Samuel Burton RUDDUCK
Born 1873 in Dromana, Victoria, Australia [15]
Son of Nelson RUDDUCK and Jane Sophia CHAPMAN [15]
Arrived in Western Australia in 1900 and worked in Kalgoorlie and then in Perth [P17]
Married Alice Mary MORTON on 8 June 1903 in the Melbourne suburb of Saint Kilda [P363]
In 1905 he was living on Mends Street in South Perth [6]
Purchased approximately 14,000 acres of land in the Coorow-Waddy Forest district in 1906 [P17]
From 1906 to 1912 travelled to the farm each weekend, catching the train to Coorow and then back to Perth in time for work [P17]
Purchased the Pocamaya Estate Farm in Marchagee for £356 at auction on 25 November 1909 [39: 23-Oct-1909, 18-Nov-1909] [120: 4-Dec-1909]
The farm was 828 acres in size, 12 miles southeast of Coorow, and was purchased from the late Henry C. ARMSTRONG [39] [120]
The Pocamaya Estate was one of three "magnificent farming and grazing properties" owned by ARMSTRONG at Marchagee [39]
The 828 acres consisted of Conditional Purchase leases 15439/55 and 4162/56 (later Victoria Locations 3143 and 3188) [44]
Payment terms for the property were one-quarter cash and the remainder over five years at five percent interest [39]
The property contained rich dark chocolate soil timbered with salmon gum, gimlet, manna and york gum trees [39]
When he purchased the farm the trees on it had been ringbarked for nearly four years [39]
The whole farm was sheep and dog proof fenced and contained "a fine dam of 1,500 cubic yards" [39]
The farm was between Coorow and Marchagee and adjoined his Koobabbie Farm in Coorow [39]
Purchased land surrounding Ytinchie Spring and Pocanmaya Spring from the Benedictine Community of New Norcia in 1910 [68]
The land was the 40 acre Victoria Location 841 (Ytinichie Spring) and the 40 acre Victoria Location 928 (Pocanmaya Spring) [44]
In a shortened form the townsite of Maya, which was gazetted in 1913, was named after Pocanmaya Spring [184]
Wrote to the Upper Irwin Road Board in April 1910 inquiring about the clearing of road number 3605 in Coorow [9: 29-Apr-1910]
Again wrote to the Upper Irwin Road Board in July 1910 to request the clearing and improvement of roads in Coorow [9: 5-Aug-1910]
In October 1910 requested the closure of a road, the Board advising he advertise its closure in the Government Gazette [9: 4-Nov-1910]
Wrote to the Board in May 1911 requesting a new road be declared in Coorow, and outlining where it was required [9: 2-Jun-1911]
The Board responded that he had to obtain permission of owners for a road to pass through their property before they could act [9]
Foundation President of the Coorow Farmers Progress Association in 1911 [39: 4-Aug-1911]
In 1912, along with his wife and two children, took up full time residence on his property - which he named Koobabbie [P17]
Farmer of Koobabbie Farm in Waddy Forest / Coorow 1912-1948 [P17]
He grew 700 acres of crop in 1912, which made him the largest grain-grower in the Coorow and Latham districts [9: 28-Jun-1912]
In 1912 approximately 3,165 acres of crop was grown in Coorow and Latham and about 2,600 acres of new land was cleared [9]
His crop in 1912 was almost a quarter of that grown across the entire district with other acreages ranging from 12 to 400 acres [9]
His manager of Koobabbie invited tenders in 1913 for the carting of about 6,000 bags of wheat 13 miles to the railway [9: 21-Nov-1913]
In 1917 grew 1,100 acres of wheat crop on his farm - the largest acreage to be grown in the Coorow district that year [10: 19-Jun-1917]
His crops of Currawa wheat averaged 30 bushels per acre [9: 25-Jan-1918]
Advertised in The Midlands Advertiser in January 1918 that he had Currawa seed wheat for sale for 5/- per bushel [9: 25-Jan-1918]
The Midland Railway Company purchased 60 bags of his Currawa seed wheat for 5/- per bushel in 1918 [34]
His brother J. J. RUDDUCK served with the British Army in the First World War and died of wounds in France in 1918 [39: 22-Jun-1918]
