The history of early dogs relies on the records left over the years. Unfortunately some very good handlers and dogs are forgotten because their records are lost or damaged. We hope to add more famous Kelpies and handlers as we do more research. Arthur Kemp was once considered one of the best breeders and handlers in the country but we have very little information on him. The Maiden Bros, Tom White, Tom Bower and the Cully Kelpies all fall into this category. We would appreciate any information anyone has on them.

Arthur Kemp came from Heathcote in Victoria. He was well known as one of Australia's best breeders and trainers of Kelpies. In the early 1900's he had a number of first class Kelpies including two of the most famous sheepdogs of all time, Red Hope and Bantry Girl.

RED HOPE

Sire: Quinns Nigger

Dam: Quinns Nell

One of the most renowned Kelpies of the early 1900's was Red Hope. Red Hope was born in December 1916. He was bred by C.Culley, from Narrandera NSW.

He was first owned by Reg Nicholson and handled by Alf Dale of Gillenbatt Station, Narrandera NSW. Arthur Kemp, from Heathcote bought him for £50 in 1919. Which was a large sum in those days. During the next ten years he won 52 major prizes in sheepdog trials. Arthur had him from 1919 to 1929.

Red Hope bred on well and was much sought after. Red Hope was the sire of Maid of Moan. She in turn was the dam of Bowers Moss. Moss was the dam of Haynes Ring. Ring was the sire of Scanlons Dell etc. Red Hope was also the sire of Brown Hope. Brown Hope was born 1927. He was a tan coloured dog. Brown Hope mated to Scanlons Dell produced Currawang Last Hope. Last Hope was the sire of Currawang Wamba, thought to be Jack Goodfellows last sire. Red Hope mated to Flirt produced Ruby Hope. Red Hope mated to Nip produced Hopeful. Red Hope was the sire Fancy, the dam of Badge.

Mr Leslie Brown of the Myall Kelpie Stud (later renamed Pendula) said his Stud started with a foundation sire by Red Hope called 'Red'. He said that 'Red' would work the sheep on his own and could be left unattended to bring sheep many miles into the yards. He could even be left with young lambs still with their mothers. Whenever Mr. Browne started sharpening the knife on the steel, 'Red' would hear the sound and go and yard the killers (Sheep kept for table meat).

Red Hope won 19 Sheepdog Trials and was placed in 36 others.

BANTRY GIRL -(Bantry X Biddy Bereft). Born in 1915.

Arthur Kemp was highly regarded as a triallist and also as a breeder of top sheepdogs. Apart from his success with Red Hope, he also owned Bantry Girl, another top class trial dog. Bantry Girl was the winner of the 1922 and the 1923 Sydney Trial. She was 2nd in 1926.

Bantry Girl was often quoted by the King & McLeod Stud to have been bred on their lines. She was a yellow and white bitch, bred by Mr. R. Laidlow, Mt. Bryan. S.A. and sold for 5 Guineas (£5 & 5 Shillings) to Mr. Frank Whittington of Mulyungari Station, Cockburn. South Australia. She was actually a replacement for a dog that was returned. She was then sold to Arthur Kemp, Heathcote, Victoria.

In 1921, Arthur Kemp advertised her for sale.  She was then bought by Mr. Trevaski.

Part of an article by John Quinn in 1924. Mr. Quinn was in high demand as a sheepdog judge, and was one of the most famous of Kelpie breeders and triallists.

The best trial worker I have seen in recent years is Bantry Girl, and she is seven -eight bred Kelpie, from a Border Collie cross. In type she takes more closely after the Kelpie. She is really a first class trial worker and works more from instinct than from direction. Taking particular notice of her working at different shows, I have been forced to the conclusion that she has never been properly broken to work sheep, hense the term "instinct worker".

She acts on her own inititave and will do better when allowed to have her own way. She decides as she goes on with the sheep, and has a wonderful control over them. She is easily excited and put out of action if spoken to crossly or in sharp tones. Of course, being of the femine gender, this is only natural.

If addressed quietly and without bustling her, but letting her use her own judgement, she is a first class worker, keen and steady, and keeps low without sitting; the attitude is cat-like, quick and active when necessary, and always handling her sheep with great care. She possesses two well known top notch strains of Kelpie blood. Her sire, Bantry, was by Wallace, the winner of the first Federal Trial of United Australia at Geelong (Vic) racecourse in August 1901, the prize being 100 pounds. Bantry's girl's dam was Biddy Bereft, by champion Coil. Coil and Wallace were pure Kelpies and were bred, owned and worked by me." - John Quinn 1924

Arthur Kemp had many good dogs during his time with dogs. In the 1936 Barellan Trial he won both the Novice and Open trial with Border Jean, beating the great Don O'Currawang. A newspaper report on the trial said: " Mr. Kemp, recognised as Victoria's best sheep dog breeder, was in attendance with five dogs and won the principal prizes. All together 56 dogs completed."