Our History | The Newfoundland Club of NSW

History of the Newfoundland in

Australia
(As at 2007)

By Frances Wilson

Hector was the first documented Newfoundland to reach the shores of Australia. He was aboard the Scarborough, a 437 tonne convict transport ship from England, which sailed with the first fleet, from England on May 13th, 1787, and arrived in Sydney Harbour on January 21st, 1788.
The master of the Scarborough was Mr. James Marshall and he was Hector’s owner. Mr. Marshall left Hector with a Mr. Clark upon leaving Port Jackson in 1788. “On the return of his old master Hector swam out to the ship and got on board. Upon recognizing his old master, he manifested in every manner suitable to his nature, his joy in seeing him. Nor could the animal be persuaded to quit his master again accompanying him everywhere when he went ashore and returning with him on board.”

There seems to be no further record of Newfoundlands until 1864 when twenty-two dogs were entered in the first Dog Show in Victoria and a number of these were Newfoundlands.
The breed gained in popularity and continued to be imported until the beginning of World War II which saw an end to importations. No further litter registrations were recorded until 1961 when a small number of Newfoundlands reappeared on the scene.

IMPORTS UK
The Newfoundland breed in Australia was almost at a standstill until the importation in the mid-sixties by John Hughes of two dogs, Captain Cook of Sparry (Littlecreeks Sea Pirate of Sparry x Seagem of Perryhow), b: M.E. Aberdeen and Wildfield’s Endeavour (Nelson of Norepoint x Bianca of Sparry) and a bitch, Storytime Shenandoah (Sailor Boy of Verduron x Stortime Snowshoes), b: B. D. Henry, from the UK.
Ch Captain Cook of Sparry sired a litter to Shenandoah and one of the offspring, Seamaids Tinker Too, was mated back to him, producing two good winners in Ch Seamaid’s Panda and Ch Seamaid’s Snow Shoes. Another daughter, Seamaid’s Tiki, obtained her CD title at a very early age. Through his linebred daughter Panda, Captain Cook turned out to be the sire of Australia’s top Newfoundland brood bitch. Panda is the dam of eighteen champions and numerous specialty winners.
Captain Cook was a good-sized dog with good movement and was runner up in group at the Sydney Royal Show at the age of eight years. He was also, I believe, a BIS winner prior to this. Captain Cook spent the last years of his life with Linda and Ross Windred of the Majesty kennels. John Hughes was obliged through ill health to place the dogs in new homes.

In 1968 Julie Gibson, fortunately for our breed, came to Australia from the UK. With her she brought her self-bred Wanitopa Gentle Giant (Suleskerry Steersman x DoryO’s Harbour Grace) and Bonnybay Jasmine (Ch Achates of Fairwater x Ch Bonnybay Nona of Sparry), b: D. Lucas.
Ch Wanitopa Gentle Giant was mated to Don and Mary McCaul’s Ch Kingfishereach Sea Wrack (River Thames x Kingfishereach Eaglebay Mermaid—Imp UK), b: Withell. Two of the most successful Newfoundlands in the Victorian rings for the next few years were produced from the resulting litter. Ch Marydon Shanook, o: I. and S. Wade, and Ch Marydon Lady Giant, o: M. and R. Simpson. Shanook went BOB at three Melbourne Royals and a PAL International and was a beautiful representative of the breed. Lady Giant was challenge bitch at two Melbourne Royals and a BOB winner at Pal International as well as BOS at three Victorian specialties.

Giants second and fourth matings were to Ch Seamaids Panda (Captain Cook of Sparry x Seamaids Tinker Too), owned by Frances Wilson. From these two litters many champions resulted, including Ch Planhaven Heidi, o: Wendy DuCros, challenge winner at three Sydney Royals, and several other Royal challenge and BIG winners.

Planhaven Best In Show Easter Show Big Mac

Giant was also mated to Julie’s own English and Australian Ch Bonnybay Jasmine. The best known from this litter would have been Ch Wanitopa Bosun Boy, o: M. and D. McCaul, a BOB winner at the Melbourne Royal.

