Arrawatta
https://www.theland.com.au/story/3949898/arrawatta-stations-dairy-roots/
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16627140
The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW: 1842 - 1954) Thu 20 Feb 1930 Page 9 ARRAWATTA.
ARRAWATTA. Signs of Decay. ONCE FAMOUS PROPERTY.
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
INVERELL.
Arrawatta, once famous as a show place of the Inverell district, Is a thing of the past. When Mr. Tow Bowling took the place over in 1908 he set about converting. It from a sheep walk into one of the most up todate dairying centres In the Commonwealth. He spared no expense in the erection of homesteads, silos, elaborate milking yards, feeding sheds, milking machines, the provision of water, and everything necessary for perfect dairying. Nine farms were laid out, and a central factory built and equipped for the manufacture of cheese. He got together one of the finest dairy herds in Australia.
The Arrawatta cheese was a well known and favourite brand. It could be scarcely anything else, turned out by highly skilled labour, with the most up to date machinery procurable. But the glory has departed; the machinery is silent; silos are crumbling to ruin; windmills have been blown down; roofs of sheds and bails torn off and not replaced.
No blame can be attributed to the spirited one time proprietor, whose energies now lindan outlet in the successful running of a stud of Corriedale sheep In the Glen Innes district. During his regime at Arrawatta employment for 50 or 60 people existed; a school had to be built for the rising generation, and £10,000a year was distributed by the cheese industry. Now that the place has reverted to a sheep area, only a handful of people occupy it. The change began when some eight years ago the Government took the place over on a five years' lease as a training farm for migrants. The herd was broken up and sold, and the cheese factory closed down. No repairs to buildings were carried out, burrs were not even cut. When they were In the way of the sheep being taken to the woolshed for shearing, the seed was threshed off with sticks! Sheep were crowded on to pay the rent and expenses were cut to the bone. The manager was not to blame. He did the best with the raw material; and his youthful migrants, after a few months on Arrawatta, were in much demand by neighbouring farmers in the district. As far as the property was concerned, one item to the credit of the Government was the planting of 300 acres of lucerne. This has done well, and might be taken as a setoff against the neglect to keeping fair repair the Improvements on the property. Since the Government's occupation, terminated by the Lang Administration, part of the place has been sold, the homestead to Mr. L. Dangar, of Yallaroi, the farms on the western side of the river to Mr. Belfield Bone, Dairy Vale farm to Mr. Col. Goldman. These places changed hands at less than half what the improvements cost. The remaining area three farms on the eastern side of the road, about 1000 acres In all is available to anyone who wants It, at 50 per cent, off the valuation placed on It 10 years ago by an expert valuator, representing one of the biggest financial institutions In the State. It may have been that Mr. Bowling was unduly optimistic during the Initial outlay that his great faith In the richness of the land and the ultimate result of his venture led him on to expend more money than was necessary. Despite the tragedy of Arrawatta, his belief in the wealth of Inverell land has been amply vindicated. This year Inverell butter has graded 98 per cent., and whilst many districts had wheat crop failures, the Inverell district, with yields as high as 20 bags to the acre grown without fertilisers, created a record for the Commonwealth.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/109568592/11152554#
ARRAWATTA DAIRY FARM AND CHEESE
FACTORY.
INVERELL. Friday.
About 70 gentlemen representing the town
and district, yesterday, at the invitation of
Mr. Thomas Bowling, paid a visit of in
spection to his Arawatta estate, which has
been divided into several dairy farms, and a
cheese factory erected.
The visitors were met at the cheese fac
tory by Mr. Bowling and Mr. Alexander
(manager), and after luncheon they were
shown over the property, inspecting the
cheese factory first, where the process of
cheese-making In its various stages was
watched with interest. Tho factory contains
three 800 -gallon vats, but owing to the dry
ness of the season only one Is being utilised.
Mr. Bowling hopes in the spring to vave
the three vats going, when the daily output
of choose will be about a ton.
Ayrshires, Shorthorns and Jerseys are
used on the estate, the herds being kept
distinct from each other. At present close
on 500 cows are being milked, but this num
ber will be considerably augmented in the
spring. About 2000 acres are under lucerne,
which should give an ample supply of feed
all the year round. Mr. Bowling has, how
ever, made provisions for droughty times,
in as much as he has 14 silos erected on the
estate with an average capacity of 120 tons.
A tour of inspection was made during the
afternoon to the various farms and pig
geries, etc., and a most instructive and in
teresting time was spent.
What strikes the visitor to Aarrawatta is
the absolute cleanliness which is apparent
everywhere, not only in the cheese factory,
where it is essential, but in the sheds,
yards, and even In the piggeries cleanliness
is the order of the day.
Afternoon tea was provided, and the vis
itors left for their respective homes much
Impressed with the result of their visit.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/109568592/11152554#
ARRAWATTA DAIRY FARM AND CHEESE
FACTORY.
INVERELL. Friday.
About 70 gentlemen representing the town
and district, yesterday, at the invitation of
Mr. Thomas Bowling, paid a visit of in
spection to his Arawatta estate, which has
been divided into several dairy farms, and a
cheese factory erected.
The visitors were met at the cheese fac
tory by Mr. Bowling and Mr. Alexander
(manager), and after luncheon they were
shown over the property, inspecting the
cheese factory first, where the process of
cheese-making In its various stages was
watched with interest. Tho factory contains
three 800 -gallon vats, but owing to the dry
ness of the season only one Is being utilised.
Mr. Bowling hopes in the spring to vave
the three vats going, when the daily output
of choose will be about a ton.
Ayrshires, Shorthorns and Jerseys are
used on the estate, the herds being kept
distinct from each other. At present close
on 500 cows are being milked, but this num
ber will be considerably augmented in the
spring. About 2000 acres are under lucerne,
which should give an ample supply of feed
all the year round. Mr. Bowling has, how
ever, made provisions for droughty times,
in as much as he has 14 silos erected on the
estate with an average capacity of 120 tons.
A tour of inspection was made during the
afternoon to the various farms and pig
geries, etc., and a most instructive and in
teresting time was spent.
What strikes the visitor to Aarrawatta is
the absolute cleanliness which is apparent
everywhere, not only in the cheese factory,
where it is essential, but in the sheds,
yards, and even In the piggeries cleanliness
is the order of the day.
Afternoon tea was provided, and the vis
itors left for their respective homes much
Impressed with the result of their visit.
