Page 4 - AGENTS

Caroonboon Merinos History

The Caroonboon Stud was founded in 1870 by J & J Dickson with a
selection of ewes from 'Groongal' Carathool which were mated with rams
from 'Scone' Stud, Tasmania. Subsequently rams from 'Boonoke' F No 7
and 'Boonoke' F No 83 were also introduced.

Over the next 100 years the Dicksons introduced bloodlines from various
Riverina studs through the purchase of rams, ewes and semen.

Although the stud was founded in 1870 from various studs, a lot of the early
genetic influence was lost in the 1940s drought. At the end of that drought
there were only 800 sheep left alive on Caroonboon a property of 80,000
acres. In one period there were three years of rainfall where only 4", 6" and
8" fell. They were the driest three consecutive years in Caroonboons history.
The stud was rebuilt from that time, on Uardry and Wanganella bloodlines.
The stud remained under the direction of the Dickson family for nearly 150
years and has had major successes at shows and sales, winning the
Riverina Ewe of the Year 5 times and the Riverina Ram of the Year once.
Caroonboon Station surplus ewes have regularly topped the Hay and
Deniliquin sales and the Stud has sold rams to most areas of the Riverina
and Central NSW. The Caroonboon sheep are known and sought after for
their size, early maturity, fertility and wool quality.

The decision was made 15 years ago by the Jim Dickson & classer Ian
Lilburne to use poll merinos to breed a more dual-purpose animal. This
started with the introduction of poll merino rams from South Australia and
semen from leading sires from South Australia and the Riverina. Rams
purchases have been from Terrick West in 2017 for $15,000 & a Ridgeway
Advance ram for $10,000 in 2016.

Caroonboon Merinos Today

Bill & Margie Pye of Calga Station Coonamble NSW purchased Caroonboon
Station from the Dickson family in 2014 and began a commercial dohne ewe
operation at Wanganella to complement their existing Calga Uardry & DD
Dohne Stud enterprise at Coonamble.

A change of Stud ownership occurred in 2017 when Margie was approached
by Jim Dickson as to the possibility of returning the Stud to its original home
at Caroonboon Station. The Pye family embraced the offer and the merino
stud ewes began their return to Caroonboon in August 2018.