Thomas O’Shaughnessy’s Diary Part 5 1866

 1866

1 Jan 1866      Forbes 35 miles.

2 Jan 1866      Mulgutherie 40 miles.

3 Jan 1866      Mulgutherie.

4 Jan 1866      Charley’s yard and back again.

5 Jan 1866      Drafted some cattle and then started out to Charley’s yard, about ten of us took a horse and cart with rations and a cook to muster cattle.

6 Jan 1866      (Derribong?). 9 miles. All scrub.

7 Jan 1866      Gathering cattle.

8 Jan 1866      Started the cattle for Charley’s yard. We changed our minds on the road and sent them to (Burranbeena?). Six of us went to Charley’s yard and back to the camp at (Burranbeena?).

9 Jan 1866      Went out towards (Derribong?) and back to Mulgutherie and drafted the cattle.

10 Jan 1866    Mulgutherie.

11 Jan 1866    Mulgutherie. 

12 Jan 1866    Slocombe^[1] and I started with 60 bullocks for Bathurst market. We took a man with horse and cart to cook for us. Came to (Monwangga?).

13 Jan 1866    Grudgery.

14 Jan 1866    Begobigal.15 miles.

15 Jan 1866    (Yamma?) 15 miles.

16 Jan 1866    Wangan 6 miles. Eugowra bridge 9 miles. Eugowra Station, Clements.^[2] 3 miles.

17 Jan 1866    Murga 9 miles.

18 Jan 1866    Toogong. 8 miles. O’Brien’s 6 miles We sent the horses and cart back to Mulgutherie.

19 Jan 1866    Boree Cabonne^[3] 5 miles. Keenan’s 6 miles^[4]. (Ivers?) 9 miles.

20 Jan 1866    (Bouple’s?) Limerick Castle Hotel in sight of Orange.

21 Jan 1866    Taylor’s Hotel 7 miles.

22 Jan 1866    Higgins Hotel 12 miles.

23 Jan 1866    P B Dawes Evans Plains 12 miles.

24 Jan 1866    Stayed all day. Mr Parker came from Bathurst to see the cattle.

25 Jan 1866    Took the cattle into Bathurst and delivered them to Harry Hughes. Stayed in Bathurst all night.

26 Jan 1866    Five mile water hole, leading two horses. Slocombe gone to Sydney.

27/31 Jan 66   I left the two horses in Flood’s paddock at the Rising Sun. Came to stay in Cowra. Stayed in Cowra to the 31^st   January.

1 Feb 1866      Flood brought the horses to Cowra. In Cowra up to 24^th  February.

21 Feb 1866    Sarah Cummins died.

23 Jan 1866    Cowra. Got a letter from Mr Parker in Queensland that I was to start at once and to meet him at Dalby in Queensland.

COWRA TO QUEENSLAND

24 Jan 1866    Started for Mulgutherie and got as far as Newell’s, Bandon. 40 miles. I led the two horses.

25 Jan 1866    Mulgutherie 60 miles. Left the two horses at Grudgery.

26 Jan 1865    Mulgutherie.

27 Jan 1866    Hepburn, Miller, Parkes, Sir Henry Parkes’ son and I started for Queensland. Came up to Forbes.

28 Jan 1866    Stayed in Forbes all day.

1 Mar 1866      We went by Cobb’s Coach and reached Orange at six o’clock in the evening. We had tea and got to Bathurst at 4 o’clock.

2 Mar 1866      By coach got  to Hartley 3 o’clock Had some lunch and arrived in Penrith 3 o’clock next morning

3 Mar 1866      Rail to Sydney. Stayed at the Edinburgh Castle. (294 Pitt St?.)

4/5 Mar 66       ln Sydney waiting for a steamer.

6 Mar 1866      At 6 o’clock in the morning went on board the ‘City of Brisbane’ steamer for Brisbane.

7/8 Mar 1866   At sea.

9/11 Mar 66.    At four o’clock in the morning we landed in Brisbane. At one o’clock we went on board the Ipswich steamer and landed at Ipswich at 6 o’clock. 11th at Ipswich.

12 Mar 1866    Rail to Biggs Camp, coach to Toowoomba, passed Laidley and Grattan and then up the main range.

13/14 Mar 66   Toowoomba.

15 Mar 1866    Dalby by coach. Passed Gowrie, Jindaryan,  and Bowenville.

16/18 Mar 66   At Dalby.

19 Mar 1866    Dalby. A man brought a horse and spring cart for us.

20 Mar 1866    Jimbour Woolshed 20 miles. We went within four miles of Warra. Met Mr Parker, Mr Connell and Slocombe with the sheep. We camped on the Condamine.

21 Mar 1866    I took charge of 11,827 wethers. John Miller to follow me with 4,064 ewes. Mr Parker, McConnell, Slowcombe besides a lot of men in a spring cart started for Dalby. I followed the Condamine for 8 miles camped. Hepburn giving notice.

