Person Page - 337

Newspaper-Articles

• 18 Feb 1916: Death of Mr P. Oakden. The death occurred yesterday afternoon at his home, Lerida Station, 17 miles from Cobar, of Mr. Philip Oakden, one of the pioneer pastoralists of the district. Deceased was 76 years of age. He was president of the Pastoralists Union and chairman of Director's of the Occidental Gold Mining Company. The funeral will take place this afternoon in Cobar.⁹
• 22 Feb 1916: Late Mr. P. Oakden. PIONEER PASTORALIST.
  The death of Mr Philip Oakden, at his home, Lerida Station, near Cobar, on Thursday afternoon, after an illness of six months, removes one of the oldest pioneer paetoralists in the district.
  Mr Oakden, who was a native of Tasmania, was in his 76th year, and was educated at Horton College, Ross. His father was one of the founders in the Union Bank in the island State. He played a prominent part in pastoral pursuits in the western division of this State. In 1868 he went to New Zealand, where the extensive Waimera stud flocks, both merino and longwool, of the late Mr. W. A. Tolmio were for a time under his superintendence. Then with Mr. John Booth he acquired the Te Anau Downs Station, in the Southland district, and in partnership with the late Mr. M. I. Browne, of Victoria, he purchased the Tapui Downs Station, in the Oamaru district. Selling Te Anau Downs in 1876 and Tapui Downs in 1878, he came in the latter year to New South Wales, and with Messrs Browne and Booth purchased the Wirlong Station, in the Hillston district, which was held for several years and then sold. Finally with his partners (Messrs I. and W. Browne) he bought Lerida, in 1879, where he resided from 1886 until the time of his death. He brought the Lerida flock to a position of excellence that was recognised throughout the State. He also had much to do with the stocking and supervision a
  few years ago of the Clifton and Milly Milly estates, near Young, where, in addition to a merino stud, he established a high-class pure Shropshire flock.
  Mr. Oakden occupied in his time many important official positions in the pastoral world. He was president of the Sheep-breeders' Association, and had been a member of the council of the Pastoralists' Union of New South Wales from its formation, and was president last year. For many years he was president of the Cobar Pastoral and Agricultural Association, of which, with his partners, he was one of the founders, and of the Cobar Crown Tenants' Association, and in addition acted for a long term as chairman of the local Pastures Board and of the Sheep and Stock Protection Board. His knowledge on pastoral matters was always in request, and his services as a judge at shows were much sought after.
  He was chairman of directors of the Occidental Gold Mining Company. He leaves a widow, and two brothers, Mr Morduant Oakden of Warriana, Wee Waa, and Mr Percy Oakden, architect, of Collins Street, Melbourne.
  Appreciate in notices of his career appeared in the city newspapers, his demise being recognised as a distinct loss in pastoral circles.
  The remains were laid at rest in the Methodist portion of the Cobar cemetery. The coffin was of beautiful polished cedar. Rev. Mr. Williams officiated at the graveside.¹⁰