Unbeknownst to Dawson at the time, he had observed the area at the height of its good season, without flooding and when fresh water rivers ran freely. Reported by Dawson as reminding him of the gentleman's park and groundsof Britain and deemed to be suitable to the objectives of the new company, the area of Port Stephens and the land to the north was soon recommended to the Colonial Committee as the prospective AACo estate. Keen to commence the company's activities, the Colonial Committee accepted Dawson's recommendation and selected one million acres of land between Port Stephens to the south, the Manning River to the north, the Great Dividing Range to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east.