July 13, 2024
Home of the Kelpie
Join us as we explore Ardlethan, delve into the origins of the Kelpie, and discover the distinction between this quaint town and Casterton, Victoria, the celebrated “Birthplace of the Kelpie.” This post will not only deepened your appreciation for the Kelpie’s rich heritage but also reveal the enduring legacy of these remarkable working dogs. I spoke with Erin Nield about her and her dog Scarlet’s adventure.
Can you tell us about your trip to the home of the Kelpie?
While travelling to Hay on the first leg of our outback NSW road trip, we passed through Ardlethan, a small town in country NSW, about 490km from Sydney. This town is important to the Australian Kelpie as it is where the first pups were born in Australia. This town is known as the “Home of the Kelpie”.
Why did you decide to go there?
As we were driving to Hay, we saw a sign which said “Home of the Kelpie”. Intrigued as we thought Casterton Victoria was the Home of the Kelpie, we decided that we would take a detour and check out the town and see why it was proclaiming to be Home of the Kelpie, and if we could learn more about the history of the Kelpie.
Did you learn much about the history of the Kelpie there?
I already knew a lot about the history of the Kelpie, as I had done some research to make an Instagram Series on it. It was cool to see the other town where the Kelpie was bred and further developed. The town was the beginning of the success of this iconic Australian Dog.
The story goes that Jack Gleeson, was given a pup in Casterton, Victoria. This pup was born on Warrock Station and he named it “Kelpie” which is a a water creature in Scottish folklore. Jack left Casterton and travelled to a property near Ardlethan in NSW. Along the way he was given a dog called “Moss” and he bred them together and the first “Kelpie” pups were born. Jack gave his pups away and over time they and their pups started to gain notoriety in sheep work and competitions.
In the town we saw statues that represented Jack’s dog “Kelpie.” There was a bronze statue representing “Kelpie” in a working stance in Stewart Park. The statue depicted the dog looking in the direction of her home. The ten tonne rock which it stands upon was found near ‘Bolero’, which was the station that the pups were bred on. Further down Ardlethan’s main street, on Ariah Street, you’ll also find a very different version of the Kelpie by impressive scrap metal artist Andrew Whitehead. The statues had a plaque on them to explain the stance of the statue.
Here is where you can find out that Ardlethan is the Home of the Kelpie and Casterton, and is given the title Birthplace of the Kelpie. It is interesting that there has been a distinction. In reality, it was Jack that bred and gave away his first pups, but it was the other farmers that continued to breed the pups and show off their amazing skills as a farm dog.
Are there many dog friendly places?
As it is a small town we had lunch in Stewart park, which was a lovely spot for a stop over and it also allowed free camping stop overs. We explored the town a little, but unfortunately didn’t have time on our trip to check out the museum.
Did you visit the Kelpie museum and the muster?
Last year in June we travelled to Casterton in Victoria for the annual Kelpie Muster. This event happens every year in the town that is the “Birthplace of the Kelpie. During the festival there are events that are aimed to show the skills of the Kelpie, whether a working Kelpie or a pet Kelpie. My 2 dogs competed in two events, the Hill Climb and The Kelpie Dash. There is also a dog High Jump and the Stockmans Challenge which shows off the connections between a horse, a rider and the Kelpie. In Casterton, there is a museum dedicated to the Kelpie. This is a wonderful place to visit, you can see memorabilia from the history of the Kelpie and read stories and see photos. There is also a Kelpie walking trail, which highlights spots in the town important to the history Kelpie.
Warrock Homestead, north of Casterton is a must visit when visiting Casterton for the muster. Unfortunately, we couldn’t go, this trip but will be going when we visit the muster in 2025.
What makes Kelpies special?
They are a dog that you need to understand their nature and needs as a pet. When you have this understanding, they are a wonderful dog to own. They are loving and loyal to a fault. They are dogs that want to be always by your side. It takes a lot to stress out of you to have a Kelpie, as they take nearly everything in their stride, so long as they get to do it with you. They are highly intelligent, self-sufficient and do not need micro- managing. Sometimes their intelligence is taken for disobedience or lack of understanding. I have 2 Kelpies and they have completely different personalities. A Kelpie likes to be busy and use their brain, that can be competing in a sport, as a farm dog, as a pet on adventures. Kelpies are a pet for those that want to do things with their dogs and have a loyal friendly companion.
However, don’t think that you can just exercise them to keep them happy, The more you exercise them, the fitter they get. They need to use their brain. It also needs to be noted that they are not always “dog friendly or kid friendly”, Unfortunately one my girls is in this category. She is family friendly, but when we do trips, I have to put her first and ensure that we go to places where I can be separated from too many people. I love it when we go to places that have areas like this.
What would you recommend other pets owners do there?
If you want to experience a wonderful town that has a strong history, head to the Casterton Kelpie Muster in June. You will see some dogs doing amazing things, dogs just having fun and a town that is totally pet friendly.
Did Scarlet enjoy it?
Scarlet enjoyed the muster and hanging out with other Kelpies. It was funny seeing her react to the bronze statues. Scarlet enjoys road trips, because she is with us all the time.
You can follow Scarlet and her travels @https://www.instagram.com/scarletthesydneykelpie/
