SOUVENIR-CHARTERS TOWERS, 1872 TO JULY, 1950

Page 51

CATTLE INDUSTRY
IT is claimed that Charters Towers is
the centre of the largest cattle dis­trict in the State; it would perhaps sur­prise many people however, to know that the first stock ever brought into the district was sheep and not cattle­
In 1885, the Alling-ham brothers, John and Christopher. came from the Armi­dale district with some thousands of
sheep and eventually settled on a ridg-e near the Fletcher River now known as Euriba ww,here, under a primitive bush shed, they had their first shearing,
The Allinghams were allotted coun­try which afterwards became Hilgrove,
Other notable pioneers of the cattle industry were the "Woodburns,"	Mr­
and Mrs, Joseph Woodburn- Mr. Wood­Durn was orig'inally in partnership with a Mr, Deane as carriers as "Woodburn and Deane ;" these two men were the pioneers of the Burdekin Meatworks, Later on Mr. Woodburn acquired The Bluff and in 1910 placed his youngest son, Mr, George Woodburn, in control of the property and he is still managing The Bluff to-day.
Mr. and 'Mrs. Frank Anning of Reedy Springs.-In 1875, 'Mr. Frank Anning brought his bride from Melbourne to Reedy Spring-s, travelling from Towns­ville by wagonette and camping on the way, The sons of this grand pioneer, Frank, Harry, Richard, John and William, have all played their part in building- up the cattle industry in the district around Charters Towers.

Mr. and Mrs. Adam Black, Pajingo.­In 1901. Mr,' Adam Black bought into Pajingo with Mr. W- J. Paull, then of
Charters Towers, Pajingo is still run by Mr, Archie Black,
Other families of the cattle business who have played a part in the building up of this important industry were the late Mr. J. Bell and his wife, of Cardi­gan Station. Mr. and Mrs. W. Symes of Bletchington Park. Mr. Bill Symes con­trols Bletchington Park to-day. The Clark family of Mirtna and Mr, H. M, Clarke, Fanning River Station.
The Charters Towers cattle district comprises the area lying between the coastal and dividing- ranges and between the Clark and Belyando Rivers. The total number of cattle would he in the vicinity of 400,000 and if a verag'ed at £10 per head would g'ive a total value of £4,000,000.
The main cattle are Shorthorn-Devon with a sprinkling- of Herefords. Quite recently Zulu cattle have been intro­duced at Wandovale.
Under present conditions most of the cattle properties are fully or over­stocked, but if more dams and water conservation schemes were put into use, the carrying- capacity of the properties could 'be built up considerably. It would be safe to say that a 20 per cent increase in stock numbers could be brought about if many more dams were sunk and g-iven two or three good rain seasons to replenish water supplies.
The Government are encouraging
these water conservation schemes in­sofar as the cost of any such improve­ments to the property owners land are a direct deduction for Income Tax pur­poses. I am led to believe that private owners are taking- advantage of this al­lowance but not so much the companies who control certain lands.
It is felt that there should be more schools and junior farmer training col­leges in the north and western areas. The establishment of these schools would perhaps encourag-e the young-er men on the land to become more inter­ested in working the land and raising stock.
The Department of Agriculture and Stock are desirous of assisting graziers and stock owners to every possible ex­tent. They have the Animal Health Sta­tion at Oonoonba and quite a lot of people take advantag-e of this station. There is also a Hereford Stud at Nos­nillor,