Newspaper articles - Pioneer stories

Reminiscences from Pioneers of the Winton / Greta / Myrrhee / Whitfield / Edi / Moyhu / Milawa / Oxley areas of North-East Victoria

Wangaratta Dispatch and North-Eastern Advertiser, Wednesday 26 June 1907

GRETA PIONEERS.  In connection with the banquet tendered to the pioneer farmers of Greta and Myrrhee on Friday night, it may be interesting to recall that there are probably only five now living of the sturdy band who first selected farm land in the Greta district. The late Mr John DENNETT, who was originally manager of portion of Myrrhee station, was the first farmer, and he was followed in 1861 by Messrs Thomas SMITH, A MURDOCK, John BRYSON, Samuel ELLIS, James TOAKLEY, John WOODS, James O'BRIEN, Richard HUGHES, (brother of Rowland HUGHES), William DICKSON and Duncan BAUCHOP. Messrs MURDOCK and BRYSON are believed to be in New Zealand, and Messrs O'BRIEN, SMITH and DICKSON are the other survivors, still resident on or near their original farms and retaining the respect and good wishes many friends.

BANQUET AT GRETA.  OLD SETTLERS ENTERTAINED.  The early settlers of the parishes of Greta and Myrrhee were entertained by the young men of the district at a complimentary banquet on Thursday night, and the function was successful and enjoyable in every respect. The tables were laid in a marquee on the farm of Mr John HUGHES, Greta, and the catering was in the hands of Mr D KANE, of Wangaratta, who had tastefully prepared an excellent spread and made complete arrangements that gave entire satisfaction to the committee. Misses MASON assisted with the tables. The chair was taken by Mr John E EVANS, president of Oxley Shire, and Mr M J O'BRIEN, occupied the vice-chair. About 250 persons sat down to the tables, seats being reserved for the invited guests. Invitations had been issued to the following :-
Mr and Mrs R HUGHES
Mr and Mrs W DICKSON
Mr and Mrs John EVANS
Mr and Mrs R J MASON
Mr and Mrs SINCLAIR
Mr and Mrs G BAUCHOP
Mr and Mrs W McMILLAN
Mr and Mrs John PRENDERGAST
Mr and Mrs M WATSON
Mr and Mrs John WATSON
Mr and Mrs R SHANLEY
Mr and Mrs Evan EVANS
Mr and Mrs John NOLAN
Mr and Mrs J C FARRELL
Mr and Mrs James BYRNE
Mr and Mrs D FLEMING
Mr and Mrs T LLOYD
Mr and Mrs John McMILLAN
Mr and Mrs J B PETTY
Mr and Mrs W WINNELL
Mr and Mrs McCARTHY
Mr and Mrs J HOGAN
Mr and Mrs R BEATTIE
Mr and Mrs R KING
Mr and Mrs J KEARNEY
Mr and Mrs J S BLADES
Widows
Mrs ENGLISH
Mrs W O'BRIEN
Mrs TOAKLEY
Mrs R JEFFREY
Mrs R WOLFFE
Mrs John CLARK
Mrs BROADBENT
Mrs McKENZIE
Mrs KEARNEY
Mrs B FRANKLIN
Mrs GALLAGHER
Mrs Thomas BARNETT
Mrs FORGE
Mrs GRAHAM
Mrs KELLY
Mrs CORKER
Mrs WALKLING
Mrs PATTERSON
Mrs CRYER
Mrs BOURKE
Widowers
Mr Thomas SMITH
Mr James O'BRIEN
Mr G COLVILLE
Mr W THOMAS
Mr P QUINN
Mr J TANNER
Mr H GOODLAND
Mr J C YOUNGER
Mr J REES
Bachelors
Mr John O'BRIEN
Mr M LAFFIN
Mr J DAVIS
Mr J KERSHAW
Mr R GRAFF
Mr J GILLOUGHLEY
Mr P STANLEY
Mr T GLEESON
Complimentary Invitations
Mr and Mrs W BAIRD, F TANNER, W TANNER, James TANNER, D TANNER, D CARMICHAEL, M O'MALLEY, A BYRNE, G H BROWN, J BOWSER, M.L.A., J Tilley BROWN, M.H.R., Hon W LITTLE, M.L.C.

The Chairman extended a welcome to the company. He said the committee had issued complimentary tickets to the heads of families who had been resident in the district for upwards of 40 years, and they were pleased to see so many present, as it was the first and would probably be the last entertainment of its kind held in the Greta district. A number of apologies had been received from invited guests, who were unable through ill-health and other reasons to be present, and they included the following: Hon. W LITTLE, Messrs J T BROWN, J BOWSER, Jas BYRNE, J EVANS, W SINCLAIR, D CARMICHAEL, W McMILLAN, G H BROWN, J DAVIS.

Mr M J O'BRIEN proposed the Health of the Guests, the early settlers of Greta and Myrrhee. He said he recognised the honour conferred upon him to propose such an important toast, and he accepted the position with united feelings of flattery and embarrassment - flattery at being chosen before so may abler speakers, and embarrassment as to how he should fill the role allotted to him. It was not his purpose or privilege to enter into a long and culogistic panegyric upon the merits of their guests or to make such rash and extravagant statements as might bring a blush to their cheeks, but he wished to make a few remarks by way of symphony to the toast. He was glad to see so many present in response to the committee's invitation and that the marquee was over-crowded, the company including not only old pioneers and their children, but their children's children. (Applause). A good many had been unable to attend owing to ill-health, he regretted to say, many more although in good health had been debarred from being present owing to various causes, and there were many pioneers who they might have wished to see but who had been cleft from them by the inexorable scythe of time. In the last category were many most near and dear to them, and he trusted that their spirits would participate in the small compliment they were paying to the remaining pioneers, who left friends and homes in their native land to embark on a perilous and tedious voyage to a strange shore, where they were to encounter the dangers and vicissitudes with which ???? the rural districts of Australia was rife in the earlier days. It was an unfortunate fact that no movement however meritorious escaped adverse criticism, and he regretted to say that their proposal for the present banquet was not too kindly received by some, but the fine gathering that night gave ocular proof that the majority of people had fallen in with the object of the entertainment - that they recognised some mark of recognition was due to the pioneers, whose philanthropy and generosity, affability and munificence, assiduity and perseverance in agricultural and pastoral pursuits had gained them a position in the esteem of their descendants not likely to be equalled or usurped by any succeeding generation. In the old days the pioneers had not the freedom from toil that the young people now enjoyed. When Donald McCARTHY strolled over to Mick McGEE's it was to enlist the services of Mick to lay a ploughshare, but now when Jack JEFFREY goes to PRENDERGAST's it is to hear the latest about the Grand National, or to know if Johnny will make one in a syndicate to "lay the double" - not a ploughshare. (Laughter). In the good old days the farmer put in his crop with a plough (if he had one), waited till the grain was ripe and sold it without any ceremony, but in these times the wholesale Government aided diffusion of knowledge on questions of superphosphates, carbohydrates and bacteriological organisms compelled the inference that the farmer did not know "where he are." (Laughter). He did not desire, however, to enter into a comparison between the present days and the old times, for such an indulgence might lead him into a labyrinth of confusion from which he might not be easily extricated, and he would confine himself to the task of proposing the toast and of expressing his thanks, as one who had initiated the movement, to those who had attended to perform a duty to the old pioneers, who had placed them in a land of luxury, and in a district second to none in the world if they considered its great advantages, natural, industrial and political. (Cheers).

Mr Robert J MASON, 15-mile Creek, who was first called upon to respond, said he was present not only as an early settler but as an Australian native, and he came to the district in the early fifties. He know it when there was no habitation between the Fifteen Mile Creek and the King River, and had mustered horses and cattle on the spot they were now standing upon. There had been a wonderful change since those days. There was no talk of selection when he first arrived - that came when the farmers started to open up the country - and his earliest acquaintances in the district were the marsupials and the aboriginals. Most of his work in the early days was riding - mustering and droving - about the station, and he did not start tilling the soil until late years. He had seen many ups and downs, and a great advance had taken place since he first came to the district, when there were no railways, telephones or telegraphs and they had only bush roads leading to the city or towns. When he first came there was no Greta, the district being known as Fifteen Mile Creek, because it was about 15 miles from Benalla and Wangaratta, and he remembered only four habitations at that time - Mick GLYNN's, John DENNETT's, HOLLOWAY's hotel, and CONNOLLY's. CONOLLY used to look after the coach horses and had a small store for the convenience of passers-by and settlers. The North-Eastern mail was carried by pack-horse, and the country between Fifteen Mile and the King River was held by squatters. Laceby was kept by MOORE; Myrrhee by CHISHOLM, with BRAODRIBB as manager; W FAITHFUL had the Hollow; and Whitefield was held by John EVANS, grandfather of the chairman. The old pioneers had done a lot of good work, because they started with nothing and had left many things for the younger generation. They had no churches or schools and very few amusements. There was a race meeting at Benalla and Wangaratta once a year, and those were the only sports with the exception of the games of cricket, quoits or football arranged on the station. Horse races were sometimes held on the stations, too, and good ones they were although they never raced for money. The pioneers the old people were entertaining that night had filled the empty places with smiling homesteads, and when he looked along the tables he was proud of the families they had reared - proud to be an Australian native, proud of his fellow-natives and of his country. (Cheers).

