White, Francis John (1854-1934)

FJ White was a well-known pastoralist in the New England region. From 1877, he and his brother James, worked in partnership as White Brothers, buying properties such as Bald Blair, Ward's Mistake and Aberfoyle. The Whites also owned land in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

The White family purchased Saumarez station in 1874 and developed the land and its associated buildings into one of the largest and most successful rural properties in New England.  In May 1881 he married Margaret Fletcher, daughter of a Scottish grazier from Walcha. They lived at Saumarez homestead and had seven children. In 1888 he built a new single-storey house on the Saumarez property. An upper storey was added in 1906.

FJ was an active member of local society. He was a member of the Pastoral and Agricultural Society and supported the Armidale hospital and The Armidale School.