Fox Terrier history in Australia commenced when Messrs Bancroft exhibited their first importations at the first Melbourne show in 1864. Unfortunately, due to the entire lack of properly organised nomenclature, no trace of this stocks origin can be found.
The earliest recorded English bloodlines were those of R G Banner, who won a gold medal at the 1872 Melbourne Show. His stock came from Mr James Taylor of Tasmania and Mr Sydenham Dixon of Essex (Eng).
In 1876 the National Agricultural Society of Victoria provided one class for Fox terriers with nine entries, four of these carried Mr Banners colours.
Fifteen turned up the following year for a ten guinea ($21) challenge cup, which had to be won twice by the same exhibitor. The first point was won by Mr T Haydon but the eventual winner was Mrs C Lynott, in 1879 with Rocket (imp) one of the very best of the early smooths.

Meanwhile in Sydney, Mr Leonard Fosbery brought out an all white bitch Careless in 1868. She was whelped in 1867 by Patch out of Careful, a bitch bred by the Duke of Devonshire. In turn, she was mated to an English WhiteTerrier belonging to Mr Buchanan Thompson. The resultant litter, the first known Fox Terriers, won several prizes at Sydney Royal.
In the early 1870s Careless was mated to Strathnevin Billy who lived on board and was owned by the Captain of the ship Strathnevin which traded between London and Sydney. Careless again changed hands in 1874 when she was passed over to Mr E T Stephen, who mated her to Mr Kavanaghs Ventnor (imp).
The only other dogs of note during this period were: Picture, which had been a big English winner, Mabel, Rival and a large white bitch Teasle. The latter bitch was imported in whelp to Murchisons Tom who was a son of the famed Belgrave Joe. One of the resultant litter, Venmom mated to Rocket produced Belvoir Tom. This dog was sent to Mr R E N Twopeny who is on record as being the founder of the breed in New Zealand. He later migrated to Victoria where for many years he was a leading breeder.

The breed started to show great improvement when Mr H Moses of Sydney became a major importer and breeder in the late 1880s. His imports in these formative years included such quality as Vano, Eggesfor Foiler, Vedette, Vainglorious, Valasca, Richmond Vixen and Validity.
In 1895 the Kennel Club of NSW held their first show and the most prominent local breeders were: Mr T F Thompson who was the President with his Vernit (imp), Redfern Tiera and Redfern Triumph: Mr S Neale with Woodman and imports, Very Uneasy and Villikins A B.
Another prominate Sydney breeder at the turn of the century was Mr E F Stephen with the imports: Cynisca, New Forest Danger, Belgrave Spark and Sutton Vixen. The latter was later owned by Mr H Moses and her name changed to Richmond Vixen: she was subsequently mated to New Forest Danger to produce Redfern Niger, which went to Queensland as a founder of the breed in the Northern State.
This era also attracted the attention of Mr William Hamilton to the breed. He became a leading breeder, exhibitor, importer, judge, RAS of NSW Councillor, motivator for the formation of the RAS Kennel Control and Chairman of the Royal Easter Show dog section up until his death in 1950.

Mr William Hamilton (Chairman of the Dog Section, RAS of NSW 1933-1950 and after whom existing Dog Pavilion named) judging in England

He visited the "Old Dart" on many occasions and imported many top class smooths, with the best being Ch Gay Lally, a stylish tan and white dog that won 11 Fox Terrier Club of NSW challenges.
The breeding from the conglomeration of bloodlines available was consolidated in Sydney by Messrs J A Dean, F E Brandt, Tom Cadell and Fred Roberts. Their respective prefixes - Ylo, Maitland, Montrose and Ivanhoe, together with Glendon (Moses) Linden (Hamilton), were the foundation for many to follow.

Fred Roberts was responsible for his nephew (my father) Frank Rowles starting the Meriden Kennels in 1908 who in turn influenced his brothers Stan (Selwor), Fred (Burbank) and Arthur (Dunara) to become breeders, exhibitors, importers, judges.
Maitland Daisy 11, bred by F E Brandt, went to Mr A A Orme, who together with W B Pearce, J Potter, L Cameron and Dr Hill were the Prominent Queensland breeders/exhibitors at the end of the century.
Coming in with the new century in NSW were Messrs H M vans, H Moyes, F H Bathurst, W Delfendahl, N Ebbsworth, H St. John Bell and Dr H Tessedor of Dubbo.
In South Australia only two men, Messrs A J Boase and C H Angas, appeared in the breed.

