The DAIRY
The Queenslander Thursday April 9th 1931
GOOMERI An Important District.
THE history of Goomeri, which is situated between the townships of Kilkivan and Murgon, is closely linked with the earliest days of settlement in the Burnett, dating as far back as the late '40s of the last century, the story of which appeared in ' The Queenslander” recently. The whole of the closer settlement of this important district sprang from Boonara Station in 1911, the year of the birth of the Goomeri township.
On March 6, 1911, Messrs Isles, Love and Co., acting as agents for the Goomeri Land Co., offered 236 town allotments by public auction. Seventy five percent of the allotments and the selections of the 30,000 acres of Boonara freehold were sold the same day, and the whole of the remainder was disposed of shortly afterwards. In the 20 years the little community has developed into one of the leading townships on the Lower Burnett Railway. A very fine town of up-to-date business premises, public buildings, and comfortable dwellings indicates a prosperous and modern community, with a refreshing confidence in the future of their district. The town and surrounding district now have a population of over 2000 persons. The leading Goomeri business men to-day include Messrs T. H. Spencer, Higgins, and Bourne, Q. Ernest Jones, A. C. Wembley. W. McIvor, V. Ellen, F. A. Mitchell and W. Lingard. The remarkable richness and fertility of the black soil country attracted to the Goomeri district some of the pick of Australia's farmers, and one has only to have a glance at the farms, and the farming methods adopted, to realise at once that they are men of wide experience a factor that has meant much to the development of the district.
Suited to Lucerne
ALTHOUGH the Goomeri area produces a variety of crops it has become renowned in this State for its lucerne. Indeed, lucerne growing is now the chief industry of the district. The rich alluvial black soil flats, combined with excellent weather conditions, are eminently suited to the growing of this valuable stock fodder. Lucerne hay produced in the Goomeri district, it is said, is equal in quality to any produced in the Commonwealth. In the northern markets, where more than 90 per cent of the district's lucerne is consumed "Goomeri Lucerne" signifies the highest quality lucerne that can be obtained. The little that does reach the Brisbane markets is much sought after. Those producers who also conduct dairy herds find their lucerne of inestimable value in dry times; it enables the constant production of good cream throughout the year.
Dairying and Grazing
The Goomeri District is destined one day to become one of the foremost butter-producing areas in the State, because of its wonderful lucerne growing qualities, the sweetness of the natural grasses, and the suitability of the climate. The Goomeri district is noted for its fattening qualities. Many farmers who have been in the district close on 20 years are building up very fine dairy herds, and a considerable quantity of cream is despatched daily to surrounding butter factories. The dairying industry's greatest asset is the district's ability to grow such splendid lucerne, and here it has an advantage over most other dairying centres. Cattle grazing is carried on with considerable success in the district, on areas ranging between 5000 and 8000 acres. Every week large numbers of fats are exported. Herefords are widely favoured, principally because of their hardiness and ability to stand up to the rigours of the extreme cold that is experienced in the lowlands during the winter months. Last year more than 7200 head of cattle were trucked from the Goomeri railway station.
The Timber Industry.
GOOMERI has at its back door large timber resources in the Manumbar, Coothing, and Scrub Paddock areas. The estimated quantity of bunya and hoop pine in the district is 100,000,000 super feet, in addition to hardwoods. Mr T. H. Spencer is prominently associated with the timber business, and has a milling concern at Elgin Vale, while the Brisbane firm of Brett and Co. are operating on the outskirts of the town. Despite the vast timber wealth, the industry is depressed at present, due to the slackening off in the building trade, but chiefly, according to local statements, to the State Government's high royalties and the importation of foreign timber. These factors, after allowing for the heavy cost of haulage to the railway, and freight, make it almost a matter of sheer impossibility to carry on at a profit. In the timber industry as well as in many other industrial undertakings, taxation is having a crippling effect. It was stated to "The Queenslander" representative that Queensland royalties are 60 per cent higher than in New South Wales, and that up to 12/ is being paid for 100 super feet of timber, as far as 33 miles from the railway station, in the Goomeri district.
Successful Settlers.
Mr J. M. M'ROBB is one of the most successful settlers in the district. He came from Mackay in 1914 and took up a 280-acre block on country adjacent to Nangur Creek. Mr M’Robb goes in principally for lucerne grow- ing and has under cultivation 70 acres of the crop; he is reputed to be the largest grower of lucerne in the district, Mr M'Robb has seen much of Australia's farming country, as well as that in the United States and Canada, and it to his firm belief that the Goomeri district cannot be out-rivalled for lucerne culture. Like a number of others in the district Mr M'Robb to an advocate of building up his lucerne beds in such a way as to allow for rapid drainage; he has drains running through his lucerne plots at intervals of a chain, and he is never troubled with excessive rain, unless flood waters cover the whole plot. This enterprising settler also maintains a splendid A.I.S. and Jersey milking herd, which yield him good results. The farm is well developed in every way, and a charming little homestead is situated on the brow of a hill, whence one can view the sweeping farmlands and the lucerne and maize crops on the river flats below.