In 1918 he imported 10 rams from the Mokata flock of the GEBHARDT family of Mount Bryan in South Australia [355: 19-Jan-1918]
During February 1918 he advertised in The Midlands Advertiser newspaper that he had Currawa seed wheat for sale [9: 15-Feb-1918]
He had a 5 foot 6 inch stripper, two 8-foot strippers and a Bagshaw Power winnower for sale in October 1918 [9: 4-Oct-1918]
He also owned a parcel of farmland in Marchagee which he sold to the Repatriation Department after the First World War [108: page 5]
The land was divided into two farms and allocated to two ex-servicemen under the Soldier Settlement Scheme [108: page 5]
As it turned out both ex-servicemen were "quite unsuitable on medical grounds and both suffered financial hardship" [108: page 5]
In 1921 he was growing a strip of Wimmera ryegrass between Gresley and Currawa wheat [120: 17-Nov-1921]
Sold 30 bales of wool in November 1921 - seven at 16¼d. per pound, ten at 16d. per pound, and 13 at 15½d. per pound [10: 11-Nov-1921]
On 19 September 1922 he was appointed honorary caretaker of all timber and vegetation on Jun Jun Road in Coorow [9: 29-Sep-1922]
Winner of the Coorow Farm Competition in 1922 with a crop of Nabawa wheat which yielded 36½ bushels per acre [10: 28-Feb-1924]
His wheat crop successes on his farm in Coorow were attributed to his use of 200 pounds of superphosphate per acre [10: 6-Mar-1924]
He also fostered the growth of trefoil, which enriched his land with nitrates and thus resulted in more pasture for livestock [10]
With more pasture he was able to run greater numbers of sheep whose droppings increased the presence of humus in the soil [10]
This was claimed to be of great assistance as soils in the Western Australian wheatbelt were deficient in humus [10]
His example showed other farmers the way, including BOTHE Bros of Coorow and Mrs Eveline VANZETTI of Marchagee [10]
Advertised in January 1923 that he had Pedigreed Wheat for Sale, namely Currawa, Gresley and Nabawah [9: 5-Jan-1923]
SR8 was his registered horse and cattle firebrand in 1924 [80: 28-Oct-1925]
Wrote a letter to the Carnamah District Road Board in August 1924 suggesting improvements to roads in Coorow [9: 28-Aug-1924]
He was granted permission to erect a telephone line along the boundary of the road from Waddy store to his farm in 1925 [9: 27-Nov-1925]
In 1925-26 and 1926-27 he owned a Ford car containing license plate CA-31 registered with the Carnamah District Road Board [325]
He appears to have sold his Ford and purchased a Buick car in 1927-28, which then also contained license plate CA-31 [325]
From 1926-27 also owned an Overland truck which was registered with the Carnamah District Road Board with plate CA-126 [325]
His property was reported to be "a remarkably well-laid-out and organised farming proposition" in 1926 [81: 24-Oct-1926]
In order to maintain the high standard of his sheep flock he imported stud rams regularly [225: 9-Jun-1928]
These were Bungaree stud rams from Richard M. HAWKER of Bungaree Station in Clare, South Australia [225: 9-Jun-1928]
The stud rams from Bungaree had big frames, good bones, and bulky, heavy cutting fleeces of strong wool [225: 9-Jun-1928]
He owned "one of the finest merino flocks in the whole of the Midlands, if not in the whole of our agricultural areas" [39: 26-Jun-1929]
He was one of three local men appointed to serve as Justices of the Peace for the Coorow district in 1929 [86: 13-Feb-1929]
Sold 50 bales of wool on 18 October 1929 - 6 at 12½d., 24 at 12¼d., 11 at 11¾d., 5 at 11d., and 4 at 10½d. per pound [4: 19-Oct-1929]
It was reported in November 1929 that particularly fine crops were to be seen on his Koobabbie Farm [120: 7-Nov-1929]
They were attributed to him being a firm believer in well cultivated fallow and heavy dressings of superphosphate" [120]
He received a Centenary Production Certificate of Merit for his average wool clip of 14/9 per head in 1929 [120: 21-Aug-1930]