22 Mar 1866.   Jimbour Woolshed – 3 miles – kept the inside road 3 miles. Camped on the Condamine.

23 Mar 1866    To a Public house at a bridge crossing the Condamine 4 miles – the main road to Roma.

24 Mar 1866    Left the Condamine camped within 2 miles of Dalby. 7 miles. No water.

25 Mar 1866    Camped 1 mile below Dalby on the Myall Creek. Went into Dalby to see Mr Parker but he was out at Jimbour buying a lot horses. He came back in the evening.

26 Mar 1866    Five Miles below Dalby at Myall Creek. We got rations and some fresh horses. Mr Parker started to Brown’s on the Moonie to buy sheep to make up Miller’s lot to 10,000. To meet us on the road.

27 Mar 1866    Crossed Myall Creek – then crossed the Condamine followed up the Condamine. 4 miles. No road.

28 Mar 1866    Camped on Condamine opposite (St Ruth’s?) the Company station.

29 Mar 1866    Crossed the Condamine at St Ruth – Passed by the station and crossed bthe Condamine again in 3 miles. 4 miles.

30 Mar 1866    Within 2 miles of Cecil’s Plains, Taylor’s, on the Condamine. 6 miles.

31 Mar 1866    Four miles past Cecil Plains on the Condamine. 6 miles.

1 Apr 1866      Within three miles of Yandilla^[5]. Fine open downs. 5 miles.

2 Apr 1866      3 miles to O’Connor’s hut on Yandilla 6 miles.

3 Apr 1866      To a water hole on the downs. Splendid country here. 6 miles.

4 Apr 1866      Yandilla Head Station. One of the finest stations I ever saw. Camped on the creek below the paddock fence. 5 miles.

5 Apr 1866      Three miles to a woolshed on the creek. There is a fine engine there for sheep washing. Camped a mile above the woolshed.

6 Apr 1866      Three miles to an old sheep wash. Camped.

7 Apr 1866      We left the Condamine and crossed over to another creek near an old sheep station. Likely looking country for gold.

8 Apr 1866      Within one mile of Leyburn or Canal Creek. Post office. Two stores.a and public house. There is a small diggings up the creek.12 miles. 5 miles. Camped.

9 Apr 1866      Passed through Leyburn. Two miles up the creek. Took the right hand road up Sandy Creek. 3 miles.

10 Apr 1866    Five miles up Sandy Creek. Met William Walsh on his old Gray  horse. I thought he was some squatter coming to make us move on. We camped near his camp. Thomas Walsh and Billy Curry were there. They came from Cowra to buy cattle.

11 Apr 1866    Three miles to Tom Walsh’s camp. They had started from Cowra before I left Cowra for Queensland.

12 Apr 1866    Two miles to sheep station belonging to Telgai Station. Low ridges.

13 Apr 1866    Six miles to a rocky creek. Black draught mare lamed herself today. Bill and Tom Walsh came up to us. We camped together.

14 Apr 1866    I went back to the sheep station we passed the day before. I bought a draught mare for 15 pounds. Bill and Tom Walsh Started for Warwick to buy cattle – 5 miles on to a creek.

15 Apr 1866    Followed the creek down nine miles and camped.

16 Apr 1866    Half a mile to a new public house. Half a mile past we crossed a new bridge. Went on and camped. Four miles. The same creek.

17 Apr 1866    Jones Yard on the Mosquito Creek. 5 miles. Keep the right road.

18 Apr 1866    Six miles down Mosquito Creek.

19 Apr 1866    Inglewood Township on the McIntyre Brook. Two public houses and a store. I bought a sheep dog. Crossed the brook and camped two miles down. No grass. Colman came back to tell me how to act with the scab inspector at Goondiwindi.

20 Apr 1866    Devine’s Station on the Brook. 4 miles.

21 Apr 1866    Four miles to Devine’s homestead. Crossed the Brook a mile below and followed the Brook down four miles.

22 Apr 1866    Five miles to a desert and 3 miles through the desert. Low scrub and sand. Any amount of native dogs.

23 Apr 1866    Five miles to Lawler’s Station on the Brook. Two miles past I camped. I met the Queensland inspector of scab. He said he would summon me to Goondiwindi for not having the initials of the owner’s name on the sheep.

24 Apr 1866    Cramton’s Corner on the McIntyre River. I met Ridley, the New South Wales inspector of scab. He told me how to manage the Queensland scab inspector. 9 miles.No grass.

25 Apr 1866    Eight miles to the crossing place into New South Wales. 7 miles above Goondiwindi. I rode down to Goondiwindi. 4 public houses and two stores.