Mr Richard SHANLEY, Myrrhee, who was next called upon, said he was afraid that if many of the old pioneers were asked to talk the company would leave for an engagement in the dance-room adjoining, and he would prefer that the old fellows should talk the matter out amongst themselves. (Laughter). He admitted that the pioneers had many troubles. For himself, he came to Wangaratta and "humped his bluey" (a very small one) to Whitefield, where he was engaged by the chairman's grandfather and was treated better than he had been at home. He had very little to do so far as the boss was concerned, but there were a few old men on the station who made him walk round a bit. (Laughter). He lived for a time in one of the huts with some other men and was "Jimmy Ducks" for them, carrying water, making tea, etc., and as he was the carrier of goods from Wangaratta to the station he had to bring a case of whisky for the men every trip. As there were no hospitals the whisky was used in cases of sickness, and it was remarkable how often his mates got sick. He left the hut, as it got too hot for him, and went to another on the opposite side of the station, where he had two mates. One was a very nice man, but the other called "Beardy", was not so nice. They purchased a case of whisky just before one Christmas and drew lots to see whose share would be drunk first. "Beardy's" was the last, but when they had drunk two shares and were ready for the third "Beardy" explained that his had been finished ???? a week before. (Laughter).

Mr John DINNING, Greta, said that about 46 years ago he left his father and mother, and after 114 days sailing from Liverpool to Melbourne came to the King River district alone. The Chairman's father was only a slip of a boy when he met him then. He (Mr DINNING) first made his way to Kilferra, where he had an uncle, and he remembered Mr LITTLE sending her boy, now the Hon. Willis LITTLE, to show him the road near her place. The young fellow went ahead leaping over every crab-hole, but he had "bluey" up and could not .jump. From Kilfera he went to Bungamero, landing there the winter that MORGAN took Nimrod from the stable, and served with various people for nine years, when he decided to start for himself. He had to work hard like other early settlers, and they had many difficulties and discomforts. At night the kangaroos would be running round the hut, and the possums would come inside and over into the bed. He had slept under the limb of a tree with only a single blanket over it, and crossed the King River with a horse and dray when the tail-board of the dray was washed out. There was no racing or cricketing in those days. When night came a man was glad to sneak in and lie down quietly after clearing trees off his land, especially if the trees were like some he had experience of - that took 14 good bullocks to pull the stump out of the hole after breaking the drag-chain four times. The pioneers cleared the land, made roads, helped to build churches, schools, creameries, and now when the family got up in the morning the question often was - "What horse will I yoke up?" and "Will I take the buggy or the gig?" Or perhaps they would say "I won't ride that big rough brute." In his time they would have to ride the only horse or walk, and their only vehicle was the dray. He went to church in the dray, and if anyone drove past in a buggy they would at once say it must be the police magistrate. (Laughter). Yet they had reared their families well, and he was proud to think that the young people were realising the good work of their parents and fulfilling one of God's holy commandments, "Honour they father and mother." He thought that the pioneers as a whole had done well for the district, and they had shown pluck and endurance. Some young fellows today might think their fathers were hard on them, but let them remember what their parents went through when board was rough, bed was rough and work was hard, and they would come to realise how much more happy were their circumstance.

Mr Rowland HUGHES, Greta, said he felt like the old stonemason in his native country who remarked when asked to speak at a public gathering that he was more at home on the scaffold. (Laughter). He would certainly feel more at home at fencing or grubbing an old tree such as Mr DINNING had described. He had had his share of that work, and knew what it was to grub and clear at night the piece of land that he would plough next day. He had been 47 years in the State and 43 years in this district, and he and his friend, Mr SHANLEY, were specially favoured because they came out with the "Lightning". (Laughter). When he arrived at Greta the country was quite open between that place and Wangaratta, and after they managed to grow a few bags of grain they took them to town by the nearest way, that was the present road to Oxley. They sometimes returned by other tracks, and always took their bearings by two little clouds appearing in the south. He was very pleased to see that the young people had taken steps to show that they realised the pioneers had done something. They had at least put culverts and bridges over the creeks, so that friends could now visit one another without difficulty. He could assure them it was very different 40 years ago, and he would remind the young people who could now choose their sweethearts among hundreds that the choice of the old settlers could be counted on one's fingers (Laughter and cheers).

Mr David FLEMING, Myrrhee, said he was glad to be amongst so many old pioneers, several of whom he knew 40 years ago, and to be the guest of the young people who had taken such interest in the night's entertainment. He wished success to the young people. He had been in the country for about 50 years, mostly in this district, and first met Mr MASON 45 years ago at Myrrhee station when there was no habitation between that place and Greta. The late Mr John DENNETT was the first man he knew at Greta. While he had not been very fortunate, he was glad to know that several of the old pioneers had done well, and they deserved all they got.

Mr James O'BRIEN, Greta, said he had lived in the district since 1861, and was in the State seven years before then. At that time there was no chance of selecting land, and unless a man had £640 to buy a section he could do nothing. Labour also was dear. A man named OSBORNE was agitating in Melbourne against the land laws about the time of his arrival, and in 1859 the Nicholson Land Act was passed. He (Mr O'BRIEN) selected under that Act, and thought he had nothing to do but get the land, but when he came to the district he found that the cost of carting produce over bush tracks to Wangaratta was very great, for the bullocks had to splash through water and the driver was up to his knees half the time. The old pioneers had to suffer a good deal in the beginning, but they had got over it and many of them were prosperous. Their children were a credit to them, and he believed they could not find a more prosperous looking lot of young farmers in the State than were present that night. He was sorry to say that there were few left of those who came to the district with him. He knew Mr MASON when he was a boy looking after the cattle on his father's station, and remembered one occasion when he recovered a horse of his that a blackfellow was trying to get hold of. The old pioneers had had a long struggle, and he was one of them now on the border, but he was pleased to recognise that the younger generation were following well in their footsteps. (Laughter).

Mr George COLVILLLE, Greta, and Mr Denis O'KEEFE, Laceby West, were also called upon for reminiscences, but contended that previous speakers had spoken for them.

Mr John REES, Greta, who spoke as an Australian native born at Coburg, gave an interesting account of adventures he had in his young days in the Riverina, his father being one of the first white men to settle at Echuca and also at Deniliquin. The blackfellows gave them great trouble in 1846 and subsequent years, and he had gone through all the trials of the early settlers, "bunging the mill," as grinding wheat was called in those days, living on goats' milk, without potatoes, etc.

Mr R J MASON said he might supplement his previous remarks by referring to his late father, whose early arrival in Australia made him, as his son, appear quite a new chum. His father arrived in Sydney in 1827 after four months' travelling and was in the constabulary for two years. For three years afterwards he was captain of a boat trading between Sydney and another NSW port, and then got a station near Goulburn, NSW, with a man named SHELLEY. In 1837 he went to the head of the Hume (now the Murray) river with several others of a syndicate who took up a station there, and his wife (the speaker's mother) was the first white woman on what is now known as the Upper Murray. They had many hardships there – had to tan their own leather and make their own boots, make their ploughs out of trees, grind their own flour, etc. Mr DINNING had remarked that the dray was the only vehicle in his early days, but in his parents' time they used the bullock waggon in which to travel to church and elsewhere. They visited Sydney once a year for supplies, using the bullock waggon and spending three weeks on the trip. His father bought the Fifteen Mile Station here in 1838, so it would be seen that he was really a pioneer. (Cheers).

The toast of Sons of the Pioneers was proposed by Mr MASON in felicitous terms, and he remarked that the Australian natives could hold their own in almost every department, as proved by their successes in cricket, football, rowing, boxing, etc.

Mr Dan SLATER (Bobinawarrah) and Mr Mark CORKER (Hansonville) responded, the latter remarking that he hoped the sons of the old pioneers would be able to follow in the footsteps of their fathers and hold their own.

Mr R CURLETT proposed the toast of the Parliaments, and Mr M J O'BRIEN responded.

Mr George SMITH (Greta) proposed the health of the Oxley Shire Council. He said he could claim to be the son of a pioneer and was, perhaps, the oldest man born within 12 miles of the building in which they were now assembled. He was born at Milawa, but when only six months old was brought to Greta and had lived there since that time. His father regretted that through ill-health he was unable to be present, but his good wishes were with the gathering, and he could have spoken also to the toast as he had been a member of Oxley Council for seven years.

The Chairman responded. The changes in Oxley Council were shown by the fact that he was now the oldest member in point of continuous service, and he appreciated the good feeling displayed by the ratepayers in having returned him on several occasions without opposition. Oxley Council was amongst the first in the State, and it was very noticeable that when their Councillors went to Melbourne on deputations the Ministers and heads of departments were only too pleased to assist them. The ratepayers had a good deal to put up with, of course, but so had the Councillors, and he could claim that the money placed at their disposal was judiciously spent. (Applause).