From 1879 Walter Beilby, who wrote "The Dog in Australia" (1897), became the most prominent of Victorian breeders. He imported some top class dogflesh by way of Decker, Richmond Jack, Belgrave Spark, Arius and Belle Dame Sans Merci, Satire, Sagacity, Leaguer, Resist, Hognaston Daisy, Miss Lina, Dysart Fireaway, Earls Renown and Brokenhurst Worry, plus about another dozen or so dogs.
His contemporaries were Messrs F W Haddon with Curnalla Gift, Heronwood Moth and Pixie together with Melbourne Success: the former dogs breeder, A McLaurin, produced also Curnalla Donation and Corio Joker.
One of the earliest Australian judges A S McMichaek produced some very good dogs as did co-judge George Fethers, along with D Shelmerdine, S Wrathall, C J Makower, W Simpson, T H Young, T Daly, G F Gregson and R Findlay.
To round the number of breeders off at the even 50 came the only two ladies Miss Ruby Wyndale and Miss Jane Nation.
Joe Maude the father of Harry and Jack (who both became prominent breeders and all breeds judges) migrated to Victoria at this time and was Secretary for the Victorian Poultry and Kennel Club from 1889 until he returned to England on a buying trip with many good orders for dogs and poultry in his pocket.
From this time through to the outbreak of World War 1 there was little increase in the ranks: two that come to mind, but did not persevere on were C Tutty and E Fanning. They both took an interest in Melbourne shows, but the former preferred poultry and led his children and grandchildren into that field, where they were still are the most noted breeders, exhibitors and judges of hard feather poultry.

Mr Fannning, whilst no outstanding authority himself, was the father of Tom Fanning of Westwood Fox Terrier fame in Brisbane and who grandson is a gundog enthusiast in North Queensland.
Messrs Chas Mills and Dave Morpheth treasure and vice president respectively of the Victorian Poultry and Kennel Club were tremendous additions to the foxie ranks in that state, together with R J Wilson, A Burge, Miss O E Crisp, Harold Hunter (Hunter shoe fame) and Bob Comley of NSW.
Unknowingly, the later was to become responsible for the greatest feat in Fox Terriers. At the outbreak of WW1 he imported from England Ch Levenside Luke, who in "our Dogs Annual 1913" was described thus:
He is absolutely an ideal dog, with perfect head, body and neck. Put down always by Mr W Hack in perfect form, his wins this year have been a dazzling success. As a sire he shows every promise of being a tremendous feature. During the year he was shown 17 times, never defeated in his class, he won best of breed at the majority of these outings and was Best in Show at Birmingham, Crufts, Glascow, Dublin Terrier Show, Crystal Palace Fox Terrier Show, Worsley, Knutsford, Edinburgh and Crystal Palace.

Although Luke had no peers in the show ring, as a sire in England he was a little worse than average. This may have promoted that Dean of Fox Terriers, The Rev Dr Rosslyn Bruce in his book, Fox Terrier Breeding, to write:
"Many knowing breeders recognised that Levenside Luke would probably not, owing to his family extraction, sire a puppy nearly his equal: yet they sent their bitches to him, not as a desperate hope (as their friends generally professed to believe), but on the sound principle that a dog of suck outstanding points, though to some extent a "sport" must bequeath his points of progressive excellence to his ultimate progeny, and they were right in this."
"Though no outstanding good son or daughter were born of Luke, in spite of the fact that he had quite exceptional chances, still his influence has been by no means an ephemeral one."
"Here for instance, are some of his male descendants, and their share of his extraordinary characteristics are probably more prepotently established in them than were in him: Ch Myrtus, Kinver, Arrogant Albino, Starling Surprise, Adonis, Avon Mainstay and Worse Indelible.
" But none of these are in tail male. It will, however be surprising news to many readers that Levenside Luke is the grandsire of more champions that almost any other dog in history: and the fact that they are all out of his daughters, and not by his sons, will not escape the thoughtful breeder"
What the Reverend gentleman overlooked was the fact that Luke was line bred to Oxonian and his successful grandsons were the ones that carried that same blood through the other grandsires. Established breeders now had a chance to use probably the best Fox terrier in the world and in so doing the breed prospered to an unprecedented high.

The ranks were further filled with the high calibre of Jim Morton (Jaram), Dick Bade (Gothic), Gully and McLeod (Oxen), H Whitford (Llewfors), Neville Whiting (Marvale) on Victoria: Mrs M Meredith, H Guppy, J B Maycock, Farrer and Saunders, C J Kiby, N Routley, W F McVilley and Nielson Brothers in Tasmania: A Fisher, T F Haines and E C Murch in South Australia: George Ross, Joe Collingwood and S R Polley (Bills father) in NSW.
Levenside Luke had universally spread his bloodlines throughout Australia by the time my father imported Floorcloth, a 12 month old puppy by Ch Cromwell Ochres Legacy, a bloodline which went directly back to the required Oxonian line from which Levenside Luke came. By mating this new import to Levenside Luke bitches the Australian breeder was producing the best fox terriers in the world. Despite the great depression of the 1930s the years between the tow World Wars were the Fox Terrier years, more good dogs were produced than ever before or after that period and more men and women came into the dog fancy as judges and executives than ever before.

