BEFORE coming into the hands of the Lindsay-Field family nearly a century ago, "Warbreccan" at Deniliquin (see story, above) boasted some no less distinguished owners.
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First taken up in the 1840s by John Phillips and John Graves, it was bought in 1863 by P.A. Jennings (later Sir Patrick, a Premier of NSW) in partnership with Martin Shanahan.
They held it until 1882, when the station was bought for 150,000 pounds ($300,000) by William McCulloch MLC, Colac (Vic).
It was McCulloch who switched the production focus from Merino to crossbred sheep, breeding 12,000 lambs a year for the fledgling frozen export trade from Merino/Lincoln ewes joined to Shropshire rams.
Following his death in 1909 "Warbreccan" remained in his family's hands until sold in 1918 to H.A. Lindsay-Field (initially in partnership with L.K.S. McKinnon) together with 25,000 crossbred sheep.
Recognising the potential of the rich floodplain country for more intensive farming, Lindsay-Field proceeded to subdivide and sell off about two-thirds of the property over the next few years.
By 1926 the Launceston Examiner, from Lindsay-Field's home State, was rhapsodising that the 25 wheat farmers then settled on former blocks of "Warbreccan" were on track to harvest 50,000 bags of wheat from the 11,400 acres (4600ha) under cultivation.
On his remaining country, Lindsay-Field grew irrigated pastures and established a Merino stud, also breeding prime lambs and running stud and commercial Hereford cattle.