Dabee
Rylstone was born in 1842 to service the great pastoral empires already well established in
the surrounding area. Almost 150 years later it has retained its rural flavour and displays a
tangibile sense of history, Sandstone buildings still grace most streets and on the local
properties much remains to remind us of the pioneers.
Dabee, just ten kilometres from the township, is possibly the most celebrated rural holding. For six generations it has remained in the hands of the Fitzgerald Evans family and has become renowned for the production of fine wool merinos.
Richard Fitzgerald forged his own way from Bathurst into Dabee via Mount Fitzgerald, now named in his honour. His well-tutored eye surveyed the almost treeless but amply watered plains and, in the fashion of the aristocracy of the period, he claimed an initial selection of 1000 acres (405 hectares). Fitzgerald named the area Daby from the local aboriginal name. This title, sometimes spelt 'Davey', was changed to Dabee farm and finally, in 1870, to Dabee.
The exact date of this selection is uncertain but is generally believed to be as early as 1819. Deeds for the property are dated 1820 and refer to land already in the possession of the Fitzgerald family. Dabee of the early days incorporated the 1000 acre grant to Richard Fitzgerald, a further 1000 acre grant to his second son Robert and 2000 acres which were initially selected for Mrs Macquarie by Fitzgerald and purchased by him after Governor and Mrs Macquarie left the colony in 1821.
The property passed from Richard Fitzgerald to his son Robert and in turn to Robert Marsden Fitzgerald, the only son of the following generation. Robert Marsden did not marry, and after his death the property passed to his five sisters. Later it was purchased by his younger sister Emily, who had married George Evans. It later passed to three succeeding generations of the Evans family.
Fernside
Dabee, just ten kilometres from the township, is possibly the most celebrated rural holding. For six generations it has remained in the hands of the Fitzgerald Evans family and has become renowned for the production of fine wool merinos.
Richard Fitzgerald forged his own way from Bathurst into Dabee via Mount Fitzgerald, now named in his honour. His well-tutored eye surveyed the almost treeless but amply watered plains and, in the fashion of the aristocracy of the period, he claimed an initial selection of 1000 acres (405 hectares). Fitzgerald named the area Daby from the local aboriginal name. This title, sometimes spelt 'Davey', was changed to Dabee farm and finally, in 1870, to Dabee.
The exact date of this selection is uncertain but is generally believed to be as early as 1819. Deeds for the property are dated 1820 and refer to land already in the possession of the Fitzgerald family. Dabee of the early days incorporated the 1000 acre grant to Richard Fitzgerald, a further 1000 acre grant to his second son Robert and 2000 acres which were initially selected for Mrs Macquarie by Fitzgerald and purchased by him after Governor and Mrs Macquarie left the colony in 1821.
The property passed from Richard Fitzgerald to his son Robert and in turn to Robert Marsden Fitzgerald, the only son of the following generation. Robert Marsden did not marry, and after his death the property passed to his five sisters. Later it was purchased by his younger sister Emily, who had married George Evans. It later passed to three succeeding generations of the Evans family.
Fernside
Opposite Fernside homestead, on the southern side of the Narrango Road, is an historic
portion which was a crown grant to Charles George Temple Chauvel. Later purchased by
George Tailby,
Charles' grant of 1,086 acres in the Parish of Burrowoury in the County of Roxburgh was registered on 17 July 1840. On 31 January 1849 Charles sold Narrangrass for £45 to George Tailby, who renamed the property Willow Glen.
On 21 December 1887 the Tailby family sold Fernside to (Edward) Standish Cox, eldest son of Edward King Cox and Millicent, nee Standish, of neighbouring Rawdon for £4,000. Edward King Cox was a son of Edward Cox, a pioneer of the Rylstone district, and grandson of Lt. William Cox of Windsor who constructed the road over the Blue Mountains in 1815. The Cox family was well-connected and had extensive property interests in the Rylstone district. During his ownership he established a butter factory nearby which benefited local farmers.
Fernside was subsequently sold after Standish Cox's death in 1918.
Fernside was bought by William Robert Jones, who held the property for several years. On 15 October 1926 he sold Fernside for £9,236 to a partnership of Walter Albert Neary, a retired railway officer of Burwood and formerly the station master at Rylstone, and George Killigrew Dunbar, engineer of Concord. In 1927 Neary took over from Dunlop and in 1928 he sold Fernside, by then in poor condition, to Oliver Crossley.
In 1951 Oliver Crossley sold Fernside to George Randolph Meers, a son of George Meers and Hilda, nee Jones, of a family long established at Dubbo. In 1955 Fernside, then comprising 3,028 acres, was sold to Lawson Brindley (Tim) and Dabee Bettington, both representatives of established colonial families.
In 1979 the Bettington Pastoral Company, the registered owner of Fernside, sold to Garry and Susan Rothwell, nee Lorimer, of Longueville, Sydney.
In early 1999, Garry and Susan Rothwell purchased the adjoining Dabee pastoral holding from Richard (Dick) Evans, brother of Dabee Bettington.
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Charles' grant of 1,086 acres in the Parish of Burrowoury in the County of Roxburgh was registered on 17 July 1840. On 31 January 1849 Charles sold Narrangrass for £45 to George Tailby, who renamed the property Willow Glen.
On 21 December 1887 the Tailby family sold Fernside to (Edward) Standish Cox, eldest son of Edward King Cox and Millicent, nee Standish, of neighbouring Rawdon for £4,000. Edward King Cox was a son of Edward Cox, a pioneer of the Rylstone district, and grandson of Lt. William Cox of Windsor who constructed the road over the Blue Mountains in 1815. The Cox family was well-connected and had extensive property interests in the Rylstone district. During his ownership he established a butter factory nearby which benefited local farmers.
Fernside was subsequently sold after Standish Cox's death in 1918.
Fernside was bought by William Robert Jones, who held the property for several years. On 15 October 1926 he sold Fernside for £9,236 to a partnership of Walter Albert Neary, a retired railway officer of Burwood and formerly the station master at Rylstone, and George Killigrew Dunbar, engineer of Concord. In 1927 Neary took over from Dunlop and in 1928 he sold Fernside, by then in poor condition, to Oliver Crossley.
In 1951 Oliver Crossley sold Fernside to George Randolph Meers, a son of George Meers and Hilda, nee Jones, of a family long established at Dubbo. In 1955 Fernside, then comprising 3,028 acres, was sold to Lawson Brindley (Tim) and Dabee Bettington, both representatives of established colonial families.
In 1979 the Bettington Pastoral Company, the registered owner of Fernside, sold to Garry and Susan Rothwell, nee Lorimer, of Longueville, Sydney.
In early 1999, Garry and Susan Rothwell purchased the adjoining Dabee pastoral holding from Richard (Dick) Evans, brother of Dabee Bettington.
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