Tim Austin is one of the best known Kelpie breeders in Australia. He is also one of the few Kelpie men known to the general public that do not have Kelpies. Tim has often proved that he is a great organiser and has promoted the Kelpie well. In fact the Austin family have spent many thousands of dollars in an effort to show the farming community just how worthwhile a good Working Kelpie is.

He has been able to promote his Kelpies through hundreds of articles and Ads in newspapers and magazines right across Australia. He has printed many small booklets and flyers.

The Elfinvale Stud has also had a presence at many of the major Agriculture Field Days around Australia. In 1984, Tim Austin hosted the National Kelpie Trial in Victoria and it was one of the best ones ever organised with a large crowd of spectators and a lot of media coverage. There was even a TV documentary and video made of it. The Elfinvale Stud has bred many thousands of Kelpies over many years and has sold a lot overseas. The only area the Stud has not made an impact is in winning at Sheepdog Trials.

The Elfinvale Stud started in 1956 while at 'Wanganella', Deniliquin NSW. It was later moved to 'Elfin' Coleraine, Victoria. The two main bloodlines used in establishing the Stud were from early show Kelpie breeders who produced solid coloured dogs, mainly the chocolate colour. These two bloodlines were Wilton Vale Kennels and Hiawatha Kennels. These lines went back to great working Kelpies such as Red Hope. Elfinvale Kelpies still stand out today as one of the biggest studs in Australia  producing solid coloured red Kelpies (with no tan markings).

The first breeding bitch at Elfinvale was Hiawatha True Lassie, a granddaughter of one of Australia's greatest show dog champions of all time, Raoul of Virginia.  The first sire was Wilton Vale Timothy. Tim Austin spent the first six years breeding what he called his 'barking strain'. He then introduced some Working Kelpies with Sheepdog Trial blood to improve the casting, holding ability and concentration. The two sheepdog trial bloodlines he introduced were Rockybar and Karrawarra.

Karrawarra Bronze was Elfinvale's top sire in the 1960's. He was described as a forceful trial type worker who uses a considerable amount of eye, wide cast and a strong lift. He is an excellent dog with ewes and flighty lambs. His bold temperament, keenness and ability has been passed onto his progeny.

By 1982 the Elfinvale Stud had bred in excess of 4,000 Kelpie pups - a staggering amount.

The Elfinvale Stud has now bred in excess of 8,000 pups. Tim and his family have very likely bred more Kelpies than anyone in the history of the Breed. He has always thought big. He is a super salesman and businessman and promotes his dogs far and wide. Many of his Kelpies are sold overseas. These days he has his sons to help promote the Elfinvale dogs and they travel the country putting on exhibitions at all the major Agricultural shows throughout the country. The Elfinvale Stud also produces a colour brochure to list their dogs for sale.

The Elfinvale Kelpies are well known as strong forcing dogs and probably because of this they have had very little success in Arena Sheepdog Trials even though large numbers have been bred. The Elfinvale Kelpies often come under criticism from other breeders for this reason but as the Stud often get a number of repeat orders, reported to be 25%, it is clear that many farmers are very satisfied. Tim has done an excellent job of getting the Kelpie breed the recognition it deserves.

PRICES

The Elfinvale Stud have always insisted on getting decent prices for their dogs and Tim has helped to set a reasonable price in the industry for good working dogs. This alone has done much to promote the Kelpie as an important farm worker and dispelled the silly notion that still exists on some properties that sheepdogs are not worth anything. By 1998, some of the better Elfinvale litters were getting up to $1600 for a small puppy. At that time, no pups were available in their catalogues under $650. Many others breeders have followed Tim Austin's lead and are now getting the prices good Kelpies deserve.

This has also meant that Elfinvale and a few other Studs have been able to put money back into their Studs and buy good working stock in, set up secure kennels & whelping areas, store semen, using the best sires, and spend more time and money on improving their breeding programs etc. This makes the difference between station bred sheepdogs and top Stud Kelpies.

In his brochure, Tim states: " An average man working on a property receives around $20,000 - $25,000 a year now, but very few well trained dogs, with a life expectancy of 8-10 years are selling for more than $5000. So in effect, a reasonably good dog ready for work with a figure equal to 5-10 weeks wages." - 1998 Brochure.

Whites Rowdy - (Wyreema Satchmo X Whites Candy). A big black and tan Kelpie born in 1978. He was originally owned by Steve Weyman and came from John Whites stud at Nyngan in NSW. Steve Weyman sold Rowdy to the Elfinvale Stud for the then record price of $2500. Tim Austin listed him in his brochure as being good natured and calm with a long, wide cast. He would work cattle, sheep or goats.

Elfinvale Ben - (Elfinvale Paddy X Elfinvale Queenie) This good looking black and tan dog is probably one of the best known Kelpies in Australia. Due to massive promotion by Tim Austin and family on television, magazines and newspapers, Ben is one of the very few kelpies known by the general public that live in the cities. In the 1980's Tim was offered $5000 for Elfinvale Ben, which he refused. He has stated that Ben has been the best sire for Elfinvale in 28 years. His semen was stored for later use.

Jerraluen Alisair - (Elfinvale Tim X Glenlogie Bess) This sire was recently purchased by the Elfinvale Stud as a Stud sire. He was bred by Mattt Willis who at the time owned the sire, Elfinvale Tim. Jeraluen Alistair has won 15 yard dog trials. His sire, Elfinvale Tim also won the first Yard Trial at Wagga Wagga some years ago.

Elfinvale Fred - (Glenville Jed X Elfinvale Samantha) "Fred has shown many exciting qualities that have led to his reputation as a sire. A good looking black and tan Kelpie with a broad head, friendly nature, not vindictive, yet considerable determination. He can display strong 'eye', show gentleness and sensitivity at delicate moments. While in the yards he displays a big booming bark that he uses with a fine sense of purpose. At this stage he shows no sign of bite. Someone who saw him said he looked like a dog with 70% eye and 70% bark." - 1998 Stud Brochure