Lot 2655

Description

Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, Royal Easter Show and 150th Anniversary Exhibition, 1938, in silver (63x63mm) (C.1938/15), by Stokes, Melb, reverse inscribed, 'Councillor/T.B. Macfarlane'. Nearly uncirculated.

T.B. Macfarlane of 'Cullingral' at Merriwa in the upper Hunter Valley of NSW alongside the Merriwa River. Cullingral was established in 1839 by Charles Blaxland, the son of explorer Gregory Blaxland who led the first successful crossing of the Blue Mountains by European settlers. In about the early 1930s it was acquired by T.B. Macfarlane who established a leading Corriedale sheep stud on the property. Mr Macfarlane was appointed a councillor of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW in 1934 and then a vice-president. He was also a vice-president of the Australasian (Lincoln Merino) Corriedale Society.^^Following the successful 1938 show, the RAS sent Councillor T.B.Macfarlane and Assistant Secretary A.V. Skidmore on a 15 week tour of North America to bring back ideas and secure new acts. The RAS as well as farmers had been severely affected by the Great Depression and in 1935 an American touring wild-west troupe was persuaded to perform and was a great success and performed in the following shows over the next few years. The horses for these shows were local horses acquired by Macfarlane and trained on his property at Merriwa for 6 weeks prior to each show. During Macfarlane and Skidmore's tour they searched for new entertainment, mainly equestrian, as well as promoting trade and tourism and publicised the activities of the RAS.^^In 1939 the Governor, Lord Wakehurst stayed with Mr and Mrs T.B. Macfarlane at their station home, 'Cullingral' at Merriwa. In 1942 T.B. Macfarlane of Merriwa was appointed Chief Ranger to co-ordinate the evacuation of cattle from the coastal areas of northern New South Wales in the event of a wartime invasion.^^One of the awards at the current RAS of NSW Sydney Royal Horse Show is The T B Macfarlane Perpetual Trophy, donated by the late T B Macfarlane, for the highest score in any session of the World Championship Campdraft Competition. The World Championship Campdraft is run in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of The Australian Bushmen's Campdraft & Rodeo Association Ltd.