ONLY LITTER
The previously mentioned Ch Wildfield’s Endeavour CD (imp UK) now owned by Mrs. Peggy Eustauce, sired his first and only registered litter in 1970 to Seamaid’s Tinker Too, owned by the Majesty kennels.
From this mating the black dog Ch Majesty The Viking resulted. Viking, though not a large dog, excelled in coat and body and clicked extremely well with the large bitches from Wanitopa Giant.
Viking mated to Ch Planhaven Black Magic (Wanitopa Gentle Giant x Seamaids Panda), b:Frances Wilson, resulted in his most famous son Ch Planhaven Presto Teddy, who dominated the Newfoundland scene in NSW for some time with BOB at three Sydney Royals, a Brisbane Royal, two Pal Internationals and a Spring Fair as well as best in group and in show awards. He also went BOB at Cranbourne, Victoria in 1977 under Kitty Drury, USA breed specialist of Dryad’s fame. A beautiful black/white dog, he was rated as one of the best of this coat colour in the world by a number of overseas judges.
Teddy was one of the top Newf sires in Australia and won the sires trophy at the NSW specialties in 1978 and 1979. To date he is the sire of twenty-one champions with many more close to their titles. One of his sons, Ch Planhaven Bonanza, o: J. Brodie, was the first Australian bred Newfoundland to go best in show all breeds.

FIRST NSW SPECIALTY
A daughter, Ch Planhaven Tanqueray, went BIS at the first New South Wales specialty in 1976, another daughter, Ch Planhaven Nassau, b: Frances Wilson, o: L. Barryman, won BIS at the 1978 NSW specialty and a promising son Ch Lifeguard Captain Blood (New Zealand) owned and bred by Sue Norton, went BOB at the NZ National 1979 at ten months of age.
Another mating by Viking to Ch Planhaven Mandalay gave birth to a well-known black and white dog in Victoria, Ch Planhaven Paul Pry, ‘Piper’ as he was known, belonged to Meg and Ray Simpson and was the point score winning dog in Victoria 1975-77. He was probably our most prolific sire and fathered 287 puppies, a large percentage being black and white. He had nine champion progeny and Best In Show winning Newfs.
A very large, massive boned black dog sired by Viking from Wendy DuCros’s Ch Planhaven Heidi was Ch Planhaven Peer Gynt, BOB at Sydney Royal 1976 and a Spring Fair as well as multiple in group and in show wins.
Unfortunately, Viking died due to a train accident when only a relatively young dog. Fortunately, however he did much to improve our breed with his progeny.
Ch Marydon Shanook was mated to Ch Seamaid’s Panda twice. The first litter produced among other winners, Ch Planhaven Namu, b: Frances Wilson, o: I. Wade and I. Ford, who went BOB at six Royals in Melbourne and Adelaide and won three Victorian specialty breed championship shows.
From the second litter came Planhaven Patchouli, who—although only shown infrequently—went BOB at Brisbane Royal in 1975 and BIS under Kitty Drury at the NSW championship show held in Mrs. Drury’s honour in 1978. Edenglen’s Born Free (Edenglen’s Christopher Robin III x Ganshalom’s Nesicha Shomeret– Imp USA) was imported from Bill and Helena Linn in this time frame. Frances had visited England and Europe looking for a suitable dog to import to complement the Newfoundlands in Australia. Time was running out when she arrived at the Linn’s paradise for Newfs at Edenglen’s. Luckily, they had a six-month-old puppy that seemed to fit the bill. Guiness, as he was nicknamed, was not a large pup but had excellent conformation and topline and was line bred to their two most successful brood bitches, Christine and Nancy of Glenora, and his grandsire was the top producing Edenglen’s Tucker. In those days there were very long quarantine restrictions, and it took over eighteen months before he was released from quarantine in Australia.

VALE FRANCES WILSON - Life Member of The Newfoundland Club of NSW

Its with great sadness that the Newfoundland Club of NSW annouce the passing of one of our Life Members, Frances Wilson of Planhaven Newfoundland.
Frances a key figure and founder in the Newfoundland breed in Australia.

Greatly missed by all in the breed.
The Newfoundland Club of NSW would like to pass their condolences to her family and friends.

