About Us
The Douglas Family began breeding stud Dorset sheep in 1935 when Max' grandfather Thomas Douglas Started the View Hills Dorset Horn Stud at Woodstock West, Victoria. In 1958 with Max's father Ken at the helm the flock was relocated to Eddington, Victoria with the View Hills Poll Dorset stud founded the same year.The studs were very successful during the 1960's & 1970's , winning many awards including Champion Dorset Horn Ram & Ewe at Melbourne Royal in 1960 & selling the top price ram at 750gns & gaining top average of 426gns for 7 sale rams.
The studs were dispersed in 1973 to allow Ken to retire & Max to`move to Oberon NSW to expand the Karawina Poll Dorset stud as manager for the Dickson family. Max & Coral & family spent 4 years at Karawina & in that time produced some excellent sheep , including Karawina 180-74 , one of the most influential sires of the breed that produced over $100,000 in stud rams alone in his own lifetime & sired many major show Champions.
In 1978 Max & family then moved to Duri NSW & founded the Abelene Park Poll Dorset stud with the purchase of 78 ewes from the Boree Cabonne dispersal along with ewes from Karawina & Tattykeel & the last View Hills Dorset Horn ewes from Max's dad.
The stud was relocated to Woolomin NSW in 1982 to expand & still is the home of the stud,which is run in conjuntion with a commercial Merino flock.
We began an annual on property ram sale in 2002 & then in 2005 decided to run 2 sales per year to give clients from different areas & joining times more opportunities.
We have been keenly involved in exhibiting at shows & sales since foundation. In the early days at local shows , including Champion Poll Dorset ram at Tamworth show for 17 consecutive years.
During the late 1980's through to 2006 we regularly exhibited at Melbourne Royal, some highlights include: Abelene Park 55-89 "Mainline" sold to the Gadang stud SA for $8500. From his first drop of lambs for Gadang he sired the all breeds Champion ram at Adelaide Royal & top price ram at Melbourne Royal. In 2002 we sold Abelene Park 157-01 for the all breeds top price at Melbourne Royal sales of $8500 to the Hayelle stud VIC.
In recent years we have been exhibiting at the NSW Dorset Championships in Cowra & Bendigo Australiasian Dorset Championships
Some highlights include:
Cowra 2017: Junior Champion Ram, 3 Ram class winners.
Bendigo 2016: Junior Champion Ram, Won 3/4 Junior Classes, top price ram at $24000 and top avg $11000 for 3 rams
Cowra 2016: Reserve Junior Champion Ram, First Junior Pair Rams, First Junior Ewe Class
Bendigo 2015: Junior Champion Ram won all Junior Ram Classes, 3 rams sold to $12500 and avg $8800
Cowra 2015: Supreme Exhibit, Junior and Grand Champion Ram won all Junior Ram Classes.
Bendigo 2014: Junior Champion Ram won 2/3 Junior Ram classes. 3 rams sold to $6000 & avg $4500
Bendigo 2013 : Due to Marshall judging - only 3 sale rams permitted. 3 rams sold to $6000 & averaged $3500
Cowra 2013 : Junior Champion Ram with "Mastercard"
Bendigo 2012 : 3 Sale rams to $6500 & averaged $4300
Bendigo 2011 : Champion & Reserve Junior rams. 3 sale rams to $7000 & averaged $5100
Bendigo 2010 : 3 sale rams to $13500 & averaged $9500 - Top Price & average
Cowra 2010 : Reserve Junior Champion ram with "Trademark"
Bendigo 2009 : 3 sale rams to $5500 & averaged $4500
Bendigo 2008 ; 3 sale rams to $4500 & averaged $3500
We are the only stud to have sold all 3 rams (maximum allowed) at every Bendigo auction
The studs were dispersed in 1973 to allow Ken to retire & Max to`move to Oberon NSW to expand the Karawina Poll Dorset stud as manager for the Dickson family. Max & Coral & family spent 4 years at Karawina & in that time produced some excellent sheep , including Karawina 180-74 , one of the most influential sires of the breed that produced over $100,000 in stud rams alone in his own lifetime & sired many major show Champions.
In 1978 Max & family then moved to Duri NSW & founded the Abelene Park Poll Dorset stud with the purchase of 78 ewes from the Boree Cabonne dispersal along with ewes from Karawina & Tattykeel & the last View Hills Dorset Horn ewes from Max's dad.
The stud was relocated to Woolomin NSW in 1982 to expand & still is the home of the stud,which is run in conjuntion with a commercial Merino flock.
We began an annual on property ram sale in 2002 & then in 2005 decided to run 2 sales per year to give clients from different areas & joining times more opportunities.
We have been keenly involved in exhibiting at shows & sales since foundation. In the early days at local shows , including Champion Poll Dorset ram at Tamworth show for 17 consecutive years.
During the late 1980's through to 2006 we regularly exhibited at Melbourne Royal, some highlights include: Abelene Park 55-89 "Mainline" sold to the Gadang stud SA for $8500. From his first drop of lambs for Gadang he sired the all breeds Champion ram at Adelaide Royal & top price ram at Melbourne Royal. In 2002 we sold Abelene Park 157-01 for the all breeds top price at Melbourne Royal sales of $8500 to the Hayelle stud VIC.
In recent years we have been exhibiting at the NSW Dorset Championships in Cowra & Bendigo Australiasian Dorset Championships
Some highlights include:
Cowra 2017: Junior Champion Ram, 3 Ram class winners.
Bendigo 2016: Junior Champion Ram, Won 3/4 Junior Classes, top price ram at $24000 and top avg $11000 for 3 rams
Cowra 2016: Reserve Junior Champion Ram, First Junior Pair Rams, First Junior Ewe Class
Bendigo 2015: Junior Champion Ram won all Junior Ram Classes, 3 rams sold to $12500 and avg $8800
Cowra 2015: Supreme Exhibit, Junior and Grand Champion Ram won all Junior Ram Classes.
Bendigo 2014: Junior Champion Ram won 2/3 Junior Ram classes. 3 rams sold to $6000 & avg $4500
Bendigo 2013 : Due to Marshall judging - only 3 sale rams permitted. 3 rams sold to $6000 & averaged $3500
Cowra 2013 : Junior Champion Ram with "Mastercard"
Bendigo 2012 : 3 Sale rams to $6500 & averaged $4300
Bendigo 2011 : Champion & Reserve Junior rams. 3 sale rams to $7000 & averaged $5100
Bendigo 2010 : 3 sale rams to $13500 & averaged $9500 - Top Price & average
Cowra 2010 : Reserve Junior Champion ram with "Trademark"
Bendigo 2009 : 3 sale rams to $5500 & averaged $4500
Bendigo 2008 ; 3 sale rams to $4500 & averaged $3500
We are the only stud to have sold all 3 rams (maximum allowed) at every Bendigo auction