Fairview Farm.
One of the best-bred dairy herds in the district is owned by Mr W. Pearce, of Fairview Farm, adjoining Mr M'Robb's property. Mr Pearce has favoured the A.I.S. stock and has achieved outstanding results. From 20 cows in June 1829 to July 1930, he averaged £15 per cow. Of course, these are well-bred animals and are kept in wonderful condition throughout the whole year. Mr Pearce believes that a good summer dairy stock ration is lucerne hay, green lucerne, and green maize. For the winter months, he advocates a ration of barley, wheat, and oats. Mr Pearce remarked that it was absolutely necessary to feedstock on the very best ration if good results are expected; he also believes in the quiet handling of dairy stock for better results. As an instance of this none of his cows requires bailing or leg-roping. Mr Pearce comes from Kenilworth and considers that there is no better dairying country than this, because of the sweetness of its natural grasses and fattening qualities. The foundation of the herd, which now numbers 29, came from the Dixon Cooke-Victor bloods, later strengthened with the Togo-Greyleigh blood. The sire from which he is at present breeding is Rufus of Wenora, bred by Mr Johnson, of Wooroolin.
Other Successful Men.
ANOTHER successful and prominent settler of the district is Mr J. E. Stanton who is a director of the Murgon Butter Factory, and up to last year was chairman of the Kilkivan Shire Council, with which he had been associated for the last 18 years. For many years Mr Stanton, who has a fine, well-developed farm of about 200 acres, has taken a leading part in the district's development and welfare; he also is a big grower of lucerne, having about 50 acres under cultivation. Mr Stanton has pinned his faith in the district, and as he is a man with considerable farming experience in Australia, his opinion counts for a good deal. Mr H. Barsby is an enterprising dairyman of the district with a milking herd of about 55 cows. He has a splendid property of 640 acres and feeds his stock principally on lucerne, which he has found to be a wonderful standby in dry times. One of the leading settlers of the district is Mr W. F. Bandidt. In addition to big lucerne growing and dairying activities on his two highly developed farming properties, he also is engaged in farming pursuits. Mr Bandidt is a councillor on the Kilkivan Shire Council, which has jurisdiction over the Goomeri district; he came from the Lockyer district 20 years ago, and has done remarkably well; his success speaks highly of the wealth that can be wrested from the Goomeri country.
Booinbah Soldier Settlement.
AN important little subsidiary area in this district is the Booinbah Soldier Settlement, where the following farmers have established themselves with commendable success:—Messrs E. S. Colter. Fred. W. McIntosh, L. Tels, B. Teitsel, A. King, F. Anderson, W. Eustace. S. Belmere, and J. McCauley. Mr Cotter has a very fine property of about 500 acres, on which he has large cultivation of lucerne, also maintaining a dairy herd. Mr M’lntosh is an old hand in the district; he also is engaged in lucerne growing and dairying and has built for his wife and family a particularly fine home on a fine property. The Booinbah Soldier Settlement country has been settled in the last 10 years only; it is a Government sanctuary for wild birdlife, and a large swamp in the district is covered with wild game, immune from the guns of sportsmen. The area is exceptionally good fattening country, and also is admirably suited to lucerne growing. Other successful settlers of the Goomeri district include Messrs A. Braddley (well-known breeder of A.I.S. stock), G. T. Maudsley, Euler family, Irwin, B. Fester, Briet, Kreitz. Councillor Heathwood, Messrs O’Mara Bros. J. Balllie, Weische, Keune, Gurskie, Owen Bros.. A. J. McIntosh, E. Watson, and E. Wright. Energetic Townsmen Mr T M Wise has been very closely associated with the welfare of the town and district, particularly the town. Up to a few years ago, he was a leading Goomeri businessman, and after his retirement from active business, he gave untiring energy to the welfare of the district, of which he is so proud. Mr Wise has done much good work for the district in the capacity of honorary secretary to the Chamber of Commerce. Another public-spirited man is Mr T. H. Spencer (president of the Chamber of Commerce), who has been prominently connected with the public life of the town and district. The name of Mr G. Ernest Jones, a well-known commission agent, was familiar in the district long before closer settlement took place. He is a descendant of one of the original owners of Boonara station —Mr G. H. Jones—and a grandson of the late Mr David Jones, of Sydney, who founded the well-known commercial firm of that city. Mr O. E. Jones at one time managed the Kilkivan estate when the pastoral industry in the Burnett was in its heyday, and in his time he also has been in charge of several other well-known pastoral properties of the Burnett.
