Lot 1909

Description

Agricultural Society, Life Member badge in silver (32mm with suspension ring x 23mm), in centre is monogram 'AS', reverse, engraved 'J.Nowlan / Maitland / N.S.W.' Worn on reverse, otherwise good very fine and rare.

This is an early badge c1860-1870s of the Agricultural Society of New South Wales to a significant person in the history of the Society. In about 1867 there was a strong move for reform from within the Agricultural Society to overcome its many failings. The impetus for this reform came from longstanding members of the Society, of particular importance was J.R. Nowlan, a leading settler from the Hunter River and G.H. Cox from an important pioneering family in the Mudgee area. These men were enlightened farmers and graziers who believed in the need for a central society to raise standards thoughout the New South Wales colony. It was decided that the Society had to be at a hub for transport and hence in 1868 moves were afoot to transfer the Society from Parramatta to Sydney. Two important items were reported on the subject in the leading Sydney newspaper, the Sydney Morning Herald. Firstly, a speech of J.R. Nowlan at a Show Luncheon, reported on 27 May 1867 and secondly, a paper by J.R. Nowlan titled ’The Agricultural Society of N.S.W. - Its Establishment in the Metropolis, Present Position and Future Prospects’, reported on 3 May 1868. In The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser, 10 April 1873, is a report of the Thirteenth Annual Show of the Hunter River Agricultural and Horticultural Association. It states that in the Durhama cattle class the chief object of interest was Mr John Nowlan’s bull ’General’, two years old. Mr Nowlan’s beast was declared winner and Nowlan was also equally successful in other classes of cattle. Mr Nowlan was also invloved in a legal action regarding the use of Campbell’s Track for moving his stock and which the owner of the property through which the track passed sued him and another grazier for trespass. The details of the case are reported in The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser, 7 March 1891.