Mr John DINNING proposed the toast of the Agricultural and Dairying Industry. He traced the progress of the district from the days of early settlement until now when it was amongst the first in the State. Their soil was called pipeclay in the olden days, but they had shown that their district could produce as good horses, either for the shafts or the racecourse, as anywhere, and they were foremost in the dairying industry. It was the dairying industry that had enabled them to turn the tide and had really brought them together that night. He urged the young people to till the ground well, not to "rough" over it, but to put every sod it its place. Let them do their duty to the land and God would send the seasons. The soil in the district was all right — they could depend upon that; and he was now putting potatoes in ground that was as good as the day he took trees out of it. (Applause).

Mr F TANNER, manager of Hanson Butter factory, responded, remarking that so far as their own factory was concerned it was in the front rank and could hold its own with any in the State.

Mr Charles EVANS (Wangaratta) proposed the health of The Ladies in a neat speech, and Mr Dan SLATER responded. The toast of the Press was proposed by Mr Sam E ELLIS, and the health of the Chairman, proposed in happy terms by Mr Rowland HUGHES, concluded the toast list.

On the motion of the Chairman a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr M J O'BRIEN, the initiator of the banquet, for his services. Mr O'BRIEN, having responded, proposed votes of thanks to the Chairman; to the energetic and courteous secretary, Mr J Hubert MASON, and his assistant, Mr Patrick O'BRIEN; to Mrs BAUCHOP for loan of piano; and to Mr and Mrs John HUGHES for their invaluable assistance. The votes were heartily accorded.

Songs were rendered during the evening by Mrs G BAUCHOP, Misses WHITTY, MASON, BAUCHOP, Messrs John JEFFREY, and M J O'BRIEN. Mrs BAUCHOP kindly lending her pianoforte for the accompaniments. Two pioneers in Messrs J TANNER and John REES also rendered old-time songs in good voice, while Mr John PRENDERGAST danced an Irish jig with considerable ability for one so elderly, and his graceful stepping was enthusiastically applauded.

Mr HUGHE's well built and roomy barn had been set apart for dancing, and many of the younger people adjourned thither before the speech-making was concluded, but they were joined later on by their elders, a feature of the dance programme being a quadrille restricted to old pioneers. Several hours were spent very pleasantly, and the entertainment was generally regarded as the most memorable and enjoyable held in Greta for many years.

Wangaratta Chronicle, Saturday June 13, 1908

STORY OF THE NORTH-EAST. AS TOLD BY ITS PIONEERS. Mr James WALSH, Edi, is one of the earliest settlers in this district. He crossed the Ovens River at Wangaratta with his father and mother one early January day in 1814 [sic], as a child three years of age. He has heard his father say that Wangaratta was then all trees and grass, with two slab huts on the red bank at the Junction where Mr A L M STEELE’s residence now stands. Mr WALSH, therefore, takes the history of Wangaratta further back than any other living man excepting the Messrs F G and J B DOCKER, of Bontharambo, and he is still not an old man.

COMING TO AUSTRALIA.  Mr WALSH says: “I was born in Galway, Ireland, in 1841, and came out with my father, mother and brother in 1843. We landed in Melbourne on Christmas Day. Within a few days my father was engaged as a shepherd by the Rev Mr DOCKER, of Bontharambo, to help in the general management of his sheep. I, of course, remember little or nothing of the trip up. That same year my father went over to work for Mr CLARK, on the Murray, near Gooramadda, and then to the Mount Battery Station of Mr CHENERY. My father stayed there six months, and then decided to leave the colony and go to the Cape of Good Hope. We made the return journey to Melbourne, and all the arrangements had been fixed for going, when a better prospect was opened up to my father by Mr CHAPMAN, who had a station at Laceby, and he took his cart and other belongings out of the ship again and we were soon on our way back.

SNOW AT LACEBY.  I remember that in the same year – 1846 – there was a heavy fall of snow all over the Oxley Plains, and it lay so long on the ground that the shepherds at Laceby were cutting down the branches of the trees to keep sheep and cattle alive. From Laceby my father moved across the river, and took charge of Mr Geo FAITHFUL’s sheep at the Home Station. The family moved over, and lived in a shepherd’s hut, which was on the bank of the tea garden Creek, on what is now Mrs M REID’s property. Shepherding was the only work we did.

ENCOUNTERS WITH BLACKS.  There were not many blacks about when we went to the station; but the owners had had several encounters with them prior to that, and one severe engagement of the king River, near the Home Station. I heard of one close shave while I was there. One of the shepherds had been out on the run, and was chased by blacks. One spear passed through his hat and pinned it quivering to a tree that was just in front of him. When we were at Mr CHISOLM’s Myrrhee station, Mr BROADRIBB, overseer, had a very narrow escape. He was returning to the station when he caught sight of two blacks shadowing him. He turned and faced them, and they took cover. He then walked backwards half a mile, they following, until he came within hearing of the station, when he gave a long ‘Coo-ee.’ The men came running out from the station, and one had a gun. The blacks were just preparing for a rush nearer, when each got a bullet that ended his career. Mr FAITHFUL made a very determined stand against the blacks, and they gave the place a wide berth latterly.

DROUGHT IN 1853.  We had one very severe drought in 1853, when the King River was only a chain of water holes, and we took out three loads of fish from some of these holes. Some of the fish were heavier than we could lift. The seasons were, however, generally good, and we had no grasshoppers or rabbits in those days. I can remember seeing plenty of game in those days – kangaroos, emus, and wild turkeys like flocks of sheep. The plains and flats were covered with kangaroo grass. There were big trees along the rivers, but the plains were fairly open, with heavily grassed land sloping to the rivers. Near the junction at Wangaratta there was a crossing place over the King River, and a tree that was used as a footbridge. That was called ‘Perry’s Log.’ Two well known men were drowned there.

CLEVER HORSEMANSHIP.  Mr W FAITHFUL was a spirited gentleman, and a good horseman. He rode a good horse, and I have seen him put his hat on the ground, ride away a distance and then come back at it at full gallop and pick it up. He was a thorough gentleman, and if he found that a man was straight he would stick to him. When the diggings opened he offered my father the pick of the run to go and start a butcher’s shop; but my father preferred to try his luck on the gold-fields. He went to Bendigo, and did well there; then came back here to Reid’s Creek and again got gold. Jimmy BELLOW and Dan O’SULLIVAN were his partners. They all did well.

SHEPHERDING AT EDI.  During this time I was left in the employ of Mr FAITHFUL, shepherding. He had a cattle and sheep station at Edi also, near the King River, where Mr Dominick FARRELL lived afterwards, and he (Mr FARRELL) planted the poplars that are there still. The wild dogs were pretty bad at Edi, and many a run we had after them with the kangaroo dogs. We also used poison, and so kept them down.

SETTLES DOWN.   In 1853 my father bought land at Tarrawingee, and we lived there for some years. Later we went to Edi, and when the Land Act opened up the lands of the State we selected 320 acres at Edi. This we fenced and partially cleared, and added to it.

REMEMBERS BLACK THURSDAY.  I was shepherding on Hurdle Creek for Mr George FAITHFUL on Black Thursday. It was fearfully hot, and the air was filled with smoke which came across from Myrrhee was in the morning. You could not see 100 yards ahead. But we saw no fire. All we got was the smoke. I remember the big flood of 18??. It was preceeded by a very dry summer. The fish were lying dead in the holes of the King Rivers.

Mr WALSH has many reminiscences to relate of the early bush life of Wangaratta and districts.

Wangaratta Chronicle, Saturday January 21, 1911

A COLONIST OF FIFTY YEARS. Mr R SHANLEY Celebrates the Event.   Mr Richard SHANLEY, who was born in the Parish of Kell, King’s Country, Ireland, came to Australia 50 years ago, and for the half-century has been a resident of the Upper King district, residing on his beautiful “Fairfield” property since 1870. On Wednesday last, Mr SHANLEY celebrated his 50 years’ residence in Victoria by giving a banquet to which old pioneers of the Moyhu district (ladies and gentlemen) with members of their families, and also other friends and neighbours were invited. The function should have taken place in September last, but as some of Mr SHANLEY’s sons and daughters occupy Government positions and could not attend at that time, it was postponed till Wednesday. It was a unique and interesting gathering, and brought together many of the old identities of the district. In all about 150 persons, old and young, responded to the invitations so generously and kindly issued by Mr SHANLEY to be present and join with him and his family in celebrating the occasion. It was impossible for him to invite all his friends because they are legion. The guests, as they arrived, were met and welcomed to “Fairfield” by Mr SHANLEY, and they in return extended congratulations in keeping with the auspicious occasion.

At 2 o’clock the guests were invited to partake of an excellent banquet, nicely laid out in the granary, which had been decorated with greenery, flowers, etc. The catering was in the hands of Mr D KANE, of Wangaratta, and he had everything of the best required for such an occasion. Mr John EVANS, of “Redcamp” occupied the chair, and Mr R J MASON, of  “Fairfield Park” acted as vice-chairman. The Chairman had the Host seated on his right hand side. The Chairman having announced the reasons for their gathering together that day, on behalf of Mr SHANLEY asked them to now partake of this hospitality. It was not long before all were doing justice to the dishes and delicacies provided, and this part of the programme having been completed a commencement was made with the toast list. The health of the King having been proposed and honoured.

