Grifón de Bruselas"Australia"

Although the first mention of the Griffon in Australia was in 1909 it was not until Mrs Mitchell and Mrs Stanley imported a few in 1933/34 that the breed actually got off to any sort of a start.
At the Melbourne Exhibition in 1935 (forerunner to he Royal Melbourne Show) Mrs Mitchell showed Ch Gerrads Mayflower (import UK), Oliver of Marengo (import UK), a Mayflower son and Faye of Marengo, who appears to have been whelped here in 1934. Her sire Austral Tarana (import UK) was owned by Mrs Stanley and her dam was again Mayflower.
In 1936 Mrs Stanley also exhibited Ch Austral Merrythoughts (import UK), a red bitch, and Mrs Mitchell had Gerrad Magpie (import UK) who was recorded as being a blonde, but was actually a black!
Mrs Elizabeth Collins first exhibited in 1937 when she showed Mr Wylde of Marengo. She became well known and well loved within the toy group, and Victoria´s top toy dog of each year wins the Elizabeth Collins Memorial Trophy.
The animals mentioned were the only Griffons entered until 1941, when Ch Gerrard´s Mayflower was the only entry, and she was then 10 years old!
In the early 1950s Mrs Peggy Craford, a well known breeder of Pekingese in N.S.W., imported three rough reds: Rossingham Fantome of Campfield, Chilkoh Toby of Campfield and Ruskington Fifi of Campfield. She had great success with Fantome, winning a best in show in Canberra in 1951.
About this time Madge Sheehan of Victoria lost her heart to the breed, and a few years later purchased the three Campfield Griffons from Mrs Crawford. Madge was soon successful with dogs of her own breeding. Later she imported two smooth reds from UK. They were the dog Ch bower Linton Beefeater and the bitch Ch Bower Linton Brandy Snap. She also bought Ch Trinkett of Quatt (import UK) from Dr Phil Cunningham of South Australia who had imported nine Griffons from the UK in about 1963. The Grovers began their Woodovers in 1965 with the purchase of Pilelo Gaiety(s) and later Robindale Cassandra (dam of Ch Woodover Nutmeg) and Robindale Sherry. Ten years later they imported the rough red dog Ch Starbeck Copper Dancer (import UK).
In N.S.W. the Savages had added Griffons to their kennel and Mrs Thompson purchased Ch Egavas Slick Chick from them in 1959, and in 1964/65 imported Gaystock La Mode, and Ch Gaystock Le Beau.
Five “of Tunlake dogs” were imported. They were Penni-Witch, Penni-Peer, Penni-Crispin, the black and tan rough dog Penni-Cobber and the smooth red bitch Penni-Starlet. These last two were the parents of Gardenevale Samantha, who was loved by EK Johnson of Queensland. Samantha was a smooth black and tan and was acquired by Madge Sheehan, and it was through her that Madge and Grovers bred their black and tans.
Early in the 1970s the Scotts of Ole Kennels added Griffons and imported Glyntivion Mintan ant the two rough black and tan dogs Ch Ringrose Gareth and Ringrose Paul. It was aboout this time that Gregtoi Tyni (import UK) a rough black dog, came into the country.
Gardenvale Samantha and the two Ringrose dogs are behind all the black and tans that have been bred here. Strangely these have been concentrated in Tasmania until recently, with Giftoi Kennels doing a sterling job of preserving and producing the colour.
The Briary Kennels of Hilary Swain in Western Australia and Azande Griffons in Victoria have Griftoi black and tans
Early breeders in Queensland were Mrs Ellis, who brought her Gyante dogs with her from the UK, and Mrs Joyce Pemberton of Uomak Griffons who still breeds a litter or two.
From the early 1970s until a couple of years ago, Mrs Betty Merrick of hagunn kennels was the most active breeder and exhibitor. She began her breeding with Ch Woodover Nutmeg and imported the two smooth red dogs, Moerangi Demon and NZ Ch Buka Tiger Moth of Moerangi (imp UK) from Mrs Grocott, and he sired a number of very successful dogs.
In 1985 she imported the rough red dog Litahni Puck of Speedwell from the UK. He was followed later by Ch Marquant Mega Star (smooth red) and Dajela Black Baron, a rough black.
The 1970s were and active time for the breed in Victoria with the formation of the Griffon Bruxellois club in 1976.
Western Australia has had a few Griffons since the mid 1960s, the most successful owner being Mrs June Owen of Jocampo prefix. She does not breed very often because of the small interest in the breed in this state. However, her wins include bets in show in 1990 at the Victorian Club´s show with Beagriff Minstral, bred by Seymours of N.S.W.
Many Australian breeders have imported dogs at various times from the Moerangi Kennels of Mrs Mollie Grocott of New Zeland. A few of the most successful have been Denis Montford’s (Braganzar) Ch Moerangi Mr Figgins (Braganzar); NZ Ch, A Ch Moerangy Gipsy Moth (Azande) was three times BIS at the Victorian Club Show, a Royal Challenge winner, and also a multiple best in group winner. Ch Moerangi Smuggler (Beagriff) was BIS at the Victorian Club Show and highly successful at group level. Ch Moerangi M for Madam (Melponty) who was best opposite sex in group at Malbourne Royal Show, and the Day family´s Ch Moerangi G for Grebe.
Braganzar also imported Gaystock of Fameuse from UK. The last two imports from the UK were Operastar Meistersinger who was brought in by Lorraine Clak (Tamear) and a Starbeck dog to the Maltais Kennel. I believe there are a couple more planned by Beagriff for 1992.
A few Griffons have taken out best in show all breeds since Madge Sheehan´s 1951 win, there have been Lorraine Clark´s smooth Ch Tamera Tiger Brand, in 1983. Then Australian New Zeland Ch Nouveau Graffiti (imp NZ) owned by Beagriff Kennels in 1989, and in 1991 best in show by Ch Beagriff Midas.