White, Francis John ('FJ') (c. 1855 - 1934)

In 1878 FJ took over management of Saumarez Station near Armidale. In May 1881 he married Margaret Fletcher, daughter of a Scottish grazier from Walcha. They lived in the Saumarez homestead and had seven children.

In 1888 he built a new single-storey house on the Saumarez property which became the basis of the present-day two-storey structure. The upper storey was added in 1906.

From 1877 FJ and his brother, James, worked in partnership as White Brothers, buying properties such as Bald Blair, Ward's Mistake and Aberfoil. The Whites also owned land in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

The depression of the 1930s followed years of good prices for wool and by the time FJ died wool prices were lower than they had ever been.

FJ played a leading role in local society. He was a member of the Pastoral and Agricultural Society and supported the Armidale hospital and The Armidale School, among others.

[Brief Biography compiled by Robin Hammond, January/February 2004]

Owned

• Bald Blair Station (1872 - ) [1872 - ]

Related Pastoral Stations

• Saumarez Station