26 Apr 1866    Crossed the sheep over the McIntyre into New South Wales before daylight this morning only just in time, for the Queensland scab inspector and a policeman came with a summons. I was in New South Wales. He could not serve the summons. Up the McIntyre four miles and camped. No grass.

27 Apr 1866    Merrimah 3 miles. 2 miles past on the run.

28 Apr 1866    Boonalli 6 miles. Fine plains. No grass.

29 Apr 1866   (Tucca Tucca?) 6 miles. Myall country.

30 Apr 1866    Walker’s selection 6 miles. No grass.

1 May 1866     Yetman, Dight’s Station 5 miles. Holmes Public House two miles. A township measured here. (Now named Yetman.)

2 May 1866     Old Triggaman Simpson’s Station 6 miles. My saddle horse fell in the river and got drowned. Left me with one horse.

3 May 1866     Leave the McIntyre. Follow up Simpson’s Creek to a sheep station. 5 miles. 2 miles past.

4 May 1866     Top Springs 5 miles. 2 miles to the gap. No water.

5 May 1866     Eona Springs 4 miles. Wallangra, Russell’s station, on the McIntyre River 5 miles. One of the draught horses knocked up. I had to put my saddle horse in the cart and walk.

6 May 1866     Crossed the McIntyre at Wallangra and went the honeysuckle flat. All granite. Camped at a spring.

7 May 1866     Frazer’s Creek Race Course 6 miles. Camped at a spring. Hilly country. No grass.

8 May 1866     Ashford Township on Frazer’s Creek. 2 miles. Three public houses and two stores and post office. Six miles up the creek. Passed some free selectors. No grass.

9 May 1866     Eight miles over a hilly country. Most all the trees died on these hills for want of rain. Camped. No water. No grass.

10 May 1866   Four miles on the right hand road to the McIntyre River. The left hand road goes to Windham’s Bukkulla Station about 5 miles above where we crossed the river. After crossing the river we followed a mark tree line up a creek for four miles and come to the main road.

11 May 1866   Bannockburn Station four miles. Kept the Reidy Creek road two miles. I started to Inverell 12 miles. Stayed all night and all next day (12 May). I bought a saddle horse. Four public houses and stores and a steam flour Mill.

13 May 1866   I started from Inverell. Passed Bannockburn to the Reidy Creek. Rossiter’s and Naps Station. Came up with the sheep before they came to camp. We camped at a spring in a creek. All plains.

14 May 1866   I bought two draught horses from a shepherd this morning before we started. 5 miles. We camped. No water.

15 May 1866   Myall Creek. Dangar’s Station.^[6] Commenced to rain.

16 May 1866   Six miles to a yard of Dangar’s. Great rain all day. The roads in a  fearful state.

17 May 1866   Two miles. I had to keep with the cart. The horses not pulling very well. Weather clearing up. No grass.

18 May 1866   Four miles. Crossed the creek. Road turns off here to Bingera Township on the Big River. 5 miles down the creek. No grass.

19 May 1866   Four miles to (Mobray?) Windham’s on the Big River. Turned off the river. Camped on a creek four miles from  (Mobray?).

20 May 1866   Four miles no water.

21 May 1866   (Generoi?) Adams station on the Big River. Took the dray up to the station to get some rations. Mr Adams took us into the house and had some wine. I saw some handsome young ladies there. Camped on the river 1½ miles below the station near the crossing place on the Big River.

22 May 1866   Crossed the Big River. 6 miles to a water hole.

23 May 1866   Five miles to a creek. Kept the left hand road. The right hand road goes into Gravesend Station. Heavy rain.

24 May 1866   Binagu. Eaton’s Station on the Big River. The first plain we saw since we came on the river.

25 May 1866   Six miles to a creek on the outside road. Open Myall country.

26 May 1866   Three miles to Baldwin’s Station on the Mehi. A branch of the Big River. Three miles past. Camped on the Mehi.

27 May 1866   Webillabulla. Hall’s Station three miles. 5 miles to Moree Township on the Mehi. Two public houses, two stores and a post office. All plains and Myall country.

28 May 1866   Five miles to the edge of the big plain. Fine grass. New to us.

29 May 1866   Tycannah 8 miles. All plains. Fine grass. Raining in the morning. Very cold. I bought a saddle horse at the station.

30 May 1866   Big Bumble 8 miles. All plain.

31 May 1866   Little Bumble 9 miles. All plain.

1 Jun 1866      Waterloo Creek 4 miles. Millie 4 miles. Public house and store. Brown’s station on opposite side of the creek.

2 Jun 1866      Kept the Millie Creek on the right hand. All plain. Camped at a fine water hole in the creek on Brown’s station.

3 Jun 1866      Bunna Bunna run Two miles. 3 miles down the creek. Low box and Myall country.

4 Jun 1866      Bunna Bunna Station. Dangar’s on the Talabar Creek. We came up with Calman’s 10, 000 sheep. We had to camp.

