HUNTING HISTORY

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3553, 13 May 1939, Page 2

HUNTING HISTORY

VICTORIA'S OLDEST SPORT FOXHOUNDS TO KILL DINGOES Hunting is one of the oldest sports in Victoria. The father of hunting in that State was Mr George Watson. Soon after his arrival from England in 1852 he bought a few foxhounds from the settlers who had imported them chiefly for killing dingoes, which had been raiding their sheep (writes J. Donald in the Melbourne Sun). Mr Watson, who had the lure of hunting in his bones, lived in a cottage facing Little Bourke Street, immediately at the rear of where Kirk's Horse Bazaar stood. There he kept his hounds. Often lie would take them out to St. Kilda and Brighton to hunt kangaroos, dingoes, foxes and deer. His brother Robert, discovering that quarry was plentiful around Melbourne, sent out a pack of thoroughbred hounds picked from the kennels of the Dukes of Grafton and Beaufort.

Melbourne Club's Origin Interest in the hounds inspired sufficient enthusiasm for the formation, of the Melbourne Hunt Club in 1853, with George Watson as master. Kennels were built at East St. Kilda, and hunting took on with vim. Hunts were arranged frequently at sunrise round about Brighton, Cheltenham and Mordialloc. In the early GO's Ballarat Hunt Club was formed. A little later a club was formed at Geelong. Then followed Flemington Hounds, to be followed by the Oaklands, Findon Harriers, and Yarra Glen and Lilydale clubs. Towards the 80's it was difficult to get sport near the city, as the quarry was going farther out with the spread of Melbourne.

The Melbourne kennels were removed temporarily from East St. Kilda to near Caulfield racecourse, and later were shifted to Deer Park on the estate of the late Sir William Clarke. In 1898 the kennels were transferred from Deer Park to Oakleigh, and about 10 years ago they were established at Cranbourne. Beagles and Harriers Mr George Watson was associated also with the formation of the Oaklands Hunt Club at Oaklands Junction. He lent a pack of beagles for the early hunts, but later a draft of harriers from Sir Rupert Clarke's pack was procured. Mr Sandy McDougall was the club's first master.

The Findon Harriers were established by Sir Edward Miller and Mr Edward Woods, father of Mr W. Forster Woods, chairman of the Melbourne Stock Exchange, who imported a harrier pack from England. Kennels were built at Mill Park, South Morangi, the property of the Miller family. Recently Cenator McLachlan bought Mill Park as a sheep farm, and as hounds and sheep will not mix the Findon Harriers' Club is transferring its kennels to Woolert, in which country it hunts. The only other active hunt club now is Yarra Glen and Lilydale, and it operates in the districts from which it lakes its name. The Social Side Hunting has a social gathering these days. There were few women riders in the early days of the clubs, and they rode sidesaddle. Now many women follow the hounds. While their horsemanship is variable, they are great enthusiasts.

Some claim that those who follow hounds today are not so fearless as those of earlier days. Some go through gates instead of over the jumps, and stirring long gallops are much less numerous. But with the advent of the motor car fewer hunters are being bred, and the general quality offering is perhaps not up to the standard set earlier in the century.

Foxes are now rare in the hunting country because of lack of cover and general opening up of the land. The hare is the main sport, and some claim that be is just as cunning as a fox. Splendid rains have soaked the hunting country, and this year the season in Victoria will open on time. Hounds are now being prepared for the hunt. The jumps over the farmers' fences are being put in order. Last year dry conditions gave the season a late start and an early finish. The hard going affected hunter and hounds.