The Chairman proposed the toast of “The Host and Hostess – Mr and Mrs Richard SHANLEY”. In doing so the Chairman said that he had known Mr SHANLEY for more years than he would like to tell – he was a boy when Mr SHANLEY worked for his (Mr EVANS’) father at Whitfield 50 years ago. Mr SHANLEY came to Victoria when quite a young man, tackling Australia and hard work on his own, and without any support from others or assistance from Government he worked his way along quietly but surely to the splendid position he now holds – a position of independence and security. (Applause.) It was said that he came to Victoria with nothing, but that was incorrect. He came with the very best assets any man could be blessed by God with He started with a level head, a strong body and heart, and plenty of energy. For proof of this they had simply to look at Mr SHANLEY now and at the fine well kept homestead and property of “Fairfield”. Mr SHANLEY was still hale and hearty, showing that he had a strong body and sound constitution. He had worked as hard as most men and yet looked fresh and bright. That he had a level head and plenty of energy was seen in the comfortable home and surroundings he had hewn out of the great forest that existed when he selected the land. The little Irishmen of Mr SHANLEY’s type were hard to beat. All he had he attained by his own sterling industry, strength, thrift and honesty. (Applause.) It afforded him great pleasure to be present and congratulate Mr SHANLEY on attaining his 50th year of Colonial life. It was pleasing to see so many of his neighbours and friends present considering it was the busy season of the year. This was proof that he had been a good and honest neighbour during his 50 years ‘ residence in this district it was a thing any many would feel justly proud of. (Applause.) When Mr SHANLEY came to the district 50 years ago seeking for land there was no motor car to drive him out to inspect lands for sale – no he had to walk from Wangaratta to Whitfield, and found his way as best he could by following the river course and a bridle track; and when he struck the district he liked it that well that he remained in it to the present day (hear, hear.) It was his wish that Mr SHANLEY would still continue to prosper. Mr and Mrs SHANLEY had a family of nine sons and daughters, all of whom were with them that day, of whom any parents would be proud, and they in turn looked up to and respected their parents. ….

Mr SHANLEY then became reminiscent, and related some interesting incidents. ……..   He was born at Kell, King’s County, Ireland, and arrived in Hobson’s Bay on 31st October, 1860, after a voyage extending from 5th August. The sailing was good and nothing very eventful occurred on the trip. There was, however, a death, a marriage and a birth on board, which caused mixed feelings of sorrow and joy. He had as shipmates Mr Joseph CLEARY, late of Greta, Mr and Mrs Rowland HUGHES, of Greta, Mr David EVANS (brother of Mr John EVANS, of Redcamp) now deceased, and Mr Ben EVANS (first cousin of Mr John EVANS) also deceased. Mr David EVANS was returning to Victoria from England with machinery for the Wangaratta flour mills, which the late Mr Wm CLARK and he were starting. The mills were now owned by Messrs TEAGUE Bros. On arrival in Melbourne he remained with Mr and Mrs CLEARY for a few days, and in the meantime he secured employment with Mr John EVANS (father of the present Mr John EVANS, of Redcamp.) He arrived at Wangaratta, then a hamlet, by coach, and started the same morning on foot for Whitfield, arriving at the home station, 30 miles from Wangaratta, at 8.30 that night. It was a wild weary walk as there was no road or bridges; he had to simply follow bridle tracks and the river. The first place he called at was the hut of the late Mr Andrew BYRNE, 14 miles out. He was made welcome and given some lunch. He was carrying a small swag, about the size of a porter bottle, and all he possessed in the world besides what he wore was in that swag. Mr BYRNE went a mile through the bush with him, and he next dropped in at the Old Dairy, where Mrs JONES (mother of Messrs David, Herbert and William, and wife of Mr Roland JONES, of Sydney) gave him a cup of tea and wanted him to stop until “Roland” returned and he would lend him a horse. He was anxious however to reach Whitfield that night and pushed on, Mrs JONES going about half-a-mile along the track to direct him. She told him to be on the look out for Spring Gully and the Cobbler’s Hut, but as it got dark he missed them and did not see them until a fortnight later. He trudged on until he observed a light in the distance, and this he made for. On arrival at the place where the light was he found he had struck the Whitfield Station Homestead, and the first persons he saw were his two old ship-mates, Messrs David and Ben EVANS. He was tired after his walk, but he was up and at work early the next morning. He did general farm work, and after a while received promotion to the position of Station Cheese maker. He could make a good cheese, and they gained prizes at Wangaratta and other places. He had a vivid recollection of the accident that befell Mr John EVANS, snr, which ended fatally after nine days. Pleuro had broken out amongst the bullocks, and Mr EVANS, David and himself were separating and yarding bullocks they believed were affected. They were endeavouring to yard a wild one, and Mr EVANS, who was on horseback, stood the muzzle-loading gun he was carrying down against a stump in order that he might be freer to help them. They yarded the bullock, and Mr EVANS went to get the gun, but just as he grasped the muzzle of the gun the horse plunged and the sudden jerk caused the weapon to discharge. The ram-rod was down the muzzle, and it was blown out with great force, striking Mr EVANS in the abdomen. They carried him home, and he (Mr SHANLEY) rode into Wangaratta for Dr DOBBIN, who went out and remained with Mr EVANS for the nine days until he died. He remained at the Whitfield Station for about 12 months, and then went to work for Mr Dom FARRELL, of Moyhu. After 12 months with him he worked for Mr John DENNETT, of Greta, for 4 ½ years. After that he went to work for Mr John EVANS (their worthy chairman), and soon after rented portion of “Manarhee estate” from Mr Evan EVANS, and started farming on his own. He sent home for his father, mother and brother, and they arrived about 1867. In 1870 he selected 320 acres of “Redcamp” station and settled down to work and make a home for himself, and there he had resided ever since. He named his property “Fairfield” after the name of his father’s property in Ireland. He added piece by piece to his first selection, and he now had about 1400 acres. He had enjoyed life as he went his way, and had always found the people of the district the best friends and neighbours one could wish for. ….

Wangaratta Chronicle, Wednesday October 8, 1913

GRETA DISTRICT PIONEER - Mr R. J. MASON.   TO BE ENTERTAINED BY RESIDENTS.   After a residence of 59 years at Hanson South Mr Robt. J. MASON, of "Fairfield Park" has sold his well-improved property to Mr W. B. HUNGERFORD, of Malvern, and intends taking up his residence in Wangaratta. The residents of the Greta and Moyhu districts have decided not to allow this old pioneer of the Greta district to depart without entertaining him, in order to show their appreciation of his qualities as a resident, neighbour, successful farmer and pioneer. They have arranged to tender him a banquet and presentation, which will take place in the Hansonville Hall on Wednesday evening, 15th inst.

The MASON family have been known in Australia for 86 years now. Mr R. J. MASON is one of the best known residents in the North-Eastern District, and is popular not only in his own (Greta) locality but throughout the Wangaratta and Benalla districts. His residence of 59 years in the district has been marked with success, and he has shown nothing but goodwill to all who know him, the generous hospitality always extended to visitors to "Fairfield Park" on Fifteen Mile Creek Station as it was known 60 years ago. Mr MASON, senr., was born in Berkshire, England, and landed in Sydney in 1827, being amongst the early arrivals in the Mother Colony. He was a member of the Sydney police Force for a couple of years when he resigned - on his disapproving of the harsh treatment to which convicts were subjected - and afterwards became Captain on a boat running between Sydney and Parramatta. Having a liking for the land he decided to seek employment on a station in order to gain experience with horses, cattle, sheep, etc. He secured an engagement on Mr SHELLY's station at Goulbourn NSW, where he remained for several years, learning every point possible from men of experience there. When he left there he was considered an expert in the treatment and handling of horses, and also a good judge of cattle. In 1837 he made one of a syndicate that purchased Biggerie Station on the Upper Murray and worked it for some years with success. Before going on to "Biggerie" he married Miss MURPHY, of Parramatta, and she was the first white woman that went to live on the Upper Murray, and the son born early in 1838 was the first white child born in that territory. The blacks were very troublesome in that part of the country, and frequently encounters occurred between them and the settlers, especially when the blacks would spear a bullock for food. Mr R. J. MASON was born on "Biggerie" station on 26th March, 1843, and soon after his father purchased "Maraket" station lower down the Murray, where the family went to live. At the age of nine years Mr MASON, who had taken to the saddle when a mere youngster, and afterwards became a noted rider of buck-jumpers, made his first long journey (accompanied by his father) across country to the Darling with stock. In the following year, 1853, his father and he drove a number of bullocks to Beechworth via Albury Tallangatta, Keiwa and Yackandandah - a journey of about 100 miles over almost unknown country. The cattle were sold to a butcher on the gold fields - his shop being built of slabs and stringybark - at a low figure. The population of the country being sparse and cattle numerous prices were very low. Mr MASON, senr., went to Melbourne with a bullock wagon and made two trips between there and the Bendigo gold fields and one to Beechworth, receiving £100 per ton for the goods carted. Groceries and other requirements for "Maraket" station were purchased in Sydney, Mr MASON, senr., making the trip once a year with a bullock wagon, the journey occupying three months. Like other early pioneers he tanned the leather needed for footwear, and made the boots required for the family; constructed wooden ploughs that were used in those days, cut the crop with scythes, threshed it with a flail, and ground the wheat for flour with a hand mill. A relic of those early days can still be seen at "Fairfield Park" in the form of an old hand grinder.

