Lee Family
When William Lee and his sons took their stock north to occupy the Bylong Valley, the way from
Capertee into the Bylong was a precipitous track down Growee Gulph, at one stage a fall of 1500 feet in
two miles. The Lee family occupied the choicest of this valley and spread their flocks over the valley
floor from the Growee Gulph 15 miles north to Bylong Creek. The Bylong grants were originally in the
name of William Lee, but it was his son, John, who became the notable Bylong pioneer.
John Tindale, a close associate of the Lees, was the first to take up land in the neighbouring Widdin Valley. On2nd May, 1836, a block of 1110 acres was advertised by Crown Authorities, and by 10th December JohnTindale's 1110 acres were some of the richest in the whole Widdin Valley. Nearby blocks were soon afterwards acquired by John Lee and very soon he was the most active landuser in the valley
About 1840 John Lee took over Bylong from his father. Three years later he leased Tindale's holdings in the Widdin and added them to his own. The Lees had first brought sheep to Bylong but by the fifties were replacing these with cattle and horses for which they became famous. The Widdin was used by Lee for grazing his heifers and weaners. His overseer was George Simpson, a young single man from the Hawkesbury. In 1847 Simpson made a trip to the Hawkesbury districts and married Miss Sarah Russell. Next year their son George, became the first white child to be born in the Widdin Valley. The Simpsons settled on Emu Creek and this property was held by them until 1954.
William Lee has seven sons. Four of them, Thomas, James, John and George were notable horse breeders. But it was John Lee who contributed most to the family's history of breeders of quality stock, both cattle and horses. Of the 19 blood horse families in the Australian Stud Book, four were established by the Lees of Bathurst and Bylong.
John Tindale, a close associate of the Lees, was the first to take up land in the neighbouring Widdin Valley. On2nd May, 1836, a block of 1110 acres was advertised by Crown Authorities, and by 10th December JohnTindale's 1110 acres were some of the richest in the whole Widdin Valley. Nearby blocks were soon afterwards acquired by John Lee and very soon he was the most active landuser in the valley
About 1840 John Lee took over Bylong from his father. Three years later he leased Tindale's holdings in the Widdin and added them to his own. The Lees had first brought sheep to Bylong but by the fifties were replacing these with cattle and horses for which they became famous. The Widdin was used by Lee for grazing his heifers and weaners. His overseer was George Simpson, a young single man from the Hawkesbury. In 1847 Simpson made a trip to the Hawkesbury districts and married Miss Sarah Russell. Next year their son George, became the first white child to be born in the Widdin Valley. The Simpsons settled on Emu Creek and this property was held by them until 1954.
William Lee has seven sons. Four of them, Thomas, James, John and George were notable horse breeders. But it was John Lee who contributed most to the family's history of breeders of quality stock, both cattle and horses. Of the 19 blood horse families in the Australian Stud Book, four were established by the Lees of Bathurst and Bylong.
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