FIRST NSW SPECIALTY
A daughter, Ch Planhaven Tanqueray, went BIS at the first New South Wales specialty in 1976, another daughter, Ch Planhaven Nassau, b: Frances Wilson, o: L. Barryman, won BIS at the 1978 NSW specialty and a promising son Ch Lifeguard Captain Blood (New Zealand) owned and bred by Sue Norton, went BOB at the NZ National 1979 at ten months of age.
Another mating by Viking to Ch Planhaven Mandalay gave birth to a well-known black and white dog in Victoria, Ch Planhaven Paul Pry, ‘Piper’ as he was known, belonged to Meg and Ray Simpson and was the point score winning dog in Victoria 1975-77. He was probably our most prolific sire and fathered 287 puppies, a large percentage being black and white. He had nine champion progeny and Best In Show winning Newfs.
A very large, massive boned black dog sired by Viking from Wendy DuCros’s Ch Planhaven Heidi was Ch Planhaven Peer Gynt, BOB at Sydney Royal 1976 and a Spring Fair as well as multiple in group and in show wins.
Unfortunately, Viking died due to a train accident when only a relatively young dog. Fortunately, however he did much to improve our breed with his progeny.
Ch Marydon Shanook was mated to Ch Seamaid’s Panda twice. The first litter produced among other winners, Ch Planhaven Namu, b: Frances Wilson, o: I. Wade and I. Ford, who went BOB at six Royals in Melbourne and Adelaide and won three Victorian specialty breed championship shows.
From the second litter came Planhaven Patchouli, who—although only shown infrequently—went BOB at Brisbane Royal in 1975 and BIS under Kitty Drury at the NSW championship show held in Mrs Drury’s honour in 1978. Edenglen’s Born Free (Edenglen’s Christopher Robin III x Ganshalom’s Nesicha Shomeret– Imp USA) was imported from Bill and Helena Linn in this time frame. Frances had visited England and Europe looking for a suitable dog to import to complement the Newfoundlands in Australia. Time was running out when she arrived at the Linn’s paradise for Newfs at Edenglen’s. Luckily they had a six month old puppy that seemed to fit the bill. Guiness, as he was nicknamed, was not a large pup but had excellent conformation and topline and was line bred to their two most successful brood bitches, Christine and Nancy of Glenora, and his grandsire was the top producing Edenglen’s Tucker. In those days there were very long quarantine restrictions, and it took over eighteen months before he was released from quarantine in Australia.

He spent a year in England before arriving in Australia due to restrictions, and in that time he sired two litters whilst staying with Juliet Gibson of Wanitopa. A bitch puppy from these matings went on to go Best of Breed at Crufts. Guiness turned out to be the most successful sire of Newfoundlands at All Breed Level in Australia. He was in good health until fifteen years of age when be became frail. He was the sire of ten Best in Show Winning progeny including Ch Planhaven Hard Astern, co-owned with Robert Jones of Ferntree Kennels. ‘Linus’ had over twenty Best in Shows to his credit and a Best in Group at a Melbourne and Brisbane Royal and Best Opposite in Group at a Sydney Royal. A daughter of Guiness, Ch Planhaven Peppermint Pati, o: R. Jones, was the first Newfoundland bitch to go Best in Show All Breeds in Australia. A son, Australian and New Zealand Ch Planhaven Big Mac, was the first Newfoundland to go Best in Show in New Zealand and at age six and a half won Best in Show at Melbourne Royal.
The stud dogs mentioned had great influence on the breed in Australia during that decade and most successful show dogs in the late seventies and to the early nineties had at least one or two of these dogs in their background and it is a heritage to remember.

MEKONG
In the Mid seventies in NSW the Mekong Kennels was established by the late Shirley Summers, based on her first Newfoundland Ch Planhaven Presto Peta, a daughter of Presto Teddy. By the end of this decade Shirley had bred quite a few Champions and in the early 1980’s Ch Gaedheal Gargantua was added to the kennels. Gargantua was bred by Wendy DuCros out of Ch Planhaven Heidi by Edenglen’s Born Free, and went on to win a Newfoundland Specialty.
Gargantua was mated to Peta and this produced several top winning bitches including Ch Mekong Blazing Sun CD. Later, Shirley, in partnership with Lee Wales, imported English Ch Wellfont Ambassadoor from Graham and Sue Birch, a brother to the record breaking English and Irish Ch Wellfont Admiral, with twenty six CC’s to his name. Shirley Passed away in 1995 and Sue Ann Spence has continued keeping the Mekong prefix alive.