The government's sheep expert Hugh McCALLUM "was most favourably impressed" with his farm and flock in 1930 [12: 21-Aug-1930]
McCALLUM gave "an interesting and instructive demonstration" to a gathering of farmers at Koobabbie on 29 July 1930 [39]
He had successfully introduced Wimmera ryegrass and had native clovers growing in abundance [39: 4-Aug-1930]
During July 1930 he imported three Southdown rams from G. A. WILCOX of Gawler, South Australia [39: 5-Aug-1930]
He imported a Clydesdale stallion from a prominent Victorian breeder in October 1930 [39: 4-Nov-1930]
In 1930 Koobabbie was noted, among other things, for the beautiful roses grown in its gardens [4: 23-Aug-1930]
Competitor in the Victoria District Agricultural Society's Top Dressing of Pasture Competition conducted in 1930 [4: 29-Nov-1930]
Sent consignments of fat lambs to Midland Market in July and August of 1931 [39: 27-Aug-1931] [120: 30-Jul-1931]
Some of the lambs were from the mating of Southdown and Dorset Horn rams with Border Leicester crossbred ewes [120]
His consignment of fat lambs on 26 August 1931 sold for 13/4 per head, which was the top price of the day for lambs [39]
Patron of the Coorow Tennis Club in 1931-32 [4: 19-Sep-1931]
Owned a Ford Runabout car registered with the Carnamah District Road Board with license plate CA-396 in 1932 [4: 12-Nov-1932]
Inaugural Patron of the Coorow-Waddy Forest District Agricultural Society 1932-1951 [4: 9-Apr-1932, 7-Apr-1951] [5: 20-Apr-1945]
In September 1932 the Minister for Agriculture remarked he had "established one of the show farms of the State" [5: 9-Sep-1932]
Exhibited and won prizes in five sections of first Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show on Thursday 8 September 1932 [5: 16-Sep-1932]
Won 1st prizes for Merino Fleece (strong wool) and Merino Fleece (medium wool) and 2nd for Border Leicester Cross Fleece [5]
In the Cattle and Horse sections won 1st prize for a Shorthorn Cow and 2nd prize for a Team of Two Farm Horses in Harness [5]
Won both 1st and 2nd prizes for "Three ewes suitable for breeding export lambs (in the wool)" in the Sheep section [5]
In the Sheep section also won 1st prizes for Merino Ram (strong wool) and Three Fat Lambs (in wool) [5]
Won 2nd prizes for Dorset Horn Ram and Three Fat Lambs Suitable for Export in the Sheep section [5]
Won 1st prize for the "Best Pair of Bird any other breed" in the Poultry section; also won 2nd for Locally Grown Lemons [5]
Treated at the Carnamah Private Hospital for a dislocated wrist from being thrown from his horse on 30 July 1933 [5: 7-Jul-1933]
In 1933 he was known "as a most methodical and enterprising farmer" [5: 28-Jul-1933]
He was described as "the master of the model farm" Koobabbie that was well known of throughout the North Midlands [120: 5-Oct-1933]
Purchased and imported six Aberdeen Angus heifers from the Eastern States of Australia in July 1933 [5: 28-Jul-1933]
The previous year he had purchased an Aberdeen Angus Bull and crossed it with beef strain Shorthorn cows [5]
He intended going in for the beef and fat lamb markets and was gradually phasing out her Merinos and introducing crossbreds [5]
Paid the Carnamah District Road Board 10/- on 7 August 1933 for four gate licenses allowing gates to go over roads [300: page 19]
Received seven 1st and seven 2nd prizes for exhibits entered in the Second Annual Agricultural Show held in Coorow in 1933 [5]
Won 1st for a Draught Mare/Gelding and 2nd prizes for Draught Stallion, Team of 2 Farm Horses and Team of 4 Farm Horses [5]
In the Cattle section received 1st prizes for Shorthorn Cow milking strain, Jersey Heifer and One Fat Beast [5]
Won 1st prizes for Border Leicester Ram, Crossbred Ewe with twin lambs and both 1st and 2nd for strong wool Merino Ewe [5]
Won 2nd prizes for Three Fat Crossbred Sheep, a Merino Fleece and for a Border Collie Sheep Dog or Bitch [5: 15-Sep-1933]