5 Jun 1866      Counted the sheep. 11,000, seven hundred and nine sheep. Made them correct. Sheep looking well. 3 miles to a water hole.

6 Jun 1866      Bularoi. Dangar’s Station. 5 miles on the Talabar Creek

7 Jun 1866      Oriel old station 6 miles. A selector building a public house.

8 Jun 1866      Five miles to a large water hole on the Talabar.

9 Jun 1866      Meriwynebone,  Dangar’s. 5 miles. One mile past camped.

10 Jun 1866    Leave the Talabar on the left. Crossed a plain 5 miles. No water or grass.

11 Jun 1866    Pookatooroo on the Barwon River 7 miles.

12 Jun 1866    Coolarinda?? on the Barwon. 6 miles. A Government punt here. A Public house on the opposite side called (Bundaburrena).

13 Jun 1866    Six miles on the inside road. Commenced to rain and never ceased all night and wet our beds and blankets.

14 Jun 1866    We had to make out onto the outside road. Came about two miles. We had to leave half the load and come back again for it.No grass.

15 Jun 1866    Three miles. We came opposite Bundaburrena station. 2 miles. We passed a selection one mile past. We camped on a lagoon. Our flock out all night.

16 Jun 1866    Six miles. Camped on the River. Low box country and flooded.

17 Jun 1866    The Brothers. Rouse’s station. 5 miles.On the outside road. Camped on a creek opposite Hipkins, Rouse’s overseer lives.

18 Jun 1866    Three miles to an old sheep station. Two miles past. Camped on the river. Made a break to count the sheep.

19 Jun 1866    Counted the wethers. And then counted the ewes that Miller was in charge of. I gave Miller two of my poor horses. He was to wait with his horses and cart and his cook until McConnell with another lot of our sheep came. 8 miles to a creek. The cart took the wrong road. No blankets and nothing to eat. Cold night.

20 Jun 1866    The cart came up this morning. Three miles to an old sheep station on a creek. The ewes came up. I put the two lots together.16,000.

21 Jun 1866    Walgett. Crossed the Namoi near its junction with the Barwon. In sight of Walgett. Two public houses, one store and police station and court house.

22 Jun 1866    Euroka. Brocklehurst’s Station on the Barwon. 8 miles.

23 Jun 1866    Harry Key’s Station 6 miles. 3 miles past. Camped on the river.

24 Jun 1866    Mooribie. Public house and store. Met the scab inspector. He said he would have to summons me as the sheep were not branded on the rump.

25 Jun 1866    Bagareer. Flood’s Station on the Castlereagh River. Eight miles Fine open country. Grass springing.

26 Jun 1866    Gidgeon. Flood’s on the Castlereagh River. 8 miles.

27 Jun 1866    Polly Brennan. Bardon’s Station on the Castlereagh River. 6 miles past. Policeman came with a Summons for a breach of the scab Act.

28 Jun 1866   Walgett by the mailman’s track 36 miles. Met Calman then on the same (spec?) as myself.

29 Jun 1866    Calman and I made our way to the Court House. We got the case postponed until the 4^th day of September 1866. The scabby did not like this. We spoke to the Police Magistrate in the morning. He promised to give us time.

30 Jun 1866    I started across the bush for Polly Brennan. 25 miles and got there alright. Nugal Morris’ station on the Castlereagh 12 miles. I had some tea and went on in the dark 6 miles. Out on the plain. No blankets.43 miles.

1 Jul 1866       Gungalmine 6 miles. Caneambia. Arons on Ningy Creek. I came up with the sheep. Camped two miles above the station. Any amount of grass.

2 Jul 1866       The Gum Holes. Arons. 4 miles. 2 miles to Ningy, Flood’s Station. Four miles to an old station of Flood’s on Ningy Creek.

3 Jul 1866       Big Monkey 3 miles. 5 miles through the Monkey. Camped at an old sheep station on the edge of the Monkey.

4 Jul 1866       Quambone. Walter Flood’s Station on the Merri Merri Creek. Three miles up the creek to Mobbilly, Cheaton’s Cattle Station. Two miles to where the road crosses the Merri Merri going to the Marthaguy.

5 Jul 1866       Back Creek Sheep Station. 6 miles. 2 miles past on same creek.

6 Jul 1866       Two miles to a sheep station. 8 miles to Gradgery. Wild’s Station on the Marthaguy.

7 Jul 1866       Perry’s Sheep Station 6 miles. Crossed the Marthaguy and leave it. Three miles to the big plain. Mount Harris and Mount Foster in sight.

8 Jul 1866       Marebone, Mrs Perry’s Station on the Macquarie River nine miles. Camped two miles up the river. Passed over some fine country.

9 Jul 1866       Drungalier One mile. 2 miles past and crossed the Macquarie over to ‘Mumblebone’, Cruickshanks. Camped five miles up river.