COMING TO WANGARATTA.  In 1854 Mr MASON and his father arrived at Wangaratta on their way up the King River to inspect Glenmore Station, which was for sale. The contractors were just completing the first bridge erected over the Ovens river at Wangaratta, and Mr CLARK had only during the preceding year built the first portion of the present Commercial Hotel. They stopped there for the night. The Wangaratta pound was in existence with Mr A TONE as keeper. Amongst the few residents living on the King River road were Messrs BRETT, VINCENTS, and WHITE; "Laceby" Station was owned by Mr MOORE and "Myrrhee" by Mr CHISHOLM. Mr D H EVANS was dairying on part of Myrrhee Station, and Mr John EVANS (father of Mr John EVANS, of Redcamp) was living on Whitfield station. Mr MASON and his father stopped at Mr J EVANS's the night after leaving Wangaratta, and with him, next day went to inspect "Bungamero," which Mr MASON's father did not approve of. On the suggestion of Mr EVANS they travelled across to Greta and inspected the "Fifteen Mile Creek" Station, which was for sale, and Mr MASON, senr., considering it a good property, decided to purchase it. On account of the wet weather they stopped at HOLLOWAY's Hotel, Greta, for two days, and saw the North Eastern mail carried past on pack-horses, the coaches being stuck up in the heavy roads. At this time the main Sydney road went round by Greta. Mr MASON rode to Rockey Waterholes, near Kilmore and closed with the owner, Mr TRAINOR, for the purchase of "Fifteen Mile Creek" Station. In 1855 "Maraket" Station was sold to the late Mr STRAUGHAN (Mrs STRAUGHAN and some of the family still reside on it), and in February the MASON family started for "Fifteen Mile Creek", bringing 953 head of cattle and 133 horses across with them. Trouble was experienced in holding the stock, which endeavoured to break away during the night; but every hoof was safely landed. The journey over occupied three weeks. For the next 18 months the cattle were very restless. There were no dividing fences in existence in those days, bullock and horses frequently got away, necessitating long and rough journeys for the members of the family who went in search of them. Some of Mr MASON's cattle and horses found their way back to Maraket, while others were picked up in the Wangaratta pound. Things went along merrily at "Fifteen Mile Creek" station under the new owner and prosperous times loomed ahead.

IN BUSINESS.  The prices given for fat cattle were very low, bullocks that turned the scales at 8 cwt. fetching £4. As they were heavily stocked Mr MASON decided to open a butcher's shop in Benalla, and placed his son, R. J. MASON, in charge. Prime roast beef was sold at 2d. per lb., rump steak and undercut at 3d, and other pieces at proportionate prices. Mr MASON's made the fifth butcher's shop in Benalla at the time, but 12 months after only two existed - R MASON's and T FLEMING's. Two years later the business was disposed of, and Mr MASON, then twenty-one years of age, went home to manage the station for his father, who died some years later respected and esteemed by everyone acquainted with him.

DISTRICT SETTLEMENT.  The country was sparsely populated, the nearest neighbours being many miles away. In 1864 Mr FORGE built a hotel at Greta in opposition to HOLLOWAY's. In 1865 the first race meeting was held at Greta and was carried out in the vicinity of FORGE's Hotel, saddles and bridles being given as prizes. There was a large gathering, old and young men coming from all parts with something "dark" capable of beating his neighbour's or friend's best hack. They raced then for the honour and glory of winning. Mr MASON had a couple of good hacks, and won two events during the day, riding them to victory himself. The door of the hotel acted as a judge's box. Mr MASON was also a noted buckjump rider, and would travel many miles to ride a horse that was classed as an outlaw. On one occasion, accompanied by a number of followers, he went across to "Cocked Hat" station near St James to ride a reputed outlaw, and succeeded in mastering the horse. Mr John EVANS, the present squire of "Redcamp," was also a great horseman of those days, and together they did some fine bush work when mustering stock on the rough country. Mr MASON considers a better stockman than Mr EVANS was not to be found in the country at the time. On "Fifteen Mile Creek" 126 cows were milked by four hands, and large quantities of cheese and butter were made and sold on the diggings and at Wangaratta. Mr MASON sold one load of cheese in Wangaratta to Messrs DUNLOP and LAMONT for £80, and also received £18 per ton for potatoes. He took fifty head of horses overland to Melbourne, and they were sold through CAMPBELL's bazaar, by the late Mr CAMPBELL, senr., for from £2 to £13 each, prices being ridiculously low at that time. When the stations were broken up under the 1870 Land Act, settlement rapidly took place in the district, and Mr MASON had neighbours living only eight miles away. The nearest neighbours were Messrs GLENN, DENNETT, FORGE and LLOYDs. To get their mail Mr EVANS or one of the hands would ride to Benalla once a month. They then had a post office opened at Greta, the late mr Samuel ELLIS being the first postmaster. They got their mail there once a week for some time, and then it was increased to twice a week.

INCREASING HIS HOLDINGS.  Mr MASON continued to add to his original half section block of 320 acres by buying out farms around him, until "Fairfield Park" embraced 2000 acres of some of the best land in the Greta district. In 1873 he married Miss E K WHITTY, of Moyhu, and of a family of 13 reared 11 children, nine of who are married. He was on several occasions approached to stand for the Oxley Shire Council, but declined, deciding to devote his time and attention to the furtherance of his own affairs. He followed mixed farming and horse breeding with success. He grew some excellent tobacco leaf. His first experience with tobacco was rendered unprofitable owing to the plants being attacked with blue mould, but the next year when he put in only 5 and a half acres (a fifth of what he put in the first year) he obtained a good crop, and received 1s a lb. For the leaf, and collected £493. He grew tobacco for about 30 years with varying success. He also harvested some fine crops of wheat and oats, and drew some big milk cheques.

AMONGST THE HORSES.  Mr MASON is a lover of a good horse, and is also a good judge of horses. As proof of this latter assertion it might be mentioned that for thirty years past he has acted as judge of blood horses, hacks and hunters at numerous shows in Victoria and New South Wales, including the Royal Show. He was one of the originators of the Greta and Moyhu Race Clubs (started in the seventies), and held the position of President, treasurer, judge, handicapper, etc., in turn. He raced a hack at the Wangaratta races in 1856. The blood sires that he owned included Stockman and Fenian by Dolo (imp.), the latter being out of Wild Irish Girl a well known steeplechase mare raced by the late Ben WARBY, of Tamanick; Touchstone, sire of the dam of Vanguard. He purchased Whalebone in Queensland, and he won eleven races with him, defeating the renowned Buzzi over the fences at Benalla and Moyhu, thereby causing great excitement. Makado II, sire of Yum Yum, was another successful sire owned by Mr MASON. He also owned the draught sires British Admiral and Lord Harrington and the roadster Zabdass. He owned some fast horses in his time, and also some successful hurdle-racers. The name of R J MASON has always been connected with clean racing, and horses running under his colours were triers every time whether he rode them himself or not. Robinhood, Tipperary Boy, Chester, Aruma, Hermit, Chancellor, Steersman, Lantern, Mora, Telegraph, Touchstone, Whalebone, and others were amongst the best he owned. He won some big races, including £80 Handicap race at Jamieson and £50 Handicap at Bright with Aruma (Tom. LLOYD, of Greta, being in the saddle), £40 Steeplechase at Mansfield and £25 Steeplechase at Avenel with Lantern. Aruma also won a handicap of £25 over three miles, run at Violet Town.

CONCLUSION. Mr MASON has witnessed the progress of the Wangaratta district, and for all round farming considered it one of the best in the Commonwealth. And now when about to take a well-deserved holiday from the toils and worries of the land he does not intend leaving the district, but will settle in Wangaratta. Mr Ben. MASON, of Fifteen Mile Creek, Mr John MASON, Benalla, Mr Thos. MASON, Rockview, Mrs NEIL, Deniliquin, Mrs DWYER, Junee and Mrs T SKELTON, Benalla, are brothers and sisters of Mr MASON. Nine years ago Mr MASON built a commodious brick dwelling at "Fairfield Park", and the property is considered to be one of the best improved in the North-Eastern District. In order to combat the rabbit pest eleven miles of wire-netting is erected on it. The members of Mr MASON's family who reside in Moyhu, Hanson, Wangaratta and other parts are all respected residents.

The members of Mr MASON's family are: - Mrs O GRAY, Wangaratta, and late of Tungamah; Mrs G DOCKENDORFF, Wangaratta; Mrs W SILVEY, Charlton; Mrs M BARBETA, Berrigan; and Miss Ruby MASON, Wangaratta; Messrs John MASON, Melbourne; J Hubert MASON, Wangaratta; Percy MASON, Moyhu; Leo. MASON, of Murchison; Chas. MASON, Nathalia; and Bert MASON, Richmond. There are 13 grand children.