In October 1933 sold four bales of wool at 15¾d. per pound, 10 bales at 15¼d.,13 bales at 14¾ and 5 bales at 14½d. [5: 13-Oct-1933]
Paid a 10/- Vermin Bonus by the Carnamah District Road Board in November 1933 for helping to control vermin by killing a fox [300]
Patron in 1933 and Vice Patron 1935-1938 of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society [5: 26-Apr-1935, 22-Nov-1935, 22-Jan-1937] [13]
Gave seeds for Sturt Desert Peas to the Waddy Forest and Waddy Well State School and offered a prize for the first flower [5]
Joan MANNING and Anne GREENWOOD were the only ones who kept their plants alive, the latter being the winner [5: 25-May-1934]
Patron of the Coorow Football Club in 1934 and 1937 [5: 20-Apr-1934, 16-Apr-1937]
Successfully exhibited in four sections of the Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show held at Maley Park, Coorow on 30 August 1934 [5]
Received two 1st prizes in the Wool section for Border Leicester Merino Cross Fleece and for a Sheep Skin [5: 7-Sep-1934]
1st prizes for Draught Stallion and Brood Mare/Gelding and 2nd for Draught Brood Mare and Team of Two Farm Horses [5]
1st prize for 2½ year Merino Ewe and 2nd for Three Ewes for Breeding Export Lambs and a Border Collie Sheep Dog/Bitch [5]
He had a consignment of about fifty Border Leicester, Southdown and English Leicester ram taken to Coorow in 1934 [86]
The stud rams were purchased from M. D. BROCKMAN of Beechborough, Northam and W. G. BURGES of Tipperary, York [86]
Some of the ram were for himself and others were for several other farmers in the Coorow district [86: 2-Oct-1934]
In 1934-35 he was the owner of the registered six year old draught stallion by the name of Victoria Shamrock [5: 25-Jan-1935]
Sold 176 suckers through Westralian Farmers Ltd at the Midland Market on Wednesday 4 September 1935 [5: 6-Sep-1935]
Out of the 176 suckers sold 78 at 16/4 per head, 58 at 17/4 per head, 16 at 15/7 per head, and 24 at 15/1 per head [5]
Exhibited in the Wool and Horse section of the Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show held on Thursday 5 September 1935 [5: 13-Sep-1935]
Won 1st prizes for Border Leicester-Merino Cross Fleece, Brood Mare, and Yearling Draught; and 2nd for Draught Stallion [5]
Sold nine bales of wool at 13d. per pound and four bales at 12d. per pound at the Perth Wool Sale on 7 October 1935 [5: 11-Oct-1935]
Attended the entertainment for the Commonwealth Grants Commission at the Coorow Hotel on 21 November 1935 [5: 29-Nov-1935]
Sent a floral tribute for the grave of Miss "May" Mary L. LANG at the Winchester Cemetery on 26 November 1935 [5: 29-Nov-1935]
His nephew and niece Jack and Rene RUDDUCK of Melbourne visited him and his wife at Koobabbie in May 1936 [5: 29-May-1936]
Sold 370 suckers (200 at 21/10 and 170 at 20/7, a total of £363/5/10) at the Midland Market on 19 August 1936 [5: 21-Aug-1936]
Exhibited in the Sheep, Wool and Sheep Dog sections of the Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show in 1936 [5: 11-Sep-1936]
Came 2nd after his son for "three ewes first-cross long-wool suitable for breeding export lambs bred by exhibitor" [5]
and also received 2nd prizes for Border Leicester Merino Cross Fleece and for Kelpie Dog or Bitch [5]
Sold eight bales of wool through Westralian Farmers Ltd in 1936 - four bales at 15¾d. and 4 bales at 13½d. per pound [5: 16-Oct-1936]
In 1936 he had the only Aberdeen Angus cattle stud in the northern areas of Western Australia [86: 18-Jun-1936]
During a visit to the Eastern States he selected a high class Aberdeen Angus stud bull at Wangaratta in Victoria [39: 5-May-1937]
His bull from Wangaratta arrived on the steamship Katoomba in Fremantle on 4 May 1937 [39: 5-May-1937]
In 1940 he imported another Aberdeen Angus stud bull and was reported as "one of the State's largest breeders" [39: 14-May-1940]
He was also an early breeder and importer of Jersey cattle [81: 7-Jun-1936]
