Australian Town and Country Journal at KellyGang 7/9/1872 (5)
A Tour to the South.
[BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT]
ON THE MURRUMBIDGEE (CONTINUED)
A REMABKABLE fact about Riverina is that almost all the stations have changed hands during the past ten years; and of the original occupiers, scarcely half a dozen now remain. The names of Boyd, Lewis, Phillips and Graves, Hogg, Stuckey, Crane, Hobbler, Wentworth, Morris, and a host of others, who were among the first pioneers have almost been forgotten; and the Gwynnes, D'Archys, and Rudds are perhaps all that are left on the country first taken up by them.
Mr Wm. Rudd is pointed out as the only settler on the Murrumbidgee who still lives on the station first taken up by him, about twenty-eight years ago. His station adjoins that of Mr Thomas Learmonth, Groongal, and is between thirty and forty miles from Hay. It is called Howlong. The comfortable station residence of the veteran squatter, is on the river bank. The three sons of Mr Rudd who have become Benedicts have homes near their father's. That of Mr Thomas V Rudd, Alpha Villa, is a model private residence, about a mile and a half from the home station. It is situated in a bend of the Murrumbidgee river within sight, though half a mile from, the roadside. It is prettily designed, well built, and tastefully furnished. A well arranged, geometrically planned garden is around the house.
Howlong station has an area of about 160 square miles, and a frontage of seven miles to the Murrumbidgee. The station is all fenced in, and besides the river frontage it is watered by wells and dams. The country about Howlong contains a great deal of cotton bush, which is said to be superior to salt bush. It is often found to be green when every other kind of herbage is burnt up. Cattle are bred on Howlong, and I was glad to notice good pedigrees, amongst which was the Fenian, a roan by Royal Hope, imported by R M'Dougall Esq; and Marmaduke by Admiral (imported), bred by Mrs Robertson of Victoria. A few good blood horses are also on the station. Their ancestors are Blair Athol, Troubador, Lord of Hills, &c.
The next station lower down the river is Wardry, the property of Messrs Wragge and Hearne. This is a sheep station, having an area of 200 square miles, all fenced in, and subdivided into eight large, and a number of smaller paddocks. It has a frontage of eight miles to the Murrumbidgee. Wardry carries about 40,000 sheep. A few good cattle are kept on the station, and a short-horn cow from there took first prize at the last Hay show. The proprietors of Wardry, are gentle men of considerable practical experience, which they are bringing to bear in the improvement of the station. After leaving Wardry the road lies across vast plains having a great sameness of character. When about twelve miles away, a few free selections are passed and the next run is Illilliwa
This is an extensiee station which takes in part of the Hay township. It is the property of Messrs John Rutherford and Company. The residence of the superintendent, Walter Tully, Esq., is a fine brick building, or rather buildings, very spacious and well constructed throughout.
Before the house there is a capital garden and orchard watered by large tanks filled by a windmill from the river. The woolshed about half a mile from the house is 250 feet long, and fifty feet wide. Illilliwa has an area of 300,000 acres and a river frontage of about twenty miles. The whole of the run is fenced in, and subdivided into fifteen large, and four smaller or stud paddocks. About 250 miles of fencing, (principally wire), have been erected. On the back part of the run ten or twelve dams and wells have been constructed. The wells are worked by horse and whim, and water 10,000 sheep daily. The country is cotton and salt bush. The sheep were originally from the flocks of Mr Macansh, but Mr Bayly and other great breeders have contributed of late years towards the further improvement of the sheep. Mr Tully has carried off an immense number of prizes at the Hay pastoral show for the superior sheep that he exhibited. Gold and silver medals were taken for best merino ewes, best colonial bred ewes, &c. From the few facts given above an idea will be formed of the great outlay on this station. Nine miles from the residence of Mr Tully, and 180 miles from Wagga Wagga, I reached the township of
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