THERE'S been six generations of Suttors to farm "Brucedale" in the Central Tablelands of Bathurst in NSW and the current custodian, David, puts that down to the second generation building up a huge area of land under the family's control (which could be sold off and split up for subsequent generations) and also a solid chunk of good luck.
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During it's heyday, the Suttor family with William Henry (1805-1877) at the helm controlled about 242,812 hectares (600,000 acres) of land which included "Brucedale". Now "Brucedale" is 1100ha.
David Suttor said during William Henry's tenure it was the time of the Squattocracy where settlers daring to make their life on the other side of the sandstone curtain were able to control vast tracks of land to graze cattle and sheep.
The Suttor's association with the Bathurst district started in 1822 when George Suttor (1774-1859) established Brucedale Station, a 130ha block on the junction of the Winburndale and Clear Creek.
"It would have been a pretty tough life out here then," David reflected.
"Farming is tough enough now, but they were starting from scratch and had to deal with the aborigines who resented settlers on their lands."
David said during his father's time on "Brucedale" they only ran cattle as his father "didn't like sheep".
Since then David has brought the sheep back by running Dohnes.
"The country is suited to the sheep so it makes sense," David said.
"At the same time you have to do what is profitable and right now there's a decent return running the sheep as well as cattle."
2014 is the International Year of Family Farming. Don’t miss The Land’s 40-page special feature in this week’s edition that share stories of farming families across Australia.
Karen Bailey
The Land's markets editor.
The Land's markets editor.