WATERBEAR

Rising to prominence during the eighties, a specific South Australian kennel truly made its mark. Owned by Allan and Denise Robins (once of Adelaide, now living in Athens, Georgia, USA), Waterbear Kennels kicked off in 1975 after the pair bought a puppy from the Marydon Kennels, owned by Don and Mary McCaul in Melbourne. The establishment really found its feet in 1977 when they acquired Planhaven Galaxy, a high-quality bitch from Fran Wilson. Galaxy, sired by the imported Ch Edenglen’s Born Free, became the kennel’s cornerstone.

In her first litter, Galaxy was matched with Ch Planhaven Hard Astern—a dog who truly elevated the breed’s profile in Australia with over twenty all-breed BIS wins. This pairing resulted in a small but excellent brown and white bitch, Waterbear Amber Sun CD CDX. Although her unique colour sparked some debate back then, her mating with a Canadian import, Topmast’s Peter Pan of Ferntree, produced the remarkable black and white Ch Waterbear Dan Ruff. Dan was a powerhouse, securing more than seventy Group wins—including at the Sydney and Melbourne Royals, the latter being the Southern Hemisphere's largest show with roughly 8,000 entries—plus 25 all-breed BIS and seven Specialty BIS titles. Beyond his show success, Dan was a prolific sire, producing nine multi-BIS winners, including Ch Waterbear Ursala, a multi-BIS and Melbourne Royal Group winner herself. Notably, Dan and Ursala achieved BIG and runner-up in group at the same event seven times—an exceptional feat for a father-daughter duo. Dan also sired the multi-BIS New Zealand Grand Ch Waterbear Xavier, the top NZ dog of 1990.W

While Waterbear was producing consistent winners from their Planhaven base, the Robins sought to diversify the gene pool by importing several dogs from the USA. These included Tug’s High Tide of Newtown Ark, Spillway’s Caleb, and Pouch Cove’s Robert St Albans, all of whom left their mark on the Australian breed. Between 1978 and 2000,

Waterbear produced over one hundred champions before the Robins relocated to America with their children and six dogs for work. Since moving, Waterbear has flourished with four American Champions to their name. They also acquired Pouch Cove Kiss Me Kate and Pouch Cove Aim to Please from the renowned Pouch Cove Kennels. Katie famously won the 12-18 month class at the 2003 US National Specialty against thirty competitors. In 2004, their pup Pouch Cove’s Brand Nu Dan took second in his class at the US National (behind his brother), and in 2005, Katie’s daughter, Waterbear Annie’s Lane, also placed second in the 9–12-month class at the US National Specialty.

Though they have scaled back since their move to the States, the Robins remain committed to the passion for Newfoundlands. They have since exported two young females to Australia—one to Chris Hill of Jessbear Kennels in Adelaide and another to Ann Fraser of Cornerbrook Kennels in Brisbane—along with a young male to Eileen Butler in New Zealand.

VICTORIA
In Victoria in the early days Ian Wade and Ian Ford who joined forces with breeding and exhibiting under the prefix Canizmere, were well known in the breed. Imports including Topsail’s Skipper from Europe were brought in and Ian Ford president of the Victorian Club on many occasions. Unfortunately, due to ill health Ian Ford had to give up exhibiting and breeding but continued to support the club till his death some years ago.

Meg and Roy Simpson with the prefix Demontignie were also very involved with the breed. Another breeder in these times of note was Joan Vilemek who imported a successful stud dog, Ragtime Drunk as a Deacon and also a bitch Astelle Rose Cockchafer of Ragtime, both from the UK. Joan bred under the Marpierre prefix until her untimely death after only some years in the breed.

Robert Jones imported Topmast’s Peter Pan of Ferntree, but subsequently sold him to Meg Simpson, where he stood at stud in Victoria. He produced the top winning Ch Waterbear Dan Ruff, previously mentioned, and Ch Bouvet Aiden. This was Angela Kelly’s first litter and Aiden became a Multi Best in Show Winner and Best Exhibit Melbourne Royal. Since then, Angela has bred over forty Champion Newfs including Ch Bouvet Harmony (owned by Graham and Vicki Birch), a Multi Best in Show Winner and also Best of Breed at Crufts. Peter Pan also produced a black and white dog, Sikandi Aussie Bear, exported to Norway. Out of Silvia Korsteins Ch Planhaven Bonnie Belle a three-time BOB Winner at Melbourne Royal, Best Opposite in Sex Winner at Adelaide Royal and a Multiple Specialty Winner, Aussie Bear turned out to be a very successful sire and show dog in the country.

ant flashy black and white and my house dog, went Challenge Dog at Sydney Royal at Nine years of age, so the line was also good for longevity.

