M^JHAngas ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 387 the production of grass on these areas was satisfactory ; and although he experienced severe droughts and other drawbacks, Mr. Angas made his new acquisitions profitable. As the population pressed further afield, the Government resumed considerable tracts of land hitherto used for pastoral purposes, and surveyed them into blocks for agriculturists. Mr. Angas was consequently compelled to purchase a large area near Mount Remarkable to secure his holding ; and this he stocked with high-class merino sheep, moving the cattle to still more remote country. For the latter purpose several thousand square miles were leased from the Crown at Stuart's Creek and Mount Hamilton in the Far North. At a more recent date Mr. Angas purchased from Mr. C. B. Fisher the celebrated Hill River Estate lying a few miles north, east, and south-east of Clare. This runs for many miles along a beautiful valley following the course of the river, and is bounded on either side by a high range of hills. The coach road leading from the railway staticjn at Farrell's Flat to Clare runs through this property, and at considerable expense Mr. Angas has made it one of the most beautiful drives in Australia. Broad avenues of various kinds of ornamental trees have been planted on both sides of the road for a distance of about five miles, and these terminate in a pine clad range near the head station, two and a half miles from Clare. The slopes upon which the house and station buildings are situated are adorned with extensive shrubberies, orchards, orangeries, and vineyards ; and no more charming Australian home could be found. Here and there, scattered over about 60,000 acres of good soil, blocks of from five to 25 acres have been planted with forest trees. This and the Collingrove Estate are among the finest in Australia. The Hill River Station carries a large number of highly-bred merino sheep (including a stud flock, numbering about 5,000), and a herd of pedigree shorthorn cattle. Other properties are owned by Mr. Angas in the Roseworthy District, the home of his Hereford stock, and at Point Sturt, near the Murray Mouth, where the imported shorthorns are kept. In connection with his cattle-breeding operations, Mr. Angas established large dairies on the co-operative system, and had at one time as many as 500 milking cows, " the progeny of which, from imported and pure pedigree shorthorn cattle, were carefully reared and transferred to the northern runs, thus not only improving their breeding, but making the cattle remarkably quiet and docile." Some years ago his Mount Remarkable and other northern properties were merged into what was known as the Willowie Land and Pastoral Association. Mr. Angas recently became a large shareholder in this Conipany, and was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors. At the present time he is considered one of the foremost breeders of stud stock in the Australian colonies. The numbers and varieties of his high-class pedigree animals imported from the old country are too numerous to mention. Not only Shorthorn and Hereford cattle, but Clydesdale Thoroughbreds and Carriage horses, Merino and Lincoln sheep and Berkshire pigs (also dogs and poultry) have been successfully introduced by him and bred with excellent results. For upwards of a quarter of century he has been a very large and successful exhibitor of live stock at the Royal Shows in all the Australian colonies. The list of the prizes he has taken at these meetings would fill a volume. Mr. Angas has also engaged extensively in agriculture, at one time having several thousands of acres under crop. He has taken the leading champion prizes for wheat and other cereals at the Royal Shows in Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide, and was the first, after seven years' keen competition, to carry off the 50-guinea challenge cup, open to all Australia,
Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/413
This page needs to be proofread.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/History_of_Adelaide_and_vicinity.djvu/page413-1024px-History_of_Adelaide_and_vicinity.djvu.jpg)