The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Curr, Edward Micklethwaite
Curr, Edward Micklethwaite, the eldest son of the late Edward Curr, was born in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1820, educated in England and France, and in 1841 and subsequent years was a stockowner in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales. In 1862 he was appointed an Inspector of Sheep in Victoria, and later on Chief Inspector of Stock. At that date there were five millions of sheep suffering from scab in the colony, the annual loss on which was computed at over half a million sterling. Parliament offered a prize of £150 for the best essay on scab. The prize was given to Mr. Curr, and eventually the steps recommended therein were adopted, and the disease got rid of entirely. His essay was reprinted by the Government of Tasmania, and has been in demand in various parts of the world. In 1863 Mr. Curr published a work entitled "Pure Saddle Horses," in 1883 "Recollections of Squatting in Victoria," and in 1886 "The Australian Race" was published for him by the Government of Victoria. Mr. Curr's father, the late Edward Curr, of St. Heliers, was styled in Victoria " the Father of Separation," from the efforts which he exerted to secure severance from New South Wales. This gentleman had been manager for the Van Diemen's Land Company. Between 1827 and 1830 he induced the company to lay out £30,000 in the importation from Europe of prime sheep, chiefly merinos, and further sums on pure cattle and high-bred horses. From the merinos thus imported, which were from the very best flocks of Germany, the leading flocks of Australia are principally descended. Mr. Curr resigned his position as Chief Inspector of Stock on July 30th, 1889, and died on August 3rd, 1889.