Obituaries Australia

The death occurred last month of Mr. Frederick Charles Rowlands, of Werribee, Waugoola, N.S.W., one of the best-known Romney Marsh studmasters in Australia and the owner also of a stud of Aberdeen Angus cattle.

Mr. Rowlands was born at the family home, Rockville, Mandurama, N.S.W., in 1870, and was associated with pastoral and farming pursuits during the whole of his lifetime. He established Werribee 57 years ago, and gradually increased the area and productivity of the property until it became one of the show places of New South Wales.

The late Mr. Rowlands was the somewhat rare combination of a successful stockman and agriculturist. He kept abreast of the latest developments in both fields, and in addition to winning many trophies at the leading livestock shows, including Sydney Sheep Show, he also won many farming competitions, including the Western District wheat growing championship seven times. Prior to the introduction of tractors Mr. Rowlands won the Intercolonial ploughing match—virtually the Australian championship. Indeed, it was while he was competing in a ploughing contest at Werribee (Vic.) that he decided to give that name to his property.

Despite the close attention he gave to his property Mr. Rowlands took an active and useful interest in public affairs. He was one of the oldest members of the Cowra Show Society, and was for more than 20 years a member of the Waugoola Shire Council, of which he was president for nine years. For a period he was also chairman of the Cowra branch of the Graziers' Association of New South Wales, as well as acting as president of the Woodstock branch of the Farmers' and Settlers' Association.

The late Mr. Rowlands originated the scheme to provide a domestic water supply to many towns in the central west of New South Wales, and in recognition of his efforts in that direction the main reservoir on Coombing Creek, near Carcoar, was named Lake Rowlands.

Mr. Rowlands is survived by his widow, two sons, Jack and Hugh, and a daughter, Mrs. Frank Whitney, of Waugoola, Woodstock.