Wrote to the Carnamah District Road Board in December 1936 conditionally agreeing to the closure of a road [5: 24-Dec-1936]
He agreed to the closure of the road that cut the corner of Victoria Location 8671 and went through Victoria Location 8187 [5]
He agreed subject to a new road being made along the south of Location 8671 and continuing along the west of Location 8187 [5]
It was then to go east and north to connect to the road to Maya, and the old road to stay open until the new one was cleared [5]
Received 15 points of rain from stormy weather in Waddy Forest on Wednesday 17 March 1937 [5: 19-Feb-1937]
Purchased a new Buick sedan car through Arthur W. G. A. POTTS of Three Springs in March 1937 [5: 25-Mar-1937]
Sold 16 ewes at 27/10 per head through Westralian Farmers Ltd at the Midland Market on Wednesday 14 July 1937 [5: 16-Jul-1937]
Financial Member of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society 1937-1939 [13]
Wongan Hills Junior Farmers visited his Koobabbie Farm on 30 April 1938 to inspect his stud sheep and cattle [39: 5-May-1938]
In 1939 he sold a young Red Poll bull named Koobabbie Warrior to Mrs Janet M. JONES of Turipa Farm in Coorow [120: 16-Feb-1939]
Donated £5/5/- to the Coorow-Waddy Forest Districts Agricultural Society to assist them with their Annual Show in 1937 [150]
Exhibited in the Horse, Cattle, Sheep Dog and Grain & Fodder sections of the Society's Annual Show in 1937 [5: 10-Sep-1937]
Awarded 1st prizes for Draught Gelding, Yearling Draught Colt or Filly and 2-year Filly; and 2nd for Draught Stallion [5]
Won 1st for Best Beef Breed Bull and Green Wheat for Hay; and 2nd for Green Oats for Hay and Kelpie dog or bitch [5]
Sold 29 bales of wool through Westralian Farmers Ltd in September 1937 - 21 bales at 18d. and 8 at 15d. per pound [5: 17-Sep-1937]
He was the first in the Coorow district to sell a consignment of lambs for export, which was in July 1939 [39: 15-Jul-1939]
He supplied seeds of Algaroba trees every year to expert horticultural expert "Geum" of The Western Mail newspaper [120: 20-Feb-1941]
Patron of the Coorow-Waddy Forest Agricultural Society and Patriotic Funds Committee in 1945 [0: image 04320]
Donated £10 to the Wheat Fighting Fund set up by the Primary Producers Association in 1946 [5: 30-Aug-1946]
Won 2nd and 3rd for Dorset Horn Ewe over 1½ Years in the Stud Sheep section of the Coorow-Waddy Show in 1946 [5: 11-Oct-1946]
Inaugural Member of Coorow-Waddy Forest branch of the Farmers Union of Western Australia in 1946 [5: 20-Dec-1946]
Exhibited in the Sheep and Wool sections of the 10th annual Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show in Coorow in 1947 [5: 12-Sep-1947]
For Dorset Horn sheep bred by the exhibitor and under 1½ years, he won both 1st and 2nd for Ram and also 1st for Ewe [5]
In the Wool section he was awarded 1st prize for Two Crossbred Border Leicester - Merino Fleeces [5]
By 1948 he was registered as a Dorset Horn sheep breeder [120: 29-Jul-1948]
Successfully applied with the Carnamah District Road Board to subdivide his Victoria Location 3439 in 1948 [5: 25-Nov-1948]
Exhibited in the Stud Classes of the Sheep section at the Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show on 15 September 1948 [5: 23-Sep-1948]
Won 1st and 2nd for Dorset Horn Ram under 1½ and 1st for Champion Dorset Horn Ewe under 1½ (all bred by exhibitor) [5]
In late 1948 left Koobabbie and retired to South Perth [4: 5-Feb-1949]
Prior to his departure he and his wife were presented with a solid silver salver from the residents of the Coorow district [4: 5-Feb-1949]
Resided at 26 Ridge Street in South Perth 1949-1952 [P17]
In 1949 he donated £5/5/- to the Farmers Union of Western Australia's Appeal Fund [5: 1-Sep-1949]
His wife passed away at the age of 79 years on 29 June 1952 and was buried at the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth [2]
Father of Arnold and Muriel [P363]
