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65.06.20aPreferred Citation:
A. Galbraith to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1865-06-20 [65.06.20a]. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id//letters/1860-9/1865/65-06-20a-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026
1
Letter not found. For the text given here, see Australasian, 1 July 1865, p. 14, under the heading, Acclimatisation. The Victorian Society',
where it is introduced as follows: 'Dr. Mueller laid before the Council the following
letter, received from Mr. Galbraith, of Sydney'. The letter was also published in
the Argus, 29 June 1865, p. 5.
June 20.
Sir,
I trust you will excuse the liberty I am about to take in addressing you on a subject
which has interested me much for some time past, and that is, the introduction of
pure-bred Chinese sheep into Australia.
I may preface my letter by informing you that I have been in the colonies of New South
Wales and Queensland for the last twenty-three years, and have been constantly connected
with sheep properties. In the latter colony I was managing partner in a station depasturing
60,000 sheep, and am, therefore, well qualified to give an opinion on matters connected
with pastoral interests.
About three years ago it was proposed to get up a company in Sydney by some of the
merchants and stockholders to import a number of the pure-bred sheep from the north-western
provinces of China, and locate them in a cold climate till such time as they should
be acclimatized; but in consequence of the civil war then being waged in the Chinese
provinces the matter was allowed to drop, and since then no further steps were taken
in the matter.
Latterly, I have made it my business to gain every information regarding the sheep
in question, and have arrived at the conclusion that, by their introduction, the whole
of the colonies will ultimately be greatly benefited.
When it was proposed to import them into this colony, I was to have gone and selected
the sheep myself, not leaving it to agents in China, who would require to undertake
a long and arduous journey of, likely, some four or five hundred miles from Pekin.
Now that the Northern provinces are in a settled state, and every likelihood of getting
assistance from British and French residents, I think that the time has now arrived
when such an undertaking could be easily carried out, with the most splendid results
to the individuals importing a flock.
From representations made by an intelligent and wealthy Chinese merchant from Hong
Kong, who has seen this peculiar breed, he says that there is as much difference between
the Chinese sheep (that have been sent to Melbourne and Sydney, from Shanghai and
neighbouring provinces, from those bred in Chinese Tartary) as there is between a
Scotch terrier and a Newfoundland dog. This is using his own expression of comparison.
For a few of the particulars regarding these sheep, I beg to inclose you an extract
from the Empire.
If I though[t] that there was any probability of getting the co-operation of some
Victorian gentlemen, who would form themselves into a company, I should at once proceed
to China, and do my best to select a flock that in a few years would be counted by
tens of thousands.
2
Clipping not found.
I shall be glad to hear from you on this subject, what you think of it; and so thoroughly
convinced am I of the probability of success, that I would invest largely in shares.
Mr. Wilcox, the naturalist, who accompanied my poor friend Ludwig Leichardt in his
first journey,
would go as my companion, in case of accidents. He is most anxious to go with me,
if the thing is carried out.
3
No-one named Wilcox or with a name at all similar to this accompanied Leichhardt on
either his first or his second expedition.
If I can get some inducement, I would at once proceed to Melbourne, and give all the
information that I possess, so that the matter could be thoroughly discussed.
After perusal of the enclosed extracts, will you kindly return them to me, as I have
not copies. The prospectus was one of those made out some time ago, when the first
company was started, but, in consequence of the war, was discontinued. I may mention
that Mr. Wilcox and myself are married men, and would have our families in Melbourne
till our return.
I have taken a great liberty in writing you on this subject, but knowing the great
interest you take in the progression of the colonies will be my only excuse.
I remain, Sir, your most obedient servant,
Galbraith, N.S.W.
Dr. F. Mueller.
4
The report continues: 'After the reading of this, a conversation ensued, and the secretary
was instructed to write for further particulars, and inquire at what expense one or
two pairs of these sheep could be introduced, it being the general feeling that no
large amount should be spent in making an experiment of this kind until at least some
certainty of success was assured.'