Mrs A F Waters and E F Finney established the Yootha Kennels during this period: and also to Jack Ellison, Will Croston, Herbie Jones, Bill Kenny, Gordon Curtin and Tom Godfrey. During the first half of this period we saw such good imports as Bowden Decision ( J Geappen Tas) Ch Bowden Mascot ( R P Crowe Vic) Netswell Refrain (R McLean Vic) Southboro Symbol ( N J Routley Tas) and into NSW Drungewick Debit, Solus Tan Boy, (Dr C Hall) Wooids Moor Nicholas, Homested Patches and Myrtle, Molten Mikado, Semloh Realman (Tom Godfrey) Kitty Sparks, Southboro Seldonite (Harold Hunter) Victor Mark (Joe Maude) Some Aristocrat (A A Rowles) Linden Olive and Luton, Biff of Ball, End On Dainty (W Hamilton) Leslterlin Gay, Dunstyle, Devia Danseuse and Dunsdryad (Yootha Kennels) Crumbo (F W Rowles and Ferguson Vic) Ottershaw Spot (Whitford and Walker Vic) Vittoria Victrix and Vaddy (E C Murch Sth Aust)

More exhibitors joined the ranks and many were destined for a major future in the dog world. Mr Samuel Hordern (later Sir Samuel) was destined to become chairman of the dog section of the RAS of NSW, then chairman of the entire Society before an untimely fatal accident: Mr & Mrs D F Scott with Jean to become an all breeds judge: O (Allen) Moonie all breeds judge: Mrs T Lavy (foundation secretary of Dalwood Homes dog show: Bert Groom who encouraged his brother Charles to take on fox terriers and who made the all breeds ranks: W E Flockhart many years as secretary of the British Terrier Club: Cam Milward who needs no introduction either as a breeder of Fox Terriers or as an all breeds judge. In Queensland the ranks were kept filled with the addition of Eddy Kenny (son of Bill: Fred David: Frank Rooke: Ted Lawson: George Tomlins: Tom Morgan: and Ernest Noble. Communications became better with Western Australia and note was taken of fanciers such as Chas Turvey, C R Grieve and M J Uren, J A Hayes, H J Crump, Newman Hall and W H Ralph. The only two I can bring to mind in South Australia were A J Rohrig and Gordon Curtis although a little later on Herbie Jones migrated there from Sydney.

During this era there were only a handful of shows conducted each year in each of the major States, with the Royal Show as the highlight and or culmination of the years activities. However with the Fox Terrier boom five shows were held over and above the established and each was highly successful. They were judges by five all rounders from the UK all of whom were terrier specialists and all but one a Fox Terrier expert.
In 1921 it was the Sam Crabtree Show in 1926 the Stanley Hunt Show then came Tom Hooton in 1927 followed by T W Hogarth in 1929 with J W Marples in 1931. With the exception of Tom Hooton in Melbourne the shows were held in Sydney. So impressed with Australia was T W Hogarth that he returned to the UK packed his goods and chattels and migrated to Western Australia.

The years leading up to WW2 were unsurpassed and despite strong competition from their wired-haired "cousins" the Smooth Fox Terriers reached an unprecedented degree of quality. Without a doubt the King of that reign was Jerry Ideal. He was whelped June 1930 and was shown fearlessly right up until he won the challenge at the 1939 Sydney Royal at nine years of age. He was prepared and handled to perfection by his breeder, Bill Polley to win over 60 best in show awards and to take out these awards at the 1932, 1933, and 1934 Sydney Royals.
There were a few more imports during this period Roy McLean brought out Fellom Lad, Billy Hamilton Holly of Inverleith and Armaine Audacity and Joe Geappen (Tasmania) Freemanor.

Local bred winners went on to include F G Rowles Burbank Select and Satan, F W Rowles Meriden Mainstay and Musk, A A Rowles Dunara Desitny and Deceit, Yootha Kennels Yootha Rippin and Supreme, S Longs Srbo Loss and Sybil and Westwood Kennel bred by Tom Fanning of Brisbane and shown in Melbourne by F G Rowles.
During the war my cousins Jack (Stans son) Akkan (Greds son) and myself entered adolescence and became serious contributors to the Fox terrier world. Winners during this period were J S Rowles Jnr Burbank Spiteful, D Senogles Kelvin Kandy, T Knights My Ideal, Mrs Longworths Wyoming Gal, A A Rowles Dunara David and D Kellys Doonside David.
At the cessation of hostilities we met an influx of exhibitors who may have been in recess during the war. These include J (Gill) Brown, Bert Keenan, Fred Knowles, Steve Creek, Keith Braithwaite, Lea Friswell, Mesdames Sims and O'Connor, Jack Fisher, Stan Moller, A Laidler, Bob Mushet and Allan Mantle

The post war years started for Fox Terriers when Cam Milward won Best in Show with Douglas of Clarence followed two years later when Neville Whiting took the coveted award with Marvale McTough and in 1949 when young Pete Hayes knocked it over with Christopher Robin.
Meanwile in Sydney we saw Mrs L J Robinsons Kelvin Killingwood as the top bitch, with Hardy and Cants Peroclif Beau Brummel (bred by P Biddle Qld) as the best dog.

