GOSTWTCK.—AVENTJE OF E L M TREES.

were followed by rams bred by Messrs. W. Gibson and Son, of Scone; Mr. Thomas Gibson, Esk Yale; Mr. David Taylor; Mr. James Gibson, Belle Yue; and Mr. W. H. Gibson, Fair-field. It was in 1897 that the famous ram Waterloo, by President, and bred by the late Hon. Jas. Gibson, was pur-chased by the late Mr. A. A. Dangar for 580 guineas. This ram proved to be a magnificent sire, probably the best Presi-dent ram ever imported into New South Wales. He proved of inestimable value to the Gostwyck flock, adding year by year to the weight of the clip. Those who have had an intimate connection with the management of the stud give a large amount of credit to Waterloo for the present high standard of the flock. He was used in the flock for nine years, and got something like 800 lambs. Since 1900 such rams as Loyalty II. and Amberite were introduced, the latest pur-chase being Patron II., bred at Belle Yue, secured at the Sydney Sales, 1910. One of the leading sires at present at Gostwyck is Woolly Legs, a direct descendant from Waterloo. He is by Togo, by Napoleon, by Waterloo, out of a Gostwyck

WATERLOO.

stud ewe. He has been used in the stud for four years, and is getting excellent stock.

Gostwyck stud sheep have established a good record in the show pens. They have for many years past taken their share of prizes at the principal New England shows as well as at the Sydney Sheep Show. The Gostwyck stud has been particularly successful in competitions for pens of ten, which, in Captain Dangar's opinion, is a finer achievement than win-ning in the single classes.

The Gostwyck stud sheep are robust and large of frame, size being specially kept in view. They are bred to produce a fine combing wool of good auality and character, with as much weight and length of staple as can be obtained without loss of density. 1 Excessive wrinkle, the fashion only a few years back, has been, to a great extent, bred out of the stud flock, enough development being retained to ensure density and to guard against any tendency in the direction of lighter fleeces, which is) likely to happen if a fair amount of fold development israbandoned in stud sheep.

The Gostwyck clip has, from its earliest days, been sold in London, the brand D.R. over G. over New England being

well and favourably known. Last year (1912), however, the whole clip was offered in Sydney, and topped the market by bringing 18%d., the highest price obtained for the last thirteen years. In justice to the quality of the clip it should be mentioned that the Gostwyck wool topped the market at four consecutive sales, making 1 8 ^ . , 18%d., 16%d. and 16d., which constitutes a record the owner is justly proud of. The following figures are of interest concerning the wool-bear-ing capacity of the Gostwyck flock. Last year 30,212 grown sheep cut an average of 8 lbs. 12 ozs., and 286 bales of greasy fleeces averaged 15.39d. per lb.

As before stated, the type of Merino bred at Gostwyck is ideal for the New England district, and the estate being suited by nature to the production of high-class wool, and the extensive improvements having facilitated the work very largely, it is no wonder that the Gostwyck stud flock and station wool clip have come so prominently to the fore. At the same time a fair proportion of credit for the steady progress is due to those in charge of the stud in the past and to the present manager of the stud, Mr. A. C. Cox. Mr. Cox comes of a family noted for stud sheepbreeding in the Mudgee district in the old days. He is a son of the late Charles Cox, of Broombee, and he has been in charge of the Gostwyck stud since 1897.

A feature of Gostwyck that makes itself most apparent to a visitor is the system of tree-planting that has been carried out for many years past. The visitor approaches the home-stead through a lovely avenue of elm trees, which the late Mr. A. A. Dangar planted himself. There are very few similar sights in Australia to this avenue in spring, sum-mer, and autumn foliage, it can be considered a beautiful natural monument to the late Mr. Dangar. Shelter belts have been planted on various parts or the estate, a particu-larly fine belt being convenient to the woolshed, so that sheep can find plenty of shelter should a cold snap eventuate imme-diately after shearing. These plantations chiefly comprise pinus insignis, and very fine shelter they make. There is a very fine woolshed on Gostwyck, and fences, gates, and build-ings are all of a substantial nature, and are kept in a good state of repair. The flat country round the house is cut up into small stud paddocks and cultivation lots, though no cul-tivation, except ior station requirements, is indulged in.

The homestead is beautifully situated on rising country, overlooking Gostwyck CTeek, the pieturesqueness of which has been added to by the erection of a graceful and useful suspension bridge.

Captain Dangar is a keen enthusiast in athletic games, par-ticularly the game of racquets, which is little known in this country. He is doing his best to popularise it, and has built a squash racquet court at Gostwyck, in the hope that it will induce others to take up the game and establish courts.

In connection with Gostwyck Captain Dangar works a property of 6000 acres called The Dumbles, situated on Liver-pool Plains. It was originally part of Mooki Springs, being that portion nearest Quirindi. ST I BBS

PERSONAL.

Captain Clive Coliingwood Dangar is the son of the late Mr. A. A. Dangar, of Baroona, near Singleton, N.S.W. He was born at Baroona in 1882, and was educated at the Armi-dale School, New England. In 1900 he went to South Africa with the Third Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, in which he held a commission. He served through eighteen months of the South African war, was mentioned in de-spatches, and received a commission for special service. He subsequently served with the 13th Hussars in England and India for eight years. Captain Dangar retired in 1909, and returning to New South Wales, married Nora Dangar, daughter of the Hon. H. C. Dangar, M.L.C. They have two daughters. Captain Dangar takes a keen interest in pas-toral matters and in the affairs of his district, especially as regards his old school. His keen interest in Merino sheep augurs well for the future of the Gostwyck stud flock and the station wool clip, both of which his father brought to such a high standard.