Wangaratta Chronicle, Saturday November 4 1922

EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTH-EAST. SOME INTERESTING FACTS. (By “Old Timer” in Yarrawonga Mercury.)

I will just give a few of the names of the old stations and their areas and grazing capabilities, so as present-day men and women (who do not know, and in many instances do not care) may know what those old pioneers had done for the country by opening it up, as follows:-

Ovens Crossing Place Station. – Occupier, William CLARKE; area, 11,000 acres; grazing capabilities, 660 cattle; on the west bank of the ovens river adjoining the township of Wangaratta. This place was most historical, as it was the crossing place of all the Overlanders between Sydney and Melbourne, and it was here that FAITHFUL, the first settler on the Ovens (the holder of Oxley Plains Station) met J DOCKER, better known as Parson DOCKER, who was going west in search of fresh country to squat on with his herds. It was his intention to go down the west side of the ovens, and if he did not find suitable country there to go lower down the Murray. FAITHFUL told him that there was good country down there, but the blacks were very warlike and he would not advise him to go there. So he turned back and settled at Bontherambo.

Oxley Plains Station. - Occupier, H FAITHFUL; area, 85,000 acres; grazing capabilities, 9125 cattle; situated on the Ovens and King rivers, south-east of Wangaratta. The King river was named after the grandfather of Mr KING, the Melbourne barrister, who was killed some little time ago by a fall from a horse. He was one of the firm of lawyers of Messrs Gavan DUFFY and KING. It was also from Oxley Plains Station that a party set out to settle country near Euroa, but were massacred (at what is now known as Faithful’s Creek) by the blacks, it was alleged through some of the party taking a gin; only one man escaped and got back to Wangaratta, being followed practically all the way by the infuriated blacks. He was a well known identity of Benalla, known as Sawyer BROWN. It was a marvel to many how he stayed the distance, as he was a short stout man. When the news got about that the party had been murdered men gathered from all the stations and started out in pursuit of the tribe. It was easy to trace them, as they had taken a cross-cut saw belonging to the party, and wherever they went they were trying it on logs and trees. When the party of pursuing horsemen came up to the tribe they practically wiped them out.

Bontherambo Plains Station. – Occupier, J DOCKER; area, 100,000 acres; grazing capabilities 43, 750 sheep; on the Ovens River north of Wangaratta.

Taminick Plains Station. – Occupier, B WARBY, junr.; area, 22,000 acres; grazing capabilities, 2640 sheep; situated on the west of the Ovens river on the west of Flutter’s (sic) Range, nine miles west of Wangaratta. The place is now known as Warby Ranges. This station is of more than usual interest to the people of Yarrawonga, for it was there that that grand pioneer women of Yarrawonga was born, the wife of the late Mr Robert SHARP, of Burramine, the first selector on the Yarrawonga Station. Also it was there that MORGAN, the bushranger, came and partook of the hospitality of the WARBY’s uninvited I may say; but still even he was satisfied with the kindness he received at their hands. I have good reason to believe Mrs SHARP has still the table in her possession that the desperado had his meal off. He went away without doing, or threatening to do, any injury to any of the family. MORGAN was on his way back to New South Wales after his futile attempt to shoot Evan EVANS on the King river at Red Bank Station. It was his intention to go through to Mansfield to shoot two stockmen on Mount Battery Station, then the property of Dr ROW, because he reckoned they had put the station in the know that he was prowling about. At any rate, MORGAN, or as he was known there as “Down the River Jack,” was shot at Peechelba.

Killawarra Station.- Occupier, E B GREEN; area 57,000 acres; grazing capabilities, 6400 sheep.

Mokowan Station. – Occupier, Bank of Australasia; area 36,000 acres; grazing capabilities, 4320 sheep.

Wangaratta Chronicle Wednesday April 29, 1925

WANGARATTA PIONEERS.  Mr Rowland VINCENT. On Saturday, 25th inst., Mr Rowland VINCENT, of Ryley Street, Wangaratta, celebrated his 80th birthday, and members of the family and friends gathered under to render their congratulations. Mr VINCENT is still hale and hearty, and takes a delight in conversing of the early days of Wangaratta. He was only a year and eight months old when his parents, the late Mr and Mrs Jacob VINCENT, came to Wangaratta. This was on the 1st January, 1847. In the early days, said Mr VINCENT, Wangaratta was a small affair. There were a few houses scattered about in the area between Reid, Ovens and Faithful streets; also some over the Ovens river. His father purchased the first farm from the Government, the same land now being owned by Mr Geo GRIBBES, off Vernon road. Mr VINCENT’s first job was the erection of some buildings for the late Samuel WHITE  and he was then only 16 years of age. He was always rather more inclined to carpentry than farming, but selected land at Greta in 1867. Two years later his father gave him 268 acres between the Oxley road and the One Mile Creek, and he also selected 100 acres adjoining. This latter area, which he afterwards sold to the late Mr DOCKENDORFF, is now part of the Closer Settlement area known as McCARDEL’s. In 1869 he was married to Miss Phoebe DALE, a daughter of the late Mr W DALE, J.P., the officiating clergyman being the Rev Caleb BOOTH, Church of England Minister. Although meeting with more or less success at farming, Mr VINCENT never took kindly to the land, and in 1881 he opened a butchering business in the old shop recently dismantled in Ryley Street near where Mr J FINN has just built a new and up-to-date villa. There he remained for two or three years, after which he again took to carpentry. For a time, when Mr SPEED was Town Clerk, he occupied the positions of Rate Collector and Market Inspector for the Borough.

Mr VINCENT states that he has seen as many as 200 teams camped on the banks of the One Mile Creek, in the days when DIXON’s store between his present residence and the narrow gauge crossing was a flourishing concern. On the hill to the right of his home was a large saw mill, but there were no buildings in Murphy street, Ovens street was originally intended as the main street, but Murphy street with its lessened area was decided on. One incident of his boyhood that he well remembers was the journey of a number of blacks of the Wahgunyah tribe to fight the Broken River tribe. The blacks, however, did not get any further than Glenrowan, when they retraced their steps without meeting their rivals. He always had an extensive knowledge of the surrounding district, and on one occasion acted as guide to a large party of picnickers (locals and visitors) who spent the day at Warby’s Range (Salisbury Falls).

Both Mr and Mrs VINCENT (the latter 77 years of age), are enjoying perfect health, and love to converse of the old days. There are four sons, viz., Oscar (Coburg), Rowland (East Brunswick), Norman (Mildura) and C G (Wangaratta). Mrs M E GOLDSWORTHY (Fitzroy), and Mrs R A CUDDY (Hume Weir) are daughters. One son, William, joined the A.I.F. and after some months in camp sailed for active service. On the voyage he was stricken down with meningitis and was put ashore at Durban (South Africa), where he died in hospital. There are in addition 24 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

MR ALBERT VINCENT.   Messrs Rowland and Albert VINCENT are twin brothers, and relatives of the latter also gathered on Saturday to congratulate, amongst whom was a son (Alfred), who came from Wonthaggi. Mr Albert VINCENT took more kindly to the land than did his twin brother, and has resided at “Como” for many years, carrying out dairying and mixed farming. He was married to Miss LEISHMAN, daughter of the late Mr and Mrs T LEISHMAN, of Templeton street, Wangaratta. The officiating clergyman was Rev Mr ROBERTSON, Presbyterian Minister at Wangaratta. Mrs VINCENT died some years ago. Members of the VINCENT family always took a keen interest in the local Agricultural Society, and won many prizes for grain and produce. Members of the family are: James, Thomas, and Andrew (Wangaratta), and Alfred (Wonthaggi), Mrs J MORRISON, Mrs L VINCENT, and Miss Annie VINCENT (Wangaratta). There are nine grandchildren.

Other brothers are Reuben, George, and Arthur, and sister, Mrs S WHITE, all of Wangaratta. These are the surviving members of a family that saw Wangaratta in its early days. Their grandfather and father lived and died here, and the former was buried in the old cemetery in Faithful street, which residents are now endeavouring to have permanently cared for.

The Wangaratta of those days was a very primitive affair, and the early settlers had no idea that it would some day be the fine town it is now. To that pioneering band, however, is due much of the present day progress, for the hardships they endured before they made good would have turned many of the present generation off the land for good.

Wangaratta Chronicle Wednesday October 9, 1935

MEMORIES OF A STOCKMAN. ADVENTURES IN THE NORTH-EAST SIXTY YEARS AGO.   Mr William WEST, 85 years of age, in an interview with the editor of 'The Bacchus Marsh Express,' following a trip to the Royal Show in Melbourne, was in a reminiscent mood and proved he had a vivid memory of his adventurous youth, spent in and around the Wangaratta district, where he will probably be remembered by old residents. Mr WEST was born in Northamptonshire, England, in April, 1850, and was two years old when he arrived in Victoria with his parents by the ship 'Marlborough'.

