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Egelabra Merino Stud
today runs 40,000 sheep and 3,000 cattle on 26,000 hectres of prime
grazing country near Warren, central New South Wales and annually produces over
7.5-8 kg of wool per head with an average 20.5 micron.
Over 2,000
rams are produced annually for sale and a further 100 remain with the
Stud continuing to ensure the unique genetic characteristics of the
Egelabra bloodline. Egelabra
can trace its history back to the birth of the wool industry in Australia:
| 1797 |
"The
Birth of the Wool Industry". Captain Henry Waterhouse imported
Spanish blood Merinos from the Cape of Good Hope. Distributing the
flock widely, he supplied Captain Macarthur, Rev Samuel Marsden,
Captain Kent and Captain Rowley and retained part of the flock for
himself. |
|
1800's |
Jon
Betts, the Rev Samuel Marsden's son-in-law, ran Marsden's flocks
on his properties at Molong. |
| 1839 |
John
Smith managed the properties for Jon Betts. Eventually he purchased
his own land and with the original sheep from the Betts/Marsden
flock, formed his own stud. He provided a sound-framed sheep with
fine, medium wool - a Non-Peppin - which included the genes from
six more Merinos he imported from England. He named his stud "Gamboola".
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EGELABRA
MERINOS are direct descendants of these early sheep
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| 1879 |
The
Kater Brothers, Edward and Henry founded the Mumblebone Stud, Warren
NSW with repeat purchases of Gamboola rams and ewes. |
| 1906 |
Henry
Kater founded his own stud and named it "Egelabra". |
| 1924 |
After
Henry Kater's death, his son Norman took over ownership of the Stud. |
| 1965 |
Sir
Norman Kater chaired the company until 1965, leaving it under the
control of his four sons; Henry, Dr (Mick) Norman, John and Sir
Gregory. |
| TODAY |
The
principal shareholders of HE Kater & Son Pastoral Co Pty are
Malcolm Kater (Chairman), son of John Kater, and Greg and David
Kater, sons of Sir Gregory Kater. |
Read
about Our Managers and Our
Classers
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