In 1873, James Richmond bought Haddon Rig, 271,000 acres (109,671 ha) on the Macquarie River near Warren devoid of improvements. Between visits to England in 1875, 1877 and 1878 he built a 66-stand woolshed, fenced the property, and put in many tanks and dams before he stocked it with sheep. In 1876 he began to convert it to freehold. In 1882, planning to breed his own rams, he founded a stud with 30 Peppin Rambouillet merino rams (originally from France) and 1900 aged ewes bought from Austin and Millear at Wanganella, a Falkiner property.

When Franc Falkiner purchased Haddon Rig in 1916, the genetic beginnings of a Merino stud had already been established by James Richmond. Falkiner sold the outside block, improved the homestead’s water-supply and consolidated an 80,000-acre (32,375 ha) property. His concentration on burly, robust, plain-bodied merinos was rewarded with successes at the Sydney Sheep Show (1922, 1923) and the Sydney ram sales in 1924. At Foxlow, Bungendore, bought as drought relief pasture in 1920, and at Haddon Rig, he also bred Red Poll Hereford cattle and Percheron horses.

It is from Richmond’s original flock that the Haddon Rig stud evolved – managed and classed selectively and carefully – so that “like begets like”, and the distinctive consistency and quality of the genetics have carried on right through to the present day. The stud breeds 1200 large-framed, heavy cutting, soft bright woolled rams with hardy constitutions each year – ideal for wool and meat production and the differing demands of sheep grazing operations throughout Australia. Body size, frame and hardiness are vital to the sheep breeder. This is not only to ensure that the Merino ewe will produce maximum wool cut and lambs but also that the crossbred sheep will mature early and yield well, and will survive in very hostile environments. In 2000, the emphasis changed again to meet the demands of the meat market. Size, fertility and early maturing sheep carcasses became a priority, so the breeding programme followed suit.