WORLD RECORD HOLDER Another well-known dog back in the eighties was Ch Planhaven Thunder Bay, son of Australian and New Zealand Ch Planhaven Big Mac and Ch Planhaven Storm Queen. Thunder Bay won seven NSW Specialties and eleven Best in Show All Breeds. He was known as the Gentleman of Planhaven and was the sire of numerous champions, the most famous being Ch Planhaven Thunder Dome.

Thunder Dome, who was a good-sized dog with substance, excellent shoulder and beautiful hind assembly, was born on October 4, 1987. His dam, who Frances purchased as a brood bitch and titled, was Ch Edentime Bagheera. Bagheera and Thunder Bay had four crosses of Born Free and four crosses of Presto Teddy in their lines and it turned out to be the perfect match. Thunder Dome was Australian All Breeds Dog of the Year twice and in the top three the other two years, thirteen Specialty or Semi–Specialty Wins and forty-two All Breeds Best in Shows which at the time was a world record for the breed. He sired many Champions including Ch Planhaven Thunder Bird, a Best Opposite to her sire on many occasions at top events. A son, Ch Planhaven Brand Nu Teddy, an arrogant flashy black and white and my house dog, went Challenge Dog at Sydney Royal at Nine years of age, so the line was also good for longevity.

MORE IMPORTS

In 1985 four imports also arrived for Planhaven Kennels. The brother and sister Spokinewf’s Sailer to Planhaven and Spokinewf’s Aloha to Planhaven (Topmast’s Justin x Ch Topmast’s Lady of Spokin Lake). Unfortunately Sailer died suddenly at only four years of age with a blocked duct and on autopsy his pancreas blew up. He produced some nice Newfoundlands in this short time, with a Best in Show Winner Ch Planhaven Call Me Sam and the outstanding bitch Ch Planhaven Kon Tiki. Tiki went Best Opposite in Sex at Sydney Royal and had a great future, but unfortunately was dead two months later with lymphosarcoma.

Aloha lived to a ripe old age, gaining her Australian champion title and was a successful brood bitch. The other two imports were from Wanitopa Kennels in the UK. The boy unfortunately had to be put to sleep shortly out of quarantine. His sister Wanitopa Lively Lady produced a number of litters and lived to sixteen years of age.

Two dogs imported in the 1990’s by Waterbear Kennels were American, New Zealand and Australian Ch Spillway’s Caleb (Ch John’s Big Ben of Pouch Cove x Ch Spillway’s Deep-M-Ocean) and Pouch Cove’s Robert St Albans (Ch Kilyka’s Benediction CD x Pouch Cove’s After A Fashion). Caleb, himself a Victorian Specialty Best in Show Winner, immediately sired Newfoundlands of good quality including the brothers Grand Ch Waterbear Lincoln and Australian and New Zealand Grand Ch Waterbear Abraham. Lincoln was a Royal Melbourne Group Winner and Launceston Royal Best in Show winner, as well as a multiple Best in Show winner and one of Australia’s top show dogs. He was the first Newfoundland to obtain the Grand Champion title, which had been introduced about that time. Abraham was exported to Krystalgale, New Zealand, where he also did a lot of winning.

Robert, who arrived a few years after Caleb, has also had an impact on the breed. He has produced some very typey Newfs, including Grand Champion Bouvet Seamus, Multi Best in Show at Specialties and All Breeds including Best in Group at Melbourne Royal. As a matter of interest: I am pretty sure Newfs must have the record for Best in Group wins at Melbourne Royal out of any breed.