10 Jul 1866     Yanginbil, Cruickshanks. 8 miles.

11 Jul 1866     Warren Township. 9 miles. Rained all day and all night. All the flats covered with water. Had to let the sheep go in the night. All the flats covered with water.

12 Jul 1866     On the river, 5 miles. All the plains covered with water.

13 Jul 1866     Egelebra, Cox’s. 4 miles. Two miles past on a creek.

14 Jul 1866     Canalgan, Christie’s. One mile past to Cox’s fence.

15 Jul 1866     Allangera, Cox’s. One mile. Mallah, Oakes’ Station 2 miles past. Camped on the river.

16 Jul 1866     Cruickshanks’ fence, 7 miles.

17 Jul 1866     Weimahar, Cruickshanks’ home Station one mile. A public house two miles. McKillop’s 4 miles. 3 miles on to the Macquarie. Flooded.

18 Jul 1866     Timbrebongie 4 miles. A new public house. 3 miles past.

19 Jul 1866     Narromine. Christie’s 9 miles.

20 Jul 1866     To the Clear ground at a spring, 10 miles.

21 Jul 1866     Wallaby 3 miles. Spring Creek 6 miles. Tomingley 3 miles.

22 Jul 1866     Overflow 4 miles. Little Plain 7 miles.

23 Jul 1866     Bulgandramine, Gilmore’s on the Bogan River 3 miles. Bollah  Plain nine miles.

24 Jul 1866     Kinangee, Gilmore’s 3 miles. Palmer’s Plain 6 miles.

25 Jul 1866     Gradgery, Palmer’s 2 miles. 6 miles past. Made a break to count sheep.

26  Jul 1866    Counted the sheep and made them correct. Ten miles to the little plain on top of the range.

27 Jul 1866     Gunninghlan Gate 5 miles. Met Victor Watt and Eugene Watt with sheep going to a back block on the Bogan. 3 miles to Gunninghlan Station.

28 Jul 1866     Six miles. Met Mr Youl and Mr Keer. A cattle buyer with word for us to go to Monimi to draught the sheep.

29 Jul 1866     Back to Gunninghlan. Some men came with a cart to erect draughting yards at Monimi.

30 Jul 1866     Monimi six miles. Mr Youl came out. We put the old stockyard fence up.

31 Jul 1866     Making yards all day.

1 Aug 1866      Finished the yards and drafted two flocks of sheep. We branded them as they went through.

2 Aug 1866      Drafting and branding all day. Finished. Up to 5^th.

6 Aug 1866      The first day of rest since I started with the sheep.

7 Aug 1866      (Burramang?) across the bush 10 miles.

8 Aug 1866      Mulgutherie.

9 Aug 1866      Drafting all day.

10 Aug 1866    Finishet drafting store wethers. Counted 6,100. Miller under overseer.

11 Aug 1866    Drafted 5,464. I took charge of both lots. Hepburn to give notice.

12 Aug 1866    Strange to say, but there was nothing done today.

13 Aug 1866    Started for Melbourne. 2 miles to the bridge in the paddock.

14 Aug 1866    Crossed the bridge. Three miles to the Island Creek Bridge and crossed, followed the creek down four miles and camped.

15 Aug 1866    Suttor’s gate 7 miles. Hepburn came up with fresh horses.

16 Aug 1866    Booramble, Suttor’s station 2 miles. The first bend two miles.

17 Aug 1866    Condoblin, Lees. I went across the river to the Township. Two public  houses two stores, post office and lockup.

18 Aug 1866    Within one mile of Gulgo 5 miles.

19 Aug 1866    Gulgo, Peter Murray’s Station one mile. 3 miles past.

20 Aug 1866    Three miles to a station of Lees. 3 miles past. Fine grass.

21 Aug 1866    Three miles to a pine ridge near a red creek. Two miles to Cabotherie on the Lachlan.

22 Aug 1866    Three miles to a plain on the outside road. The inside road goes to Bootheroonie, Moulder’s Station.

23 Aug 1866    Camped in sight of Jeff’s Station. Camped at a dam of Moulder’s six miles.

24 Aug 1866    Mabhalong the great O. Dan’s Station. 6 miles.

25 Aug 1866    Within two miles of Yarrabinderie on the river. 7 miles.

26 Aug 1866    Yarrabinderie, dan and S O’Sullivan’s head station two miles. Three miles past to a creek that feeds Lake Cargelligo. One mile to a bend on the river.

27 Aug 1866    Three miles to an old stockyard opposite Murrum. Two miles onto the clear ground. High red land.

28 Aug 1866    Four miles to an old stockyard. 4 miles to the end of a mountain. Camped on the river. Rained in the night.  This is the fifth day. Travelling on O’Sullivan’s run.

