The 80th anniversary of the game-changing Gabo wheat variety was celebrated in Gunnedah on Wednesday.

The invite-only celebration, Seeds of Legacy, was hosted by Gunnedah Shire Council and The University of Sydney’s Institute of Agriculture, and included the launch of a new book, The Story of Gabo, authored by Dr Lindsey O’Brien and Dr Peter Sharp.

The publication of the book is funded by a Heritage NSW grant through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. The grant will also fund a permanent display at the Gunnedah Rural Museum later this year.

The Gabo wheat variety was released in 1945 by the University of Sydney and turned the tables for farmers in the Namoi Valley who had battled with stem rust on the fertile, but previously high-risk, black soil plains.

The release of the high-yielding, rust-resistant variety, alongside new farming technologies like the disc plough, unlocked the region’s agricultural potential, turning it into a significant wheat-growing hub and bolstering the farming community’s confidence.

The Story of Gabo includes the accounts of Gunnedah district families, the Beesons and Hathways, whose contributions in time, farming expertise and land for testing and seed production helped bring Gabo to fruition.

Council’s Manager Economy and Growth Susan Frater said the 80th anniversary of Gabo wheat was a celebration of agricultural innovation in the Gunnedah Shire.

“Gabo wheat is a significant part of farming history in the Namoi Valley,” she said.

“The Beeson and Hathway families, and the Waterhouse Plant Breeding Station at Curlewis were crucial in the journey of Gabo, helping to turn hope into reality. The wheat variety was a game-changer for the North West and helped increase confidence and profit for the region’s farmers.

“By 1954, Gabo wheat was the most widely grown variety in Australia and the milling and baking industries embraced it with open arms. It also created a genetic platform for wheat breeding programs and eventually became a key variety in international agriculture.

“At Gunnedah Shire Council, we are proud to be a part of the 80th anniversary celebration of Gabo, and to assist in launching the book the tells the iconic tale of how the variety transformed the Australian wheat industry.”

See more coverage of the anniversary in an upcoming edition of the North West Magazine – published weekly inside the Gunnedah Times.