Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), Wednesday 20 January 1904, page 8


OUR FLOCKS AND HERDS.

POLTALLOCH ESTATE.

Although it is one of the oldest and most prosperous stations in South Australia, there are few pastoral properties about which the general public knows less than

Poltalloch Estate, on Lakes Alexandrina and Albert. It depends upon nothing in the shape of booming for its existence, be-cause the stock raised speaks for itself, and therefore Poltalloch in a sense has remain-ed the Tibet of the Lakes—at least un-penetrated by the pressman. In other words, the people's palate has told them more about it than the press. However, the present series of pastoral articles in The Observer would not be complete if this fine station were passed over, and the owner, Mr. Keith D. Bowman, gladly offer-ed facilities for its inclusion. Over 50 years ago we find the following reference in The Register to Poltalloch in connection with Capt. Cadell's trip on the Murray in the first steamer that navigated the stream:—"On the peninsula between Lake Victoria and Lake Albert, and nearly opposite Point Pomond, is a neat white house built by the late Mr. Gollin upon Poltalloch Station, the property of Mr. John Malcolm, a wealthy Scottish gentleman, who possesses a special survey of 4,000 acres, comprising about 12 miles of water frontage. It was in the early forties that Mr. (afterwards Sir John) Malcolm, of Poltalloch, Argyllshire, Scotland, acquired the land in question, with the object of establishing some of his own peasantry in closer settlement. When the time for emigration came, however, the people in Scotland declined to leave their native land, and Mr. Malcolm was com-pelled to form a cattle station on the lake land that he had secured. Importations of high-class blood were made from the best Shorthorn studs at home, until the M7 herd, famous all over Australia, was es-tablished. Poltalloch was maintained as a cattle station for many years until the herd was sold to the late Sir Thomas Elder for £30,000. Three thousand cattle fetched £10 a head, which was a wonderful sale for those days. A few of the celebrated M7 Shorthorns were kept for breeding pur-poses, and the blood has been retained ever since. In 1873-4 Messrs. John and T. R. Bowman purchased Poltalloch and Camp bell House Estates, and almost exclusively devoted their attention to raising sheep. In 1900 Mr. John Bowman died, and his son Keith entered into possession of Poltalloch, and succeeded his brother Albert in active management, the latter having served in that capacity for about 12 years. There are few, if any, younger station owners and managers in Australia than Mr. Keith Bowman, but enterprise is inherent in him, and from what follows it will be seen that he has already demonstrated his ability to successfully control the magnifi-cent inheritance that his father left him. Leaving Adelaide by train for Strath-albyn, transhipping for Milang, steaming across Lake Alexandrina to Narrung Jetty, boating across the channel to Point Mal-colm, and driving four miles to Poltalloch head station, are stages of a journey the end of which is apt to create a sense of isolation. For instance, a test match is four days old before any news respecting it can reach this quarter of South Austra-lia in the ordinary course. Yet the sur-rounding and appointments of the head station are in keeping with the highest de-velopment of metropolitan civilization. At the time of the writer's visit an elec-tric lighting plant was in course of in-stallation, while preparations that were going on for the erection of a private tele-phone wire to Wellington and the presence on the station of a motor launch and a motor cycle suggested the annihilation of distance and seclusion. The house is a two-storied one, consisting of 15 large rooms, and, although erected on an emi-nence, it is completely hidden from view on the outside by a fine clump of Tasma-nian blue-gums and ornamental trees that surround it. The forestry affords com-plete escape from the brisk winds that blow almost without ceasing in the lakes country. Murray River freestone has been largely used in the building, and appears harder now than on the day it was put in 20 years ago. Around the head station vines, fruit trees, and vegetables are grown with great success; and, regarding the general comfort of the present residence, it is in-teresting to imagine the contrast between it and the frame house brought from Tas-mania and the pine and thatched roof house which the late Mr. John Bowman lived in during his pioneer days in South Australia. Starting from Point Malcolm on which there is a lighthouse which, by the way, Mr. Bowman leases from the Government, one passes many ostriches on the way to the head station. There were originally four of these stately birds on the station, and they have multiplied to about 200. They are in an entirely wild state, and Mr. Bowman does not attempt to pluck the feathers. Several exciting encounters have occurred between the birds and the men, for at breeding time the ostriches take pos-session of their nesting localities with all the tyranny of bushrangers. Any abnormal in-crease is checked by destruction of the eggs. Emus and kangaroos are also preserved in their wild state, and nearer home may be seen deer, the gift of Mr. Melrose, of Mount Pleasant, and monkey bears. There is, in fact, quite a menagerie on Poltalloch, but happily the rabbit finds no place in it. The wombats have also been exterminated because of their habit of disturbing the evennesss of the surface, but foxes have made their appearance. As the latter prey largely on the game and young ostriches and emus they are not the nuisance that they might be elsewhere. The rabbit has no chance at all, for every paddock on Pol-talloch is wirenetted. There is a solid wool-shed having accommodation for 22 shearers, and all the other buildings and yards are of the same substantial appearance. The estate comprises about 30,000 acres of free-hold land, including 4,800 acres which Mr. Bowman acquired from the Lake Albert Sta-tion last year. The rich sandy loam grows bar-ley grass, wild oats, and other good fodder grasses in great luxuriance, and the estate is well endowed in timber, the sheaoak, ?itree, and native pine predominating. The last-named has proved a grand asset for fencing purposes. Like other lake pro-perties Poltalloch is liable to sand drifts, but a rigorous policy of reclamation is keeping these in check. Mr. Bowman and his predecessor have met with marked suc-cess in the planting of marram grass on the sandhills where the drifts start. With the temporary protection afforded by the marram, the present owner has an idea of eventually replacing it with couch grass, that being an excellent fodder, whereas the stock will scarcely touch the matured mar ram. The wind prevents the establishment of the couch grass in the sandhills right away. It is also interesting to note that there is a 12 acre patch of lucerne abutting on Lake Albert which was cropped five times last year without irrigation. Poltal loch has a frontage of 14 miles to Lake Alexandrina, and about nine miles to Lake Albert and the channel. It is almost needless to say, therefore, that the Murray waters question is one of vital in terest to Mr. Bowman. Even though he enjoys the second best position on the lakes in regard to watering, he had a big fight with the salt water during the whole of last summer. For the first time in the history of the estate soakage wells had to be sunk and windmills erected to ensure a supply for the cattle, and even some of the wells became brackish. The salt killed reeds, gums, and willows on the fringe of the lakes, and one can observe with half an eye its mischievous results. Mr. Bow man is strongly in favour of the barrage scheme, and is prepared to pay a reason able rate for any work that will ensure the perpetual freshness of the water. Mr. Bowman has a great partiality for the Shorthorn cattle, and his herd con sists of 33 cows. It has been kept pure right, through tlie long history of Poltal loch, the descendants of the famous M7 cattle having been exclusively mated to pure-bred Angas bulls. Mr. Bowman is at present using Lord Waterloo 32nd and Bean Blanche 20th, both by imported sires, and belonging to prolific prize taking families. Breeding bulls of a splen did type are raised on Poltalloch, and the Shorthorns are noted beef-producers, in proof of which it may be stated that the first prize fat bullock at the Melbourne and Adelaide shows in 1900, which scaled 1,670 lb. dead weight, was bred at Poltal loch as was also the first prize fat bullock in Melbourne and Adelaide in 1902, which went 1,502 Ib. Mr. Bowman, made a new departure last year by adding the pick of the Lake Albert Estate Hereford stud cattle to his stock. When the Lake Albert Station was recently cut up, the manager (Mr. F. E. Hyde) prepared the following short history of the Hereford stud:— "Having a great leaning towards the Here fords, I took the opportunity in 1886 of se curing at the studs of the late Mr. Charles Price, of Hindmarsh Island, South Australia, 17 of the pick of the cows and heifers, together with the stud bull, Earl Tredeger, his sire Dale Tredeger (im ported), his dam Last Day I., by Sir James. Earl Tredeger was bred by Mr. F. Reynolds, of Taind, New South Wales, and cost me 110 guineas. The cows and heifers averag ed 15 guineas each, and were very cheap at the money, there being little competition. the Herefords at the time being a trifle out of fashion. The cows were sired by Mon arch and Benefactor, and the heifers by Hindmarsh and Earl Tredegcr, and their dams were all studbook stock, and at various

