Full text of article
BOOMOONOOMANA TO DENILIQUIN
IT will be admitted on all hands that the Riverine flockmasters have shown a determination not to be the background in the quality of their sheep. During the past dozen years a great, although gradual, improvement has taken place. Two causes have tended to bring this about. Some years ago there was a considerable depreciation in the value of wool, and only the best descriptions brought paying prices. About the same time annual pastoral shows were inaugurated at the principal centres in Riverina, and those at Hay and Jerilderie were eminently successful. The above causes combined, viz., low price of inferior wool and pastoral shows acted as incentives. The latter caused a spirit of generous rivalry to spring up, which was attended with the most gratifying success. Year after year flocks improved, and a few good men have already their side-boards decked with trophies won by their prize sheep. Amongst these gentlemen is Wm. Hay , Esq J.P.,Boomoonooinana, the President of the greatest the Riverina pastoral shows whose knowledge of sheep breeding is proverbial in the district.
Boomoonoinann (a large lagoon), the station of Mr Hay, is on the Murray river, about sixty miles from Deiliquin. Though the station bears it, present names where the residence is erected was called by the blacks Kudadadae, meaning a circular current, or water running round. This is appropriately named, for the Murray river flows past the garden, and then takes complete bend. Corks thrown on the water about there remain for hour's making circuits. The residence is a spacious building, of brick, with the usual complete outbuildings characteristic of the great Riverina squatages. A really well kept garden, and rows of poplars, with hedges of prickly acacia, ornaments the grounds. The area of Boomoonoomana is 150 square miles. The whole is fenced, principally with wire fencing. It is subdivided in paddock. Since Mr Hay took possession he has expended upwards of £10,000 in improvements on the station.
This is an important fact, and should be borne in mind before statements are made that pastoral occupiers are not improving their runs. The station carries about 32,000 sheep. Below the house at one corner of the garden, there is now in course of construction a capital wool store, or rather, covered in wharf, as from it wool can be shipped at high water on board vessels trading on the Murray. The Boomoonooinana woolshed is two miles north of the home-station. About a mile and a half from the house is Hay's Plains, and in the centre of the plain the woolshed is erected. It is an extensive building, shingled and having glass-windows and skylights. The plan of the interior is a good one and the press is one of Wilding's patent.
During my stay at Boomoonoomana the results of the English wool sales were telegraphed, and the gratifying news was received that this station wool in grease brought one shilling and seven pence per lb. Mr Hay attributes this success to attention to three great points viz. : breeding, weeding, and feeding.
The most remarkable feature about this part of the country is Gwynne's Hill. It has already been stated that for hundreds of miles the country is perfectly level. This statement must be modified in respect of Gwynne's Hill, which is a strange exception. This isolated hill is 6 miles north-east of Mr Hay's residence. Its height is 700 feet.
Leaving the woolshed I crossed Hay's Plains, an regained the Deniliquin road which skirts the plain. For twelve miles the road continues through open forest country, plains, and brush timber. Slight elevations or sandhills were occasionally seen to the left and right and the tracks of emus were visible in the sand. Snakes too were plentiful judging by their trails along and across the road. Bushmen in that part can tell very nearly the size and kind of snakes by their trails in the dust.
Barooga, M'Farland Bro s., is the next station on the river, 12 miles from Boomoonoomana. About a quarter of a mile from the roadside the pine residence is erected. The new building just completed is best described as modern gothic in character, and is admirably adapted for the plains. The area of Barooga is 80,0,00 acres, and it carries about 20,000 sheep. In stock, it is pleasing to see that Mr McFarland is doing much good in improving the breed. Among those which came immediately under notice was an imported Red Templar (Booth breed), a red roan bull, though only 3 years old, a very picture. He was imported, by Mr Mickle and though only 12 month old Messrs. M'Farland gave 280 guineas for him a few days after being landed. The splendid quarters of this pure bred Shorthorn are generally admired.
After I left Booraga the road became pleasant for travelling, for it wound between shady trees, avenue like, in some places for several miles. Three miles beyond the house the woolshed of the last station was passed,-and five miles, further Tocumwal was reached, 40 miles from Mulwalla, and 42 miles from Deniliquin, Tocumwal is a small village. It would be more correct to call it "Hilson," as a gentleman bearing this name is the owner of the hotel, stores, post-office, and all or nearly all of the other houses in the place. Mr Hilson's hotel is; a good brick building, and the stores and post office are also substantial. Where these buildings are erected is on a slight sandhill which protects them from flood when the ground around is covered by water. On the river bank, New South Wales side, a large bonded warehouse is erected, which does duty for the two colonies. Mr J Burton is in charge for New South Wales.
, .1. , .2. ,
| ! | The text has been retyped from a microfiche copy of the original. We have taken care to reproduce this document but areas of the original text may been damaged. |