29 Aug 1866    Two miles to the boundary fence between O’Sullivan and Martin. (Mabba?), Martin 4 miles. All plain. Commenced to rain, heavy.

30 Aug 1866    Heavy rain all night. Plains all covered with water. Maryabba Lagoon six miles.

31 Aug 1866    Merri, Merrigall Station 4 miles. The sheep passed round the paddock to an old stockyard on the river. 3 miles.

1 Sep 1866      Four miles along the edge of a plain. Camped on a creek.

2 Sep 1866      Willanthry Hotel 5 miles.

3 Sep 1866      Five miles to a station. 2 miles past around a paddock.

4 Sep 1866      Five miles to a bend on the river.

5 Sep 1866      Four miles to an old stockyard at the corner of a paddock. There is a racecourse near the paddock. One mile onto the river.

6 Sep 1866      Bedbank Township 5 miles. Two public houses ,a store and pound, a blacksmith’s shop. Bellangeramble old station 2 miles.

7 Sep 1866      Four miles to a selector’s. The right hand road. One mile past. Camped.

8 Sep 1866      Cross a plain. 7 miles. Camped in sight of Synott’s?? fence.

9 Sep 1866      One mile to Cowl Cowl, Synott’s. Brothers. Taylor’s new public house two miles past.

10 Sep 1866    Wheelbar old station one mile. A free selector’s 4 miles.

11 Sep 1866    Mulla Mulla, Warns. One mile. To a swamp 4 miles. All plains.

12 Sep 1866    Seven miles to a point of timber near a creek. All plain.

13 Sep 1866    Four miles onto the river, Booligal in sight. All plain.

14 Sep 1866    Booligal Township. 2 miles. Two public houses, two stores and a police station. One mile past on the river.

15 Sep 1866    Booligal Station one mile. Here we leave the Lachlan for Hay. Six miles to the Gums. .About 20 (gums?) out on the plain.

16 Sep 1866    Cobb’s stables 6 miles. Not a tree in sight. I had to start back this morning to look for two horses that Miller lost but did not find them.

17 Sep 1866    Seven miles out on the plains. Very cold. A little rain.

18 Sep 1866    One Tree, 6 miles.^[7] A large gum tree. No other tree in sight. A fine well of water close to the tree. A public house in sight.

19 Sep 1866    Six miles to a well. I started ahead and gave notice to McEvoy below Hay. Stayed at Hay all night. Made arrangements to punt the sheep.

20 Sep 1866    Started back. Met the sheep. Came six miles. All plain.

21 Sep 1866    I had to start back to find a flock of Miller’s sheep. The man with the flock got lost the evening before and went back the road he came in the morning. Two miles to the 8 mile Box. 4 miles past.

22 Sep 1866    Hay 4 miles. Four public houses. Any amount of stores. Post and telegraph office. We had some trouble to cross the sheep in the punt. Took all day.

23 Sep 1866    I had to stay to cross Miller’s sheep. It took us all day to cross them. My lot camped at the first gate, 8 miles.

24 Sep 1866    I started after my lot and came up with them at the sixteen mile gums. There is a public house here. Fine open country.

25 Sep 1866    Paradise. A sandhill near a gate. 6 miles.

26 Sep 1866    I started before daylight to give notice to Dr Lang and Gilbert. Camped at the Pine Ridge Hotel 6 miles.

27 Sep 1866    Five miles on the plain. No wood.

28 Sep 1866    Two miles to the far famed Black Swamp. Where a man is seen at night on a Trotting Cob. We did not see him. A selector here keeps a shanty. A fine reserve here.

29 Sep 1866    Five mile gums. A good camp.

30 Sep 1866    Wanganella in the Billabong^[8] Creek 6 miles. Two public houses and two stores. A good bridge over the Billabong Creek. I started in to Deniliquin and saw our agent Warden Harry Graves. I stayed at Roberts Hotel all night. Great hopes of the railway coming here.

1 Oct 1866      I came out with Harry Graves in his buggy. His man rode my horse. We met the sheep at Wanganella Bridge. Camped two miles past at a dam of Peppins. Graves camped all night with us.

2 Oct 1866      Camped inside Landale’s first gate. 6 miles.

3 Oct 1866      Counted the sheep. 4 miles to Cobb’s Stable and shanty. Three miles to a new public house.

4 Oct 1866      Two miles to a gate. 2 miles through the gate and camped.

5 Oct 1866      4 miles onto the Deniliquin reserve.

6 Oct 1866      One mile and a half to some drafting yards at harrill’s Public House.

7 Oct 1866      Sunday. Camped all day Miller came up with his sheep and camped on the reserve.

8 Oct 1866      Commenced to draft the fat sheep for the Melbourne market. When we drafted four hundred sheep, I took them across Taylor’s Bridge. I came back and shifted our camp across the Edwards, one mile and a half above Deniliquin Township on the reserve.

