Lot 3376

Description

Hunter River A(gricultural) & H(orticultural) Association, prize cup (1881), in silver (approx 17cm high), by Hardy Bros, Sydney, cup elaborately engraved as is base, one side inscribed, 'Hunter River/A & H/Association/West Maitland/Show/1881.', other side inscribed, 'Awarded/To/R.F.M.Eckford, Esq/for best/Buggy Horse/"Bracelet"/Harness & Buggy'. Good very fine.

This was the 21st Annual Show held by the association. It opened on Saturday 21 April 1881. The recipient of the above prize cup, Robert Francis Maitland Eckford, grazier, late of Randwick and Glenroy Station, Millie, near Moree died at Glenroy on 29 September 1907 at the age of 57. He left a substantial estate including two farms at Maitland that were rented out. He was a member of one of the original squatting families, his father having taken up Malaraway run in the 1850s and then purchased Millie run from Mr John King, the Glenroy Station forming part of that property. On the death of his father, Robert became owner of Millie and his brother John became owner of Malaraway. He took an active role in the Moree P. & A. Association and for a time was its President.