Obituaries Australia

John McLarty

Pastoral Review and Grazier's Record, February 1956

It is with great regret that we record the passing of yet another well known figure in pastoral affairs, Mr. John Douglas McLarty, who died at his home, Silver Pines, near Jerilderie, N.S.W., on 19th August last, after a long and painful illness. He was 54 years of age, and throughout his career as a successful breeder of Merino rams and Poll Shorthorn bulls had endeared himself to a very wide circle of friends.

The late Mr. McLarty was born at Melbourne in 1901. He attended The King's School, Parramatta, and Cranbrook, then gained pastoral experience on the New Zealand and Australian Land Co. Ltd.'s Walhollow Station, near Quirindi, N.S.W., before going as overseer to the same owners' Bundure Station, which his father, the late Mr. Donald S. McLarty, had managed for many years. He came to Silver Pines upon the latter's retirement in about 1925 and resided there until his death. His Silver Pines homestead was built by his mother and father in 1926 and is one of the beautiful pastoral homes of Riverina. Mr. Douglas McLarty was the eldest son of the family and in 1939 married Miss Stephanie Osborne, of Bolaro, Adaminaby, who survives him, together with their three daughters.

It is of interest that the Lone Pine stud of Poll Shorthorns, of which Douglas McLarty was so justifiably proud, is the original registered herd in the stud book. It was commenced by his mother in 1874 from a sport in their Shorthorn herd and eventually the polled descendants were graded up to the standards required for registration as a stud. Over the years a number of sires of top merit were purchased for the Lone Pine stud, with satisfactory results. This stud and the Merino ram breeding establishment remain in the name of his father and mother, D. S. and M. S. McLarty, but the late Mr. Douglas McLarty was responsible over the past quarter century for the high levels reached with these important studs, which are being carried on by his trustees.