Munro Pavilion

Munro Pavilion

Douglas Gordon Munro ( -1966) of Cromarty, Bingara was the second son of Hugh Robert Munro of Keera, Bingara.  They were descendants of Donald Munro who’d migrated from Scotland in 1848 and made his fortune transporting gold from the NSW goldfields, before settling in the Moree district and then at Keera, a property he purchased in 1858.

Donald's youngest son Hugh Robert Munro was educated in Sydney before returning to manage his father's property in 1879.  A very well-known grazier, Hugh Munro was a Councillor of the Grazier's Association and a pioneer in the supply of chilled beef shipments to the United Kingdom.  He increased his land holdings in the early part of the century and was keenly interested in the breeding of all forms of livestock and founded cattle studs at several of his properties.  He was also an enthusiastic patron of racing and a member of many country racing and polo clubs. His two sons Douglas and Gordon, partners in HR Munro and Gordon, took over the management of Keera and Douglas purchased Cromarty in 1925, where he bred merino and shorthorn cattle.

The boys shared their father’s interest in polo and with their cousins Rowland and Roy, formed a well-known district polo team between the wars.  Douglas was also captain of the Inverell-Harden team and later the Hunter River team.

Douglas and Gordon also shared a remarkable mother. Grace Munro nee Gordon, worked tirelessly during World War I with the Australian Army Medical Corps’ and for the Australian Red Cross Society.  She helped provide facilities at the Sydney Showground for country volunteers during the 1917 strike and ran the post-office there as well. Qualified in first-aid, home nursing and hygiene with the St John Ambulance Association, she gave first-aid classes at Keera and was a member of the Bingara Hospital Board. Also a keen horsewoman, Grace Munro is best known though as the Country Women’s Association (CWA) foundation president from 1922 and was awarded the MBE in 1935 in recognition of her outstanding community service.

Douglas Munro was a Member of the RAS Council from 1938 to 1954 and held the role as Vice-President from 1954 until 1966. The family’s long history with the Show as exhibitors of award-winning beef cattle and Douglas’ work on the Cattle Committee, are commemorated in the naming of todays Munro cattle pavilion.