An Epic Dray Journey.  In 1874 Mr WEST's father, who was leasing the Cave Hill Farm at Lillydale, took up a selection at Lake Rowan, when the Benalla district was thrown open for settlement. Transport of essential belongings was entrusted to the younger WEST, who set out with horse team and dray, accompanied by a lad. With him also was a friend named Jim WILLIS, who was similarly equipped, and had the intention of taking up a block of land in the same new settlement. At that time the Sydney road was in reasonable order, but the various districts road boards had toll-gates at Kilmore, Broadford, Tallarook, Seymour, Avenel, Longwood, Euroa and Violet Town, so that the two drays, 13 horses and one cow would have cost £1 a day in toll fees. It was therefore decided to avoid road charges by tackling a bush route via Black's Spur and Alexandra, although it added 50 miles to the trip. A start was made on Saturday morning with three horses harnessed to each dray. A violent thunderstorm was encountered towards noon, when the party was half-way to Launching Place. The next event was a minor mishap caused by the handles of a plough in WEST's dray fouling a tree. In the afternoon the same dray became bogged on a steep ascent, for which an extra horse had been hitched on in front. The four-horse team slewed sideways and jumped into a hole, breaking both shafts off the dray. Undeterred, the party struck camp, and a lad was sent back to Lillydale for another dray. This arrived on Sunday and after the load (including a box containing two hares, which Mr WEST claims were the first liberated in the North-East) had been transferred, the journey was resumed on Monday morning. Monday evening's camp was made at Ferrnshaw, at the foot of Black's Spur near a bridge on the Watt's River. Among the horses was a mare fretting for a foal left behind, and the precaution had been taken of hobbling her. A rail laid across the bridge was considered sufficient to hold the other animals. During the night Mr WEST, awakened by neighing, got up to find that the horses had knocked the rail down and set out for home. Barefooted, he ran after them and caught the hobbled mare, which he mounted and in a mad bareback pursuit without rein or bridle along a bush track he had to gallop four miles before he overtook the other 12 horses and headed them back to the camp. Black's Spur was safely negotiated next day. It was only a rough cutting but by 'double-banking' the teams the steep pinches were surmounted. Where Narbethong now is, the drays turned east to cross the Acheron River, where the ford had approaches of courduroy. WILLIS's dray made the first crossing and got over after a narrow escape from capsizing. WEST was not so fortunate, for his shaft horse fell down in midstream and only strenuous efforts rescued it from drowning. The dray had to be unloaded and the goods carried to dry land, where camp was struck; and most of the horses were securely hobbled. At midnight Mr WEST heard the horses splashing across the Acheron in another effort to return home; and he had no choice but to run through the river and drive the horses back. From there to Yarck via Alexandra was uneventful. Steep pinches through the United Kingdom Gap necessitated more double-banking. The top of the Gap had nearly been reached when a jolt dislodged from WEST's dray a water barrel which was accommodating a Gordon setter pup. The barrel rolled and bounced down the mountain side for half a mile before it smashed to pieces against a tree - but the pup picked itself up amidst the wreckage, unhurt! That afternoon the party camped at the Benalla road junction near Mansfield, and Mr WEST, reclining half asleep at the foot of a big gumtree, had the unpleasant experience of having an iguana run over his face to gain the tree and escape pursuit from the dogs. The next camp was made near Swanpool, where the country was rough and it was decided to watch the horses in shifts all night. Jim WILLIS's man - a newchum - had to take his turn keeping watch. Next morning the party woke to hear distant sounds, and on investigating found the newchum down an old mine shaft, 10 feet deep, into which he had fallen during the night. The man had had enough of the trip and unceremoniously left the party at Benalla. The eventful journey had occupied 14 days.  Either from Mynalong or Ballan came one John SWANNELL, to establish a public house at Lake Rowan. The new settlers were busy fencing their holdings, and the most used route to Benalla was via the old station track. SWANNELL for business reasons desired the surveyed road from Lake Rowan to Yarrawonga to be opened. Accordingly, the settlers formed a working bee and a furrow was ploughed by a man named George CLYNE for 28 miles from point to point. Mr WEST was one who went ahead of the plough, locating the survey pegs, and clearing away scrub. At that time, Mr WEST said, there was one house at Yarrawonga. Mr SWANNELL was a hardy man, who two days before he died sat up in bed and negotiated through the window for the purchase of a bullock team.

Raced against Ned Kelly.   Mr WEST recalled that he and Ned KELLY were among the riders in a rough steeplechase held one day at Lake Rowan. KELLY was a couple of lengths in front of WEST's horse as they went at a log fence, which brought KELLY down. Mr WEST said Ned KELLY had a lucky escape, for his horse fell on top of him, but it was cultivated land and KELLY had fallen in a furrow, and was only badly bruised. On another occasion Mr WEST, when riding to a muster on Mickey O'DONNELL's 'Merriang' Station at Myrtleford, had Ned KELLY as a companion for several miles along the road.  Needing a good hack to hunt wild horses Mr WEST travelled to Shepparton and purchased a splendid mount for £40. He was returning to Dandongadale Station (where he had become a stockman), through Moyhu and had crossed the King River to call at a store at Edi. There was a big rough-looking fellow in the store with a facial disfigurement and a stockwhip wound around his waist. This individual strode outside and intently surveyed Mr WEST's newly acquired steed. 'A nice horse you've got there,' said the storekeeper to Mr WEST. 'You'll likely lose it tonight.' Mr WEST assured the storekeeper that he would watch over the horse all night with a revolver, but the storekeeper told him that would only be looking for trouble. The storekeeper advised him to go to some people at Meadow Creek and ask them if they would stable the horse for the night. The storekeeper's advice was followed. Mr WEST called at the Meadow Creek establishment where three young men named WALTERS readily agreed to stable the horse, even assisting him to cut some chaff for it. Taking no chances, Mr WEST kept watch over the stable all night, but nothing happened.  Another KELLY scare was experienced one day on Dandongadale when young WEST's mate, named Con ALLEN, set out to drive some cattle across the junction of the Rose and Dandongadale rivers, two miles out. He was absent so long that Mr WEST was about to go in search of him, when he returned, to say that he had seen three men mounted on horses come into view over a ridge. ALLEN had stopped, and the strange trio hailed him. Not waiting an instant, ALLEN had galloped up the opposite rise and stayed hidden all day in the scrub. The two stockmen took the precaution of hiding their stock of firearms and ammunition under a blackberry bush, but no one showed up. Next day they went to the spot indicated by ALLEN and tracked the three horsemen for some distance.

Lost with Police.   About the year 1879 a party of Police arrived at Dandongadale and asked for a supply of mutton. The party comprised 13 troopers in charge of Sergeant STEELE and Inspector PARNELL, searching for the KELLY gang. No mutton being available, Mr WEST offered to help the Police find some wild cattle. Twelve or fourteen miles of steep country were covered without sighting any cattle. The party had crossed the Rose River and were ascending a steep grade when one of the two Police pack-horses fell and broke its shoulder. The horse had to be shot and the Police commandeered Mr WEST's packhorse. Camp was set up at a place called Bull's Head Flat, so named because a bullock's skull had been set up on a stump there. Mr WEST and two Wangaratta troopers named McHENRY and GIBSON explored a little creek, to be rewarded by the sight of a white bull. They followed the beast, confident that he would lead them to a 'camped' mob of wild beasts. Sure enough, the mob was located, and the two troopers dismounted, stalked the cattle and fired a shot that wounded an old cow, which, Mr WEST said, was the poorest in the mob. However, that cow had a big calf, which Mr WEST, who had not dismounted, singled out. He always carried a revolver, to which if desired a long barrel could be screwed, and he shot the calf after a short chase. Having obtained the needed meat, Mr WEST announced his intention of leaving for home, but the Police insisted that he guide them over to the Buffalo River. It was new country to Mr WEST, but he took them over Hunch-back (now Mount Cobbler), where the Dandongadale river had its source at an immense spring and a 200-ft waterfall, under which a horseman could ride and emerge dry. They crossed a ridge and followed a wild cattle pad and smashed through undergrowth down to a creek, but no one knew whether it was Whisky Creek, Brandy Creek or Badger Creek. They found a creek flat 20 or 30 acres in area entirely encompassed by precipitous cliffs, and there they encamped. A policeman expressed the opinion that if alluvial gold was to be found the flat would be the place for it to collect. Mr WEST said he often intended to go back there in after years to look for gold, but had never done so. To return to the story, the party had to ride along the bed of the creek to leave the flat. They followed the stream for some four miles and suddenly realised they had been 'bushed' when they emerged on the Dandongadale river at a point they had left two days before!   At that time there was not one settler along the Rose River from Buffalo to the Puzzle Ranges between Whitfield and Mansfield.