time since I have purchased at high figures, bred, and listed bulls of none but the purest strains of blood. Stockowners and breeders from all parts of the Australian colonies competent to pass an opinion that have seen the herd give me credit of having one of the finest herds of Herefords that could be found in all the states, and it is with feelings of the keenest sorrow and regret that through the disposal and cutting up of the estate I see this magnificent herd dis persed." Mr. Bowman secured 40 breed ing cows to which the above remarks refer, and also the bull Gladstone, by Figaro out of Dewdrop, an immense animal which took third prize at the Melbourne Royal Show. The owner is quite satisfied with the re sults of his venture so far. This year he sold 10 young Hereford bulls in Victoria at a satisfactory figure, and the prolific quali ties of the white faces were shown by the fact that from 40 cows, 37 calves were got. They looked a perfect picture in the pas tures at the time of the writer's visit. The carrying capacity of Poltalloch is well illus trated by the fact that this year 27,000 sheep were shorn, while 2,500 market lambs were disposed of before shearing. Mr. Bow man goes in for breeding comebacks, and produces large-framed sheep of good quality wool and always commanding excellent prices. Competent authorities have said that there is not a finer lot of crossbred ewes in South Australia than those which have helped to gain Poltalloch distinction as a mutton producer. This year a lambing of 98 per cent, was experienced.