9 Oct 1866      Drafting all day.

10 Oct 1866    Finished drafting.

11 Oct 1866    I moved my camp with six thousand fat wethers. Three miles below Deniliquin near the racecourse on the reserve.

12 Oct 1866    Settled all our accounts. Two buyers came to see my sheep. Miller and Hepburn in charge of the store sheep.

13 Oct 1866    Miller and Hepburn started with the store sheep. They have to travel with the sheep until they are sold.

14 Oct 1866    Sleeping all day.

15 Oct 1866    Started and came past the burial ground. Camped near the paddock of Taylor’s near the Echuca Road. I went five miles and gave notice to Cleary Phillips overseer. Came back and went into Deniliquin. Went out with Harry Graves in his buggy to assist Bill Walsh across the Edwards with his cattle. Crossed alright. Prime cattle.

16 Oct 1866    I made a start for Melbourne with the sheep. 3 miles to a public house. One mile through a lane and camped.

17 Oct 1866    Hill Plain. Public house two miles. Gulpa 3 miles. Sighted Bill Walsh.

18 Oct 1866    Started to give notice to O’Shanassy. I met his son on the road. That saved me 25 miles. 5 miles onto the Gulpa. Camped

19 Oct 1866    Red Bank Hotel. Burton’s 4 miles. 3 miles past on the (Moina?) Swamp.

20 Oct 1866    (Moina?), O’Shannasy’s Station. Public house near the station.

21 Oct 1866    The six mile point at the Yellow Waterhole. A mob of the Mulgutherie cattle came up to us. Joe Press in charge.

22 Oct 1866    Maiden’s Forest. 6 miles. The right hand road. I rode into Echuca and arranged with the owner of the pontoon bridge to cross the sheep.

23 Oct 1866    Four miles to the pontoon bridge. I went to Moama to assist Joe Press with his cattle across the Murray. I crossed over to Echuca and went to Robert Glass to give notice down the river.

24 Oct 1866    I brought the sheep to the Pontoon Bridge at daylight in the morning. The man in charge of the bridge has two pet sheep. They follow him over the bridge and right through the sheep and back to the bridge. All the sheep ran after him across the bridge, up the main street and across the Railway line. Two miles to the common.

25 Oct 1866    Six miles. Camped in the Lane. Gave notice to Campbell and went back 5 miles to give notice to Higgins. All plains.

26 Oct 1866    Rochester, Renard’s. Public house. 6 miles. All plains. I gave Dr Roe notice.

27 Oct 1866    Crossed the Campaspe at Rochester over a bridge of Renard’s. Followed the Railway Line 7 miles. Camped on a small plain. I went to Runnymede, a small township and a Railway station I got a letter from our agents, Ryan and Hammond in Melbourne to travel the sheep to Melbourne.

28 Oct 1866    Runnymede four miles. Barrow’s hotel. 3 miles. Crossed the Campaspe over a bridge. One miles past.

29 Oct 1866    Campaspe 5 miles on Robinson’s run.

30 Oct 1866    Tobin’s. Old public house and store on Forest Creek. One mile past up Forest Creek.

31 Oct 1866    Five miles up Forest Creek. Hot day.

1 Nov 1866     Mathieson’s. Four miles on the road from Bendigo to Melbourne. One mile past and camped. I went to Duck Creek and gave Robinson notice and another squatter on the opposite side.

2 Nov 1866     Wild Duck Creek. 4 miles. Passed through a lane and by a public house. To an old diggings one mile.

3 Nov 1866     Six miles to an old sheep station. Gave notice to Roe and Churchman.

4 Nov 1866     Mia Mia Inn one mile. 4 miles past. Campedon a creek. Any amount of selectors.

5 Nov 1866     Wheeler’s, public house near Dr Benton’s Station. Two miles past and camped at the foot of the range, a part of Mount Macedon. Gave notice to a squatter. Six miles on the right hand side over a mountain.

6 Nov 1866     Five miles on top of the range. Fine timber. No grass.

7 Nov 1866     Five sheep died during the night. A light shower in the night. Five miles to the foot of the range. Camped.

8 Nov 1866     Two miles to Lancefield. Three public houses, stores and a Mill. Travelled four miles along a lane to Romsey a small township. 3 miles to the Duck Holes. A small reserve.

9 Nov 1866     Took the right hand lane to avoid the Toll bar. Came out on the main road again in five miles. 3 miles to a Railway Station. Two miles past camped at an old stone quarry. Most all the land here on each side of the road belongs to Big Clarke.

10 Nov 1866   Constitution Hotel near Sunbury Railway Station. A large reserve here. Most all the sheep trucked up the country are let out here and travelled down the road to Melbourne.