Wangaratta Chronicle Saturday October 12, 1935

MEMORIES OF A STOCKMAN. ADVENTURES IN THE NORTH-EAST SIXTY YEARS AGO. (Continued from last issue)  

Catching Wild Horses.  Mr WEST told of the high quality of the wild horses running in the mountains, and attributed their good breeding to the fact that 'Buffalo' JOHNSTON, the first man to take up country there, had paid over 100 guineas for a blood stallion, later known as 'Wombat,' which got away into the bush and roamed the mountains on the King River side for many years, a challenge to all stockmen. Mr WEST saw him only once. He was riding through the Bread and Butter Gap when he heard a horse snort, and looked up to see a beautiful black racehorse stallion standing on a knoll above him with half-a-dozen mares. They paused a moment and then fled. Wombat defied all attempts at capture for 15 or 20 years when he was 'run in' by the WALTERS brothers (cousins of the KELLYS) near Moyhu. The old horse was safely yarded, but next morning was found lying dead. Another wild horse much coveted in those years was 'Necktie,' so called because he broke loose with the remnants of a bridle still round his neck in the shape of a blue strap. The police offered to pay £25 for 'Necktie,' and Mr WEST nearly collected the money. The system employed to round up wild horses was to build several stock-yards about a half-chain square in suitable country and then link up to each year long wins of brush. The mountain stock all craved salt and would travel miles from the kangaroo-grass feeding grounds on the plateaux to natural clay licks offering around mineral springs. So to attract wild horses some rock salt would be placed near the brush wings. As soon as horse tracks were found at the salt lick, the salt would be moved nearer the yard. Finally the salt would be placed right at the stockyard gate and when it was found that the horses had come right up to the yard the last move was to put the salt in the yard, and to stretch twine from the open swing gate to a peg loosely driven in the ground. The horses would dislodge the peg on the way to the salt and the gate would swing shut. It only remained to run each captive into a crush, affix a halter and travel to Shepparton or elsewhere to obtain as much as £18 a head at auction. Mr WEST said there were over 60 head of branded animals running with the other wild horses and he bought the brands, which gave him a proprietary right over all branded horses caught. Regarding 'Necktie,' a big upstanding bay, there came a day when two search parties of Police were on the river. The party heading down-stream arrived with the information that there were eight or nine horses trapped in one of the stockyards they had passed, and that among the captives was a big bay. Mr WEST ant two mates immediately covered the nine miles to the yard to find the stockyard fence knocked down and the horses gone. They learned afterwards that the other Police party travelling upstream had entered the yard and the frightened horses had rushed the fence and escaped. Incidentally, the two large parties of Police had passed each other without knowing it, indicting the nature of the country in which they were seeking bushrangers. To give some idea of the conditions in the region, Mr WEST mentioned that at the homestead of 'Winterriga' Station the sun was not seen until three o'clock in the afternoon.

Feats of Horsemanship.  'Dandongadale' Station comprised 32 000 acres, devoid of fencing except near the homestead, with a river as one boundary and the 'main top' (highest ridge) as the other. Moyhu was 40 miles distant via the Bread and Butter Gap, but for a vehicle the route to Moyhu was via Whorouly, 80 miles. The station owner, Mr LEWIS, who lived at Moyhu, sent his 12 year old son to stay with the only one of the stockmen who was married - Fred DUGGAN. The boy had been ill and was entrusted to Mrs DUGGAN's care to recuperate. One afternoon Fred DUGGAN came across the foot-bridge over the river to the other stockmen and announced that the boy had been taken ill. The 80 mile trip in a trap was discussed. 'I think I can carry him,' said Fred, and all accompanied him home to see him off. Fred DUGGAN wrapped the sick lad in a blanket, mounted his horse and carried the boy in his arms to Moyhu, covering the 40 miles in four hours. No mean horseman himself, Mr WEST has always regarded Fred DUGGAN's effort as the greatest feat of skill and stamina on horseback that he ever knew.

Mr WEST's initiation into the daring work of an Alpine stock-rider was at the hands of the same Fred DUGGAN, a week after his arrival. The pair were out on horseback when they saw some wild cattle climbing a ridge. DUGGAN noticed that one of the animals belonged to the station herd and he gave chase. The mob plunged down the other side of the ridge with DUGGAN at full gallop right behind them. WEST naturally hesitated to keep up the breakneck pace, especially when he saw one of the cattle fall and bounce for hundreds of feet to reach the bottom of the valley a mere bag of bones. By cooeeing he located DUGGAN later, and the experienced stockman had 'cut out' the wanted animal, which he had bailed up by itself in the river. Mr WEST modestly admitted that he became 'pretty good' at the mountain mustering himself afterwards, but gave most of the credit to his splendid sure-footed mounts.

Mr WEST drove cattle right across the mountains from Myrtleford to Omeo, a trip that took about four days.

A Record Journey.  Mr WEST recalled a big day in his life when he set out at dawn to ride from 'Dandongadal' to his people at Lake Rowan, 96 to 100 miles away. At Moyhu he had breakfast and fed his horse. He had intended to stop for lunch at Tamanick Station, near Glenrowan, but the owner was absent when he arrived, so he pushed on, reaching Lake Rowan at 4 p.m. His mother's greeting was 'did you get the letters?' 'What letters?' he replied. Then he was told that his fiance at Williamstown was dangerously ill and efforts had been made to get word to him by letter. He had a quick cup of tea, mounted his father's best horse and galloped 23 miles into Benalla in 80minutes. There he caught the train to Melbourne and arrived at Williamstown at midnight. Between dawn and midnight he had travelled 250 miles, practically non-stop, and nearly half the journey had been covered in the saddle.

Another experience Mr WEST had was to be swept over the rapids into a deep pool, while he clung to the reins of a young horse he was riding. This happened at a ford where the horse had been reluctant to enter the water. Application of spurs caused it to jump in and the swift current made it lose its footing, the result being that the horse and the rider were swept over the rapids below. Both regained the bank safely and Mr WEST said the horse was not nearly so fiery afterwards.

On another trip a pack horse carrying sacks of potatoes fell over 100 feet into the Buffalo River which was in flood. The potatoes had saved the animal from injury in the fall, and it swam to the opposite bank, where it stayed with its forelegs on a ledge and no hope of climbing up the steep face. Mr WEST disrobed, all but trousers and shirt and jumped into the running stream. Although he had entered the water some distance upstream he was carried down below the stranded horse and, due to water collecting in the bulge of his shirt he had difficulty in reaching the bank. However he walked back to the horse and caught hold of a sapling to try and reach its head. The sapling broke and he fell in the river in front of the horse, which made off to swim to the other bank. WEST caught hold of its tail and they reached the bank, but WESTS's mate, Bill MAXWELL, could not reach the horse. Half frozen, WEST scrambled out of the water and warmed himself at a fire. The horse had returned to the same ledge on the other side of the river and only for the fact that it did not belong to him Mr WEST said he would have left the horse to its fate. He decided that he would make another attempt at rescue. This time he pulled his shirt out of his trousers and took a halter with him. He went further upstream before jumping in, and had a much easier swim than on the first trip. He tied the halter to a tree and leaned out, successfully reaching the halter of the pack-horse. He then tied the two halters and had to lead the horse along the bank for a quarter of a mile before he could get him out of the water, still on the wrong side of the river. He rode the animal home but could not make it travel above a trot, and he was colder than the horse. He said he could not talk when he stumbled into the hut, and it was only after some brandy and a rest before a fire at hat he recovered.

Driven Out by Snakes.  Mr WEST's reminiscences included the inevitable snake story. He recalled going over to DUGGAN's two-roomed slab dwelling one evening to play cards. It had been a bad season for snakes, of which young Mrs DUGGAN was terrified. During the game of cards Mr WEST felt something move against his foot and looked down to see a big black snake. He said nothing as he watched it crawl into a cupboard, and remembering Mrs DUGGAN's nervousness he quietly advised getting rid of a snake that was in the cupboard. They failed to find the reptile in the cupboard, however, so they practically turned the dwelling upside down, still without success. Returning to the cupboard for a closer scrutiny they found a hole in the earthen floor underneath, and a couple of inches from the opening could be seen the snake's head. Mr WEST pulled out his revolver and blew the unwelcome lodger to bits. He said the game of cards was resumed, but the party was ill at ease. A few days later Mrs DUGGAN drew her husband's attention to a bulging movement on the canvas ceiling and told him she feared it was a snake. Fred slashed the agitated canvas with a reaping hook and, sure enough, he had cut a snake in half. Mrs DUGGAN was fearful for her baby, and her worst fears were realised a couple of days later on discovering her infant cooing to a big snake which was coiled up on a possum rug beside it. Mrs DUGGAN snatched up her child and fled across the river to the stockmen's hut, vowing that she would not return to her home. She kept her vow and the DUGGANs left the district.

Many more colorful anecdotes like the above flowed from the spring of Mr WEST's long memory and not all of them were the recollections of mountain life. For instance, in the drought of 1878, Mr WEST had charge of 10 000 sheep 'on the road' in search of feed. They travelled from RUTHERFORD's station at Benalla through Rutherglen and Howlong to Chiltern and Wodonga, where rain fell at last, and the sheep were sold readily at 6/- a head. The big flock had to swim the Ovens River on this long journey and Mr WEST and his men stood waist deep in the water for eight hours pushing the swimming sheep up-stream to get them safely across.  Mr WEST is a living proof that years of hard life in the open air, spending the daylight hours in the saddle, sleeping beneath the stars, dieting on damper, johnny cake and such like fare, will not reduce a man's allotted span.

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