Another sire, who had a good impact on the breed, was Ch Ursula’s Indian Son of Dipper (Ch Tuckamore’s Big Dipper x Ursula’s Indian Summer). He produced the before mentioned Bouvet Harmony, plus many more winning Newfs, including Ch Riverbear Forest Spirit, a Specialty winner, Grand Ch Planhaven Black Sultan (owned by Donna and Dave Bailey), a Speciality Winner, BOB Sydney, and Melbourne Royal and Multiple Best in Show winner All Breeds, and a top winning bitch in NSW, Ch Noirlours Ninotehka (B. Henderson and J. Lamont), who also went Champion Bitch at a Melbourne Royal.

Dipper was imported by Graham and Vicki Birch, previously of Wellfont Kennels in UK. After arriving here with some Newfs from the UK they imported Dipper from Birgitte Gothen in Denmark. Dipper, though only a small dog, was of excellent type and produced very sound progeny with no apparent defects. Graham and Vicki breed in Australia under the prefix Krystalcove. Krystalcove Just In Case, Krystalcove Keepsake and Krystalcove Enough Said have been good winners in the breed.

In more recent years many new imports are coming into the country, thanks to fewer quarantine regulations. Newfs from France, Hungary, Norway, Sweden, the USA and the UK are now in Australia. Semen from overseas animals is also having some success.

The new imports have made quite an impact on the Newfoundlands in Australia in the last couple of years regarding the show winners in the breed.

Schimo’s One of a Kind (Ch Fairweather’s a Great Pretender x Ch Schimo’s Fenja Akela), b: S. Schjelderup in Norway, has sired some top winners with the Specialty winners Ch Planhaven Bigadoon and Planhaven Moon River, b: F. Wilson, and has produced sound pups with no apparent health problems at this stage.

Grand Ch Sweet Riverdance Digsup Gold (Ch Bruder Ludvig Bär vom Gelderland x Sweet Riverdance Big Smile), b: Saenen in Belgium, has sired some progeny doing well in the breed with the most noted Ch Newfcastle Flying Solo (dam: Ch Newfcastle Sweet Repeat), b: R. C. Nagle and H. L. Durell, o: K. Johnson, J. Thom, R. Nagle and H Durell, winning BOB at 2 Sydney Royals.

Ch Seabrook’s Southern Cross, imported from USA (Ch Pouch Cove’s Keynote Speaker x Ch Seabrook’s Day of Grace), b: K. Griffin, o: A. C. Fraser, has sired some promising and titled Newfs.

The import from Hungary, Ch Midnight Lady’s Over The Ocean (Ch Midnight Lady’s Eleven O’Clock x Ch Midnight Lady’s Inspiration), b: Z Somos and A Soos, o: J. Leeder, has sired some top winners in the breed in Victoria and New Zealand.

The bitch Waterbear Savannah Night, imported from USA (Ch Pouch Cove’s Candidate x Ch Pouch Cove’s Kiss Me Katie), b: A. J. and D. M. Robins, o: C. Hill, has produced the top winners Grand Ch Jessbear What About Me (sire: Ch Jessbear Chasing Dreams), b: C. Hill, o: S. Sandford and C. Hill, and his sisters Ch Jessbear Go Katie Go, o: C. Hill, and Ch Jessbear Rambling Rose, o: C. Hill.

Established 1976

History of the Newfoundland in

Australia
(As at 2007)

VALE FRANCES WILSON - Life Member of The Newfoundland Club of NSW

Its with great sadness that the Newfoundland Club of NSW annouce the passing of one of our Life Members, Frances Wilson of Planhaven Newfoundland.
Frances a key figure and founder in the Newfoundland breed in Australia.

This article appeared in The World Of Newfoundlands in 2006 and 2007 book and is reproduced with permission.

History of the Newfoundland in ​Australia (As at 2007)

VALE FRANCES WILSON - Life Member of The Newfoundland Club of NSW

Its with great sadness that the Newfoundland Club of NSW annouce the passing of one of our Life Members, Frances Wilson of Planhaven Newfoundland. ​Frances a key figure and founder in the Newfoundland breed in Australia.

This article appeared in The World Of Newfoundlands in 2006 and 2007 book and is reproduced with permission.

History of the Newfoundland in

Australia
(As at 2007)

Its with great sadness that the Newfoundland Club of NSW annouce the passing of one of our Life Members, Frances Wilson of Planhaven Newfoundland.
Frances a key figure and founder in the Newfoundland breed in Australia.