Died 31 October 1952; cremated at the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth, Western Australia [2]
As he was Methodist, he was not buried with his wife in the Roman Catholic portion of the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth [P363]
His ashes scattered on Koobabbie Farm in Waddy Forest, with his son making a cairn to mark the spot [P363]
His estate was valued for probate at £37,460 which he had directed support his daughter and a number of charities [39: 1-Aug-1953]
He left his house in South Perth to his daughter Muriel as well as £600 per year from the earnings of his estate [39]
Other earnings went to children's homes of the Salvation Army and the Catholic, Methodist, Anglican and Presbyterian churches [39]
After his daughter's death seven charities were to receive money and what remained was then to be split into three parts [39]
The parts went to children's homes of the Salvation Army and Methodist Church and for the social work of the Salvation Army [39]
In late 1952 the Coorow-Waddy branch of the Farmers Union stood in a minute's silence as a tribute to his memory [4: 6-Dec-1952]
From The Sunday Times newspaper, Sunday 24 October 1926:
With the Wheat Growers - A Trip Through Carnamah & Three Springs
Waddy Forest and the Inering Estate Visited - By O.P.F. - S. B. Rudduck's Model Farm
"A detour from Waddy was made in order to permit a visit to Mr. S. B. Rudduck's property further south between Coorow and Marchagee, which at once appealed to the visitors as a remarkably well-laid-out and organised farming proposition. The spacious farm buildings and the comfortable looking homestead, surrounded by flower beds and shrubs presented a picture of absolute neatness and giving evidence of careful attention and method in all respects. The somewhat dreary aspect of some large farms with their extensive paddocks stretching as far as the eye can see, is not to be found on Mr. Rudduck's property. The main blocks of these 18,000 acres are marked out in division by a chain break of forest in its natural state and this retention of trees and under growth is a strikingly pleasant feature of the landscape, though possibly serving the owner in a more practical sense by reason of its use as a breakwind and utilisation as shade for stock and in other ways. The land was taken up in 1906, but it was a few years later before active farming operations were in hand on a telling scale. Mr. Rudduck for some years has been an invalid, but, in spite of his sore affliction, he has, with aid of his wife and family, continued to carry out his ideas with conspicuous success. He cheerily greeted his unexpected visitors, who were shown one or two of the nearest paddocks by his son. A heavy crop of Burt's Early oats was being cut, and, was expected to yield three tons of hay to the acre, while, a magnificent field of Yandilla King was anticipated to go as high as 40 bushels. Nabawah is also grown freely on his land, of which this season there are 1339 acres under crop. Mr. Rudduck favours the crossbred lamb trade, and has some fine sheep in his fields, while his young draught horses near the homestead attracted favourable comments from the inspection party during its hurried survey of this model farm."
From The Western Mail newspaper, Friday 20 December 1928:
Country Towns and Districts - Carnamah-Coorow - Rapid Development
"Mr S. B. Rudduck has 1,800 of his 10,030 acres under crop. The property is mostly heavy soil, but there is some rough country. His sowing policy is 100 lb. of super for grass and 200 lb. through the drill for crops. The property carries 4,000 sheep and cattle; Koonoona merinos have been crossed with Border Leicester rams for the needs of the fat lamb trade. Mr Rudduck grows Wimmera rye grass as fodder, and top dresses pastures heavily with super. The farm is exceptionally well equipped, electric light being supplied to the homestead and farm buildings. There is also an unusually large permanent dam."
