Rosewood History

From the Queensland Times (Ipswich), Friday 22 January 1915, page 6

Through The Rosewood District
(5)
(By Our Travelling Representative.)

A one-chain road separates the properties of Messrs. Rodgers and A. T. Waters, and, as mentioned in my last notes, Mr. Waters has some choice, high class dairy cattle. His property known as “Railway View” is within easy distance of the Lanefield railway station, and consists of 720 acres of splendid soil about 50 acres being utilised for the cultivation of crops, mainly for the use of the dairy cattle. 

I was very courteously supplied with a description of the dairy animals on Mr. Water’s farm by the owner, who takes a very keen interest in the breeding of Illawarra cattle. Mr. Waters said he commenced some 12 years ago to get this strain in his dairy herd, and to achieve this end he secured a bull by Jamberoo (a well-known local show animal, and successful winner of prizes at various district shows), bred by Mr. John Hardcastle, Dugandan. Mr. Waters also bought a typical Illawarra sire, Warrior 111., from Messrs. Graham Bros.. New South Wales, and, at the end of his term in the “Railway View” stud, the proprietor was so pleased with the quality of the animal’s progeny that he secured from the same breeders in New South Wales, the famous sire British Admiral. This animal has had a wonderfully successful show career, and has imparted to the already well bred herd of Mr. Waters, the true Illawarra type of dairy cattle. 

His show winnings include the champion prize at the Brisbane Exhibition in 1913 and 1914, champion at Toowoomba, Ipswich, and Fassifern (Boonah), for two years in succession, and champion at Lowood, Laidley, and Rosewood. This is certainly a wonderful show record, and Mr. Waters must feel justly proud of the success which has attended his efforts in the matter of introducing such high-class blood into his herd. The rug made from the badges and ribbons awarded to British Admiral was shown me, and considering that Mr. Waters had the animal for only two years, the fact of 12 champion badges alone being included in the “costume,” speaks for itself. 

In the female section of the stud there are some beautiful animals, and not fewer than 20 of these cattle have already passed the requisite test in order for them to be eligible for the Queensland Illawarra herd-book. This herd-book came into existence in Queensland only about two years ago, the Illawarra’s being up to that time associated with the shorthorn dairy cattle, and eligible animals of the lllawarra breed were given, a place in the shorthorn herd-book. 

In the group of six females and two males at the exhibition in 1912, Mr. Waters secured second, prize, in the 1913 exhibition he was awarded first prize, and in 1914, at the exhibition, he scored second prize with his exhibits. One may gauge the standard of quality which is predominant in these choice animals when such awards are gained in the champion show of Queensland. Tulip, four years old, an excellent beast, perfect in conformation, has proved herself a splendid animal for milking. At the Brisbane Exhibition in 1913 she won the home-milking competition for animals under three years and also first prize in her class at the same show, first prize for heifer in milk under three years at Rosewood, 1913, and first and champion ship at Marburg in the same year. Carnation, at half-sister of Tulip, in 1913 won the first prize and championship at the Toowoomba show for female Illawarra, and first for heifer under three years, first at Ipswich show, 1913, and was placed second to her herd mate Tulip at the Brisbane Exhibition in the same year. In 1914 she was awarded first prize at Ipswich for Illawarra three years and under four, and second prize at the last exhibition. Gay Lass, a half sister of Carnation, in 1914 won first prize and championship at Toowoomba for heifer three years and under four, first and championship in Ipswich, and second prize at Rosewood. Rosebud II., one of Mr. Waters’s own breeding, is a splendid animal, and one which exemplifies in the fullest degree the ideal Mr. Waters set out to attain. Her show-ring awards are as follow:-In 1913, first and championship, Ipswich; second prize Illawarra cow, Boonah. In 1914 she was placed first and reserve champion at Ipswich, and first prize at Rosewood for cow four years and over in milk. She has easily passed for inclusion in the Illawarra herd book, her record for seven days being a production of 12.401b butter. The animals were all looking remarkably well, and demonstrated that no small amount of care was bestowed on them. 

Mr. Waters experiences a steady and ever-increasing stream of applications for Young stud stock, especially bulls, and animals have been consigned as far as Kilcoy, Gayndah, and Rockhampton. At the time of my visit 46 cows were being milked, the product being separated by a steam plant, and the cream despatched to the Queensland Farmers’ Co-operative Company’s factory at Booval. 

Besides his reputation for possessing high class dairy Illawarras, Mr. Waters has gained an enviable standard in the breeding of pure white Yorkshire pigs, and his show successes have been gratifying for a number of years past. A thoroughbred blood stallion Valley, by Valiant, by Warpaint, is kept on the farm, and travels the district in the season. Turkeys, geese, and ducks are all of high-class quality, and all these sections have gained fame wherever exhibited. 

The trophies in Mr. Waters’s possession are a very valuable and handsome collection, and include a case of cutlery presented to the Marburg Agricultural and Industrial Association by Mr. H. M. Stevens. M.L.A., for most successful exhibitor; a case of cutlery from the Queensland Pastoral and Agricultural Society, Ipswich, for most typical Illawarra or Shorthorn bred by exhibitor: seven cups, one being won at Rosewood for most successful exhibitor; one was won at Boonah for most successful exhibitor; one was awarded by the national Association, Brisbane. with £10. 10s for group, one by the Marburg Agricultural and Industrial Association, 1913 , for most successful exhibitor: and three cups by the Rosewood Agricultural and Horticultural Association, for the most successful exhibitor and breeder’s group, 1914. There is also a magnificent silver rose-bowl on ebony stand amongst the trophies, which was won by the champion Illawarra bull, British Admiral, at the last exhibition, besides some very fine medals. Altogether the collection is a beautiful once, and is exhibited with a justifiable feeling of pleasure by the genial owner. 

