Obituaries Australia

Owen Lloyd-Jones, n.d.

from Pastoral Review and Graziers' Record, 16 June 1955

Beef cattle breeders throughout Australia, together with a large number of friends in other circles, were shocked to hear of the sudden death of Mr. David Owen Lloyd-Jones at his home, Hambledon, Tarcutta, N.S.W., on 8th May, at the age of 40. For many years he had been a prominent figure in stud Shorthorn breeding circles throughout the Commonwealth, and a couple of days after his death some of his stud female cattle brought high prices at the reducing sale held at Borambola Park, Wagga, in conjunction with Mr. D. Roy McCaughey's Coonong stud.

Mr. Lloyd-Jones was born at Sydney, and was a son of the late Edward Lloyd-Jones, who first established the Hambledon Shorthorn stud at Singleton, N.S.W., in 1915, and subsequently transferred it to Rothesay, Young, N.S.W., before moving it to its present site at Tarcutta. Mr. Edward Lloyd-Jones was a grandson of David Jones, founder of the widely known firm of that name, and was himself at one time chairman of directors of the business. He resigned that position to enter into stock breeding and as a breeder of stud Shorthorns won numerous prizes at the Sydney Royal and other leading shows, including the championship at Sydney in 1925 with Hambledon Grand Duke.

Owen Lloyd-Jones was educated at The Scots College, Sydney, and subsequently gained his early rural training at the Wagga Agricultural College and Experiment Station and as a jackeroo at Mungadal Station, Hay, N.S.W. He assumed control of the Hambledon stud when his father died in 1934, and subsequently became one of the most successful and best-liked exhibitors and judges of Shorthorns at leading shows in the eastern States. He took an active interest in the Shorthorn Society of Australia, and in 1944, shortly after completing four years active service with the military forces, was elected president of the New South Wales branch of the society. In 1948 he became Federal president and in that capacity showed himself to be a most capable executive, an effective debater, and a splendid leader of the younger section of Shorthorn breeders.

Some of the best known Shorthorn sires in the history of the breed in this country were at one time or another used in the Hambledon stud, and the influence of the late Owen Lloyd-Jones' skill as a studmaster will continue to be exerted for many years to come. Sires such as Naemoor Kingfisher (imp.), Coonong Archer (Melbourne Royal champion in 1934 and 1935), Collynie Diplomat (imp.), Scotson Call Boy (imp.), Balnain Sovereign (imp.), Chapelton Regent (imp.), Aldie Plash (imp.), Bolinda Commander (imp. in utero), and others, were all used in the Hambledon stud, and played an important part in achieving and maintaining the standard of the breed.

Although of a quiet, retiring nature the late Owen Lloyd-Jones was well known in many spheres, being a member of the Australian Club, the Riverina Club, the Australian Jockey Club, the Australasian Pioneers' Club, and the Tarcutta branch of the Returned Soldiers' League. In 1951 he married Miss Nancy Sawyer, of the well-known grazing family of that name, and is survived by his widow and one son, Anthony Edward. Mr. Charles Lloyd-Jones, of Wagga, is a brother, while another brother is Mr. Edward Lloyd-Jones, of Cootamundra.