Obituaries Australia

Holford Wettenhall, n.d.

from Pastoral Review, 16 November 1920

The death of Mr. Holford H. Wettenhall removes a very old identity in the Victorian sheep-breeding world. He started as overseer at Carr's Plains, near Stawell, Vic., in 1861, and after 18 months the then owners, Messrs. Dennis Bros., made him manager. He held that position for a number of years until he first leased and ultimately bought a certain portion of the property, which is still in the hands of the family. Mr. Wettenhall was one of the first of modern breeders to definitely fix a crossbred type of sheep. With the object of improving his stock, he some 30 years ago used Lincoln rams on his Merino stud ewes, and by judicious selection and careful inbreeding succeeded in fixing the type without the introduction of any fresh blood. This evolved breed he named the Ideal, and it has come to be favourably known as a general utility sheep all over Australia. In 1890 Mr. Wettenhall bought Glen Holford, a property at the foot of the Grampians, where he started an orchard, and in time made his home. As years went on he left more and more of the station management to his sons, Mr. Herbert H. Wettenhall taking over the sheep. He was 80 when he died the end of last month, the immediate cause of death being collapse after an operation.