Obituaries Australia

Charles Davis, n.d.

from Pastoral Review, 15 May 1926

Brief reference was made in last issue to the death of Mr. Charles Percy Davis, which occurred at his residence, 23 Lowndes-street, London, on 3rd April.

The late Mr. C. P. Davis was born on 17th November, 1841, and was a son of James Davis, of Woodside, South Gippsland, who represented that district in the first Legislative Assembly of Victoria, and was afterwards lost with his wife and four children in the wreck of the Royal Charter. He was educated at the Hutchins School, Hobart, and subsequently in England and on the Continent. On returning to Australia he for many years represented his uncles, the Messrs. Degraves, as general manager of their numerous pastoral properties in the different States.

In 1865 Mr. Davis purchased the Mount Camel property at Redcastle, near Heathcote, Vic., which he greatly improved and occupied, of late years in partnership with his son Ernest Degraves Davis. It was there that he founded the noted flock of superfine pure Merino sheep, the wool of which had an almost world-wide reputation. The property and flock were retained until 1921, when Mount Camel was compulsorily resumed by the Closer Settlement Board, and Mr. Davis decided to live in England. The passing away of this renowned clip, representing the finest and best qualities in pure Merino wool bred upon sound lines in both sexes, was an undoubted loss to Australia. That the loss can be compensated for by the amount of settlement made possible by the cutting up of the estate is open to question.

Mr. C. P. Davis is survived by his wife, a daughter of the late Andrew Russell, and two sons and one daughter.