One of the original foundation merino studs of Australia, Bundemar continues to have its eye clearly on the future
2019
The stud moved to Baldry in a property restructure with the purchase of ‘Emrose’, a 1,500ha (3,700ac) property at Baldry NSW.
2015
An additional 400 ewes were purchased from the One Oak stud dispersal, Jerilderie NSW.
2014
An additional 9,000 acres was purchased 30km north-west of Condobolin allowing for expansion of the stud and a 2,000 head commercial flock. Around one third of “The Gilgais” is flood and gilgai country with the balance being typical red farming country. It is operated in conjunction with the West Borambil property.
2008
The Bundemar Special Stud, Flock 11 was purchased by T.J. & K.E. Kirk and moved to ‘West Borambil’ on the Lachlan River at Condobolin, NSW. These were combined with 150 ewes from the dissolution of the Condomar Stud partnership, based on 491 stronger wool ewes from Bundemar Flock 11 and 12 purchased in 1992. The stud now being classed by owner/manager Tom Kirk.
1995
490 ewes were transferred to the Bundemar General Stud, Flock 12, from Dobikin Stud Flock No 2598, when it was discontinued. Flock 12 was later discontinued (sometime after 2000), leaving only 500 ewes in Flock 11.
1981
The stud was purchased by J.T. Vickery and family and moved to ‘Dobikin’, Bellata NSW. Gordon McMaster, Narrandera, NSW became the stud classer.
1978
The complete stud and a major portion of the Bundemar property were purchased by Alcoota Pty Ltd, which later changed its name to Bundemar Pastoral Co.
1973
Counting children, there were twenty-three shareholders in the Estate. Differences arose and the majority of shareholders voted to sell. The stud and portion of the original Bundemar property were acquired by Frank R. Wolstenholme.
1953
E.M. (Ted Jnr) Body took over the management from his father.
1921-1960’s
Flock 11 ranged in size from 2,250 – 3,200 ewes with never more than 700 rams sold. Stud rams sold on-property, not at big city glamour sales. Every ewe and progeny continued to be pedigreed. When Ted Body took over around 1916, the basic flock and mating structure was reorganised.
Flock 11 was broken into 3 tiers:
Doubles – the elites or specials (700 – 1000 ewes), 7 different families to avoid inbreeding, hand-served and hand-lambed.
Seconds – denser, heavier sheep, correctively mated to long stapled rams in batches of about 120 ewes.
Thirds – long stapled, plainer ewes, correctively mated to heavier denser rams.
Flock 12 ranged from 6,900 to just over 10,000 ewes. 1,300 – 2,600 flock-type rams were sold each year. This general stud was more simple, divided basically into Bun 1’s and Bun 2’s, heavies and plains respectively. They were correctively mated in large syndicate mobs. Out of the 4000 rams bred from Flock 12 each year, 15-20 would make the grade and remain as stud rams, the rest offered for sale as flock rams.
1922
The homestead portion of Buttabone Station, Warren (23,000 acres) was purchased as a place for Fred Body’s third son, M.M.I. Body to live, and was run in conjunction with Bundemar. Flock rams from Bundemar General Stud (Flock 12) were sent to Buttabone after weaning to grow out. They were given over 4 acres per head.
The same year the Estate bought Ardgour, Quirindi (8,000 acres) where the fourth son, D.I. Body was to live. Ardgour Bundemar Flock No.158 was founded on this purchase by the transfer of 750 ewes from Bundemar Flock No. 12 and 20 rams from Flock No. 11. More were transferred from time to time and numbers built to 3,000 odd breeders. Ram lamb weaners were sent to Buttabone.
1920’s on
The stud employed a number of classers for client’s flocks on a retainer/salary basis.
1918
Collinsville bought 40 ewes, 10 for 100 gns each.
1916
Ted Body took over the management of the stud after Fred Body had a nervous breakdown.
1915
Lord Charles sold on to Collinsville Stud. Yooronga (parent stud of Pooginook and Wonga) could trace Lord Charles in its purchases from Collinsville.
1914
Lord Charles (son of Sir Charles) sold to Lucernedale Stud for 2100 pounds
1912
Pennefather resigned after a falling out with F.I Body. His second son, E.I. Body (Ted) took over the classing.
1911
Sir Charles sold to Cocketgedong Stud for 1000 pounds
1908
Sir Charles born and began the main line-breeding family on Bundemar that continued to produce leading rams until well into the 1950’s.
1906
F.E. Body died, leaving 4 sons and a daughter. The stud was carried on by his executors, and later by a family partnership trading as Estate Late F.E. Body Bundemar. The eldest son, F.I. Body (Fred) took over the management.
H.C Pennefather took over the classing around this crucial time in the stud’s history and was the man who guided the mating which led to some major impact sires emerging from Flock 11. The most notable being the Charles family, descending from Monarch and named after Charles Mallinson.
1901/02
This drought saw the Bundemar property consolidated to 44,000 acres. F.E. Body lost half his stock and 100,000 pounds which he had in the bank whose hands he was now in.
1901
Bundemar Special Stud (Flock 11) was founded with the purchase of 1700 ewes and 27 rams from Wanganella Estate. Charles Mallinson, Bundemar’s first classer, chose this purchase and immediately re-classed them into an elite double-stud flock. Two rams of the 27 purchased bred particularly well – Monarch No.194 and Standard No.1703
Late 1890’s
Purchased a further large draft of rams from Wanganella Estate
Early/mid 1890’s
Purchased a further 200 or so rams from Wanganella
1893
Purchased 201 flock rams from Wanganella. This represents the real beginning of the Bundemar General Stud
1885
Purchased 200 flock rams from Boonoke
1883
F.E. Body purchased ‘Bundemar’ (150,000 acres) and its sheep from J. Penser near Trangie, NSW
Sources
The Australian Merino Charles Massey
Bundemar – The Making of a Stud E.M. (Ted) Body
Australian Stud Merino Flock Register