There is little doubt that in high-class dairy cattle the district hereabouts possesses some choice stock, and the amount of labour expended in preparing animals for show is very frequently not recompensed by the award secured, and consequently the owner receives very small return for his enterprise. But the spirit of progressiveness and enterprise has been displayed by dairymen and breeders, and they have been instrumental in bringing the district into a good deal of prominence by their unselfish action in exhibiting wherever practicable. In fact, it has been admitted at some of the adjoining district’s shows during the past few years that, if the Lanefield dairy cattle exhibits had not been well represented, the show in these sections would have been very disappointing. 

The country, from Lanefield on to Calvert is very well watered by Western Creek, which becomes a very swift running stream in the event of flood, and as the banks are low in places the water overflows, and the whole fiat from Calvert to Rosewood in inundated, and at the Lanefield railway station the water is feet high. Mixed farming, dairying, and timber work are the industries which support the Calvert township. 

Some very nice farms are to be seen along Mort’s Creek, before reaching Hidden Vale. Messers. Paten Bros. are noted for the splendid herd of Ayrshire cattle which they possess, and they have had quite a good record with their show exhibits. The brothers have made some.substantial improvements on their property, which they purchased a few years ago, and a fine silo (the only one for miles around) has been built during their tenure. 

The country between Calvert and Grandchester is very poor, and can only be classed, for the main part, as grazing country, but some splendid hardwood timber-chiefly spotted gum and ironbark-has been milled from this locality in years past. In fact, the Grandchester railway station yard has had as many as 20 bullock teams depositing their loads therein on the one day. 

Grandchester, formerly the terminus of the first section of railway built in Queensland, and known to the older residents by the name of Bigge’s Camp, was the camping-place for carriers and teamsters, before tackling the Little Liverpool Range which form the “boundary on the west from the Lockyer district. There is a splendid water supply, the reserves about the township being dotted with springs, while the Western Creek is always running, and in the record drought of 1902 proved of inestimable benefit to the settlers. There is is large reservoir to the north of the township, which conserves water for the use of the railway engines, the supply for their use gravitating from the reservoir to the railway station tanks. The dam in the railway station yard is resorted to when the reservoir gets too low and the water is pumped therefrom to the overhead tanks.

Passengers on the railway trains have doubtless admired the beautiful sycamore or plane trees, which grow in the vicinity of the station, and they are considered to be some of the finest ornamental trees along the main line. 

There is always a pilot-engine kept at the station for the purpose of giving assistance to heavy trains ascending the Range, and two sets of engine men are employed for the purpose. 

The progress of the town ship has been slow, but during the past decade the building of several new business houses and residences has made the township much score attractive. The trade from the two cattle stations and Gehrkevale is diverted to Grandchester, and the railway business, in consequence, is surprisingly good. The chief industries now are mixed farming and grazing, while a few teamsters haul timber. It is believed that the country in the vicinity of the township is coal-bearing, and some splendid clay suitable for pottery purposes is to be had within a mile of the railway station. 

Some four miles from Grandchester the Hidden Vale cattle station property is gone through en route to Franklyn Vale and Gehrkevale. Hidden Vale has changed hands a good deal of recent years, but during the ownership of Mr. A. J. Cotton quite a township sprang up around the homestead. This was accounted for by the erection of a splendid two-storied home for himself, on the charming residential site, and various houses, and offices for working men, besides out-buildings for his stud stock. A large dam has been built a reasonable distance from the homestead, and, when full, presents a pretty scene. The water thereon is pumped by engine, and laid on to any desired part of the house. Mr. Cotton sold the property almost four years ago, but lately re-acquired it. 

Franklyn Vale is now much smaller in area, but some grand open flat country is noticed there, and, should this property be auctioned for farms, the demand must be keen. The top portion of  the station was subdivided about eight years ago, and the settlers who purchased holdings have all done remarkably well thereon. The property is owned by Messrs Henry Mort and Son, who mainly devote their attention to grazing, while a dairy farm on a large scale is worked on the share system. 

The station is under the capable management of Mr. Roger Hogan, who is a keen judge of cattle, and is popular with his employers and employees . The station is equipped with all modern appliances, and conveniences, and is very picturesque, lying at the foot of the peaks on the Liverpool Range. 

Gehrkevale, some six miles further on, is a splendid dairying centre, and some very remunerative returns have been secured by the settlers in this locality. The subdivided portion of Franklyn Vale forms part of the settlement, and a fine progressive body of farmers has been in charge of the holdings all along the route. Farmers have spared no expense in the matter of importing high-class dairy cattle, and Mr. C. F. Gehrke has, within the past 12 months, purchased from the Northern rivers of New South Wales, some choice Illawarra Shorthorn milking cattle. These should have a very good influence on the already high quality of the dairymen’s stock. Grazing is also carried out on a small scale, and, combined with dairying, makes a very paying venture.