11 Nov 1866   Deep Creek 4 miles. There is a reserve here. 15 miles to Essendon reserve. Camped.

12 Nov 1866   Flemington Saleyards. I assisted the agent to draft the sheep. We finished by 11 o’clock. I waited until they were all sold. I went to Melbourne to Ryan and Hammond’s office and paid all the men.

13 Nov 1866   I went to Dr Youl’s place. He was well pleased with what I had done. I promised to meet him in the morning.

14 Nov 1866   I went with Dr Youl. He bought a new Wagonette and two new sets of harness. I put the cart in the saleyards.

15 Nov 1866   I went to the Exhibition.

16 Nov 1866   Got everything ready for a start.

17 Nov 1866   Started. The cook and I in the Wagonette and one of the shepherds rode my horse. We got to the Constitution Hotel near Sunbury.

18 Nov 1866   Sunbury Railway Station 2 miles. Gisborne 11 miles. Woodend ten miles. Kyneton 4 miles. Carlsruhe one mile.

19 Nov 1866   Malmsbury 5 miles. Tarradale 5 miles. Castlemaine 15 miles.

20 Nov 1866   Sandhurst 23 miles. Camped at the old white hills or where the hills had been.

21 Nov 1866   Huntley 13 miles. Passed (Gooranong?) 12 miles. Rain all night.

22 Nov 1866   Runnymede 5 miles. Rochester 12 miles.

23 Nov 1866   Moama 20 miles. Crossed in the punt and camped five miles out at the edge of Maiden’s Forest.

24 Nov 1866   Passed Moama and Red Bend. Camped within 4 miles of Hill Plain public house. 33 miles.

25 Nov 1866   Camped within two miles of Deniliquin on the inside road. 12 miles. Grass scarce. Hot day.

26 Nov 1866   Passed through Deniliquin and camped at a fine round hill. 16 miles.

27 Nov 1866   Conargo 6 miles. Coree 20 miles.

28 Nov 1866   Jerilderie 14 miles. The Yanco 16 miles.

29 Nov 1866   Twenty six miles to a bridge on a creek that runs into the Yanco. There is a dam at the bridge.

30 Nov 1866   Gillinbar on the Murrumbidgee River. 20 miles. One public house and store. Crossed in the punt and camped.

1 Dec 1866     (Mediurn?) 12 miles. Clarks dam on the Merool Creek 18 miles. We came up with James Hennessy and Hadcroft. They had a mob of cattle they sold to Patterson on the lower Merool Creek.

2 Dec 1866     Turned off the Merool Creek. We had only a few old tracks to follow. Six miles to a sheep station on a rocky ridge. 4 miles to a skeleton hut. Eight miles to a hut and a stockyard and a dam. Scrubby here.

3 Dec 1866     (Uriah?) Mountain 4 miles. No road. Keep the mountain on the left. Pass it in a straight line until you come to a creek. Cross the creek and follow it up to Wood’s Station on Magpie Creek 25 miles from (Uriah?) Mountain.

4 Dec 1866     White’s dam 16 miles. Merringreen, Joe Woods on Humbug Creek. 10 miles down Humbug Creek. 10 miles.

5 Dec 1866     Cummins 12 miles. Jones 5 miles. Richards 10 miles. Boggandilla Lagoon, Miller’s Station 12 miles. This was the longest day since we left Melbourne.

6 Dec 1866     Mulgutherie 12 miles.

7 Dec 1866     Hepburn and Miller came.

8 Dec 1866     In the paddock with Mr Parker for cattle. A heavy shower.

9 Dec 1866     Mulgutherie.

10 Dec 1866   Settled our accounts.

11 Dec 1866   Started to Forbes in a Wagonette with Webber and Martin. Mr Parker and Youl in a Buggy. We stayed at the Albion, Mitchell’s.

12 Dec 1866   Forbes all day. Got a horse from Mr Parker to go to Cowra.

13 Dec 1866   Bandon.

14 Dec 1866   Cowra.

15 Dec 1866   Cowra.

16 Dec 1866   Drove Mrs Neville out to Lahey’s farm. A shower of rain.

17 Dec 1866   Cowra.

18 Sep 1866    Thomas Walsh and I started with 7 head of fat cattle to sell them at the Emu Creek rush near the Weddin Mountains. Stayed at Bumbaldry, Watts, all night. 15 miles.

19 Dec 1866   Brundah, Woods. 11 miles. We left the cattle in a paddock and rode into the diggings 8 miles. A great number of people at the rush. Thomas Walsh started for Kikiamah, P. Walsh’s. A butcher came out with me to buy cattle. We could not agree about the price. I started back with the cattle and reached Bumbaldry. P. Walsh was here. T. Walsh was not around according to promise.

20 Dec 1866   Started before breakfast and came on to Cowra. Hot day.

21 Dec 1866.  I went up to Middlemiss to top a wheat stack. T. Walsh came.

22 Dec 1866   Assisted Edwards, the Miller, to put two pairs of Millstones