From The West Australian newspaper, Tuesday 4 November 1952:
Deaths
"RUDDUCK: On Oct., 31, at his home, 26 Ridge Street, South Perth, formerly of Koobabbie, Coorow, Samuel Burton, husband of the late Alice, loved father of Arnold and Muriel (Mrs Roberts). Privately cremated at Karrakatta on Nov. 3."
From The West Australian newspaper, 4 November 1952:
Versatile Pioneer Who Confounded Doctors
"A man who directed extensive farming operations from a bed on the verandah of his homestead for 17 years after he had been told that his end was only a few months away, died at his South Perth home on Friday night. He was Mr Samuel Burton Rudduck, former business man and one of the State's most enterprising and versatile producers. In spite of a catastrophic period of ill-health he expressed a desire to live and serve until he was 80. That wish was almost granted, for his life ended when he was 79 years and 4 months old. Young Rudduck was trained as a business man in Victoria and came to Western Australia in 1900 to open showrooms in Kalgoorlie for D. & W. Murray Ltd. 18 months later he was transferred to the company’s Perth warehouse as manager. Feeling the lure of the land in 1906 he selected before survey a block of 10,000 acres at Waddy Forest, and two blocks totalling nearly 4,000 at the south-east corner.
Death Sentence
For 6 years he travelled by train to Coorow each weekend, walked or drove 14 miles through the wilderness and salt lake beds to the embryo farm, and returned the same way to resume work at the warehouse on Monday morning. In 1912 with his wife, a son and a daughter, he took up residence in a tent, pending the development of the property that was later to become famous under the name of Koobabbie. Two years later, after an epic programme of improvements on the property, and at the age of 41, he collapsed in one of his paddocks following an attack of rheumatic fever. Medical diagnosis, confirmed during a trip to a Melbourne specialist, was tuberculosis complicated by heart trouble – and six months to live. 'You must remain quietly in Melbourne, for you will not survive the sea journey to Western Australia,' he was told.
Took the Risk
His wish to return to his family and his farming interests was so overpowering, however, that he took the risk, and an exhausted but unconquered man came back to the homestead. For 17 years from a bed on the verandah Samuel Rudduck, with death poised above his head, directed farming operations spread over 14,000 acres of land. The paddocks were out of bounds to him, but his alert mind visualised everything that was going on. Gradually after careful nursing and strict adherence to medical advice the tuberculosis was conquered at the sacrifice of more than half his lungs. With the help of his wife, a capable manageress, the clearing of the property was completed and production gained momentum.
In the first year after his collapse, a double area was planted with wheat in an attempt to recover from the effects of the total drought of the previous year. In succeeding years some 1,100 acres was planted annually with wheat in a four year rotations in which oats and self-sown burr clover had its ley farming place.
New Methods
Koobabbie then proceeded to raise 1,100 to 1,200 fat lambs annually for the local export markets by methods which, even with our present knowledge, do not need changing. The master of Koobabbie had pioneered these methods for W.A. An excellent Merino stud was established in order to breed the ewes to be mated to long-wool British breeds so that the crossbred mothers for the fat lambs were available. Then came a stud of Red Polls. With foresight of the possibility of raising 'baby beef' in the North Midlands by the use of Aberdeen Angus bulls Samuel Rudduck established a stud of that breed. He was no longer confined to the verandah of his homestead and could ride slowly around his paddocks, and the care of his stud cattle and their crosses for baby beef became his chief interest until he retired three years ago. If Samuel Rudduck proved himself an agriculturist, he also proved himself a humanitarian. Not only did he give advice where it was needed, but financial aid where it was wanted. After World War I he gave two partly improved blocks at the south-east corner of his property, totalling some 4,000 acres, to two returned servicemen. By a strange act of fate he outlived his wife, who died only four months ago, and it was by his own expressed wish that he was privately cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery yesterday."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Samuel Burton Rudduck' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 15 November 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/samuel-burton-rudduck [reference list] |
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