During the next decade a few more imports: Col H F Friday brought Coringsby Bedazzler out with him: Ted Organ, Jewell of Summertown and Travelling Warrior: C Worsley Sirag Cream Crackers: Misses Sims and Connor, Brooklands Black Ace: Bert Gobbett, Kathy and Les Booth, Brooklands Present: Bert Gobbett, Watteau Wellwisher, and Ken Rowles the American dog Top Score of Reverly.
Local bred winners included in the next decade were: Mrs Pages Folkdale Fiona, H Thompsons Lee Ayton, C Milwards Grenpark Solo and G Chudleighs Garrleigh Fortune, each of them opposite sex in show at Melbourne Royal in 1953, 1964, 1954 and 1967 respectively.
During this era Jack Rowles handled A A Rowles Dunara Deslee through to the first best puppy in show ever awarded at Melbourne Royal.

Other winners and exhibitors during the 1950/60 era were: L Booths Milda Morpheus: litter brothers Cynet Columbus and Crusader bred by C Worsley and the former owned by Miss A Riley: Dorton Kennels Dorton Rippon, Roberta, Checkers and Flash Beau: N Heyems Henly Rocket and Trump: Fred Knowles Redding Chieftan, Nabob, Raffles and Leo: H Adams Smada Montero and Mylatone: W Hawkins Kavon Teddy Boy: Bill Polleys Ideal Select, Souvenior and Sequence. The majority of the dogs mentioned above were by Ch Redding Chieftan who in turn was by Ted Organs Hildamere Chieftan. Redding Chieftan produced also Stardell Lindy which Jack Fitzpatric sold to my cousin Jack, who in turn produced Selwor Chieftan out of her by Grenpark Waite: this dog won over 13 best in show awards.
Imports during this period included Mrs E M Fitagibbons Artel Whypsom Wuff: G Tomlins Loud Whoop: Mrs D F Scotts Solus Black Head Peter: Les and Kathy Booths Lanneau Jezebel: J Fishers Sufredon Charming and Gold Award, the latter owned in partnership with Ken Rowles.

Then we saw Ray Robbins Malrob Replica: Bob Caines Kavin Teddy Boy: Bill Kirkmans Leeda Larrie and Laura: C Bulls Helga Terry Hi: Mrs I McBriens Ideal Sparkle: Miss K M Tarlintons Ideal Erin: Bill Hawkins Kavon Diplomat, Sceptre and Countess: George Bevans Redding Leo and Kenwood on Top.
During the same period Victorian dogs made good account of themselves with Mrs Wapshotts Ch Garrleigh Golden Sands and Allan Baileys Ch Farleton Don Pedro taking best in show at the 1969 and 1975 Melbourne Royal respectively and the West Australian Mrs Fridays Mirolinda Mr Supadupa as best puppy in show at last years Melbourne Royal. The same owner won best in show at the Perth Royal with this dog and his dam Mirolinda Abbe took out best opposite sex in show.
A great number of men and women emerged from Smooth Fox terriers to become all breed judges. This is due probably to the conformation of the breed: when properly produced no animal, outside the Arab horse, is as evenly balanced with such a rare combination of bone and substance to quality.

Some of the all breed judges who came by way of this breed include: Kenith Braithwaite, Dot Brown, Gil Brown, Steve Creek, Wil Croston, Fred Davis, Geo Fethers, Jack Fisher, Allan Gammidge, Bill Godfrey, Chas Groom, Bill Hawkins, Herbie Jones, Bert Keenan, Peter Luyten, Harry Maude, Jack Maude, Joe Maude, Cam Milward, Stan Moller, Allan Moonie, Dave Morpheth, Bob Mushet, Bill Peck, Bill Polley, Geo Ross, Frank Rowles, Jack Rowles, Ken Rowles, Stan Rowles, Jean Scott, Kevin Sharpe, Clem Turner, Harry Whitford and Neville Whiting.
This completes my run down on the breed and those who made it all happen. I sincerely hope that those followers of the breed, after reading of the great number of top quality dogs that have been produced and imported, many at extremely high prices, will pay more attention to their breeding programs of the future. When one sees light shelly dogs or thick cloddy types around the rings, it makes one wonder whether it was all worth the past effort.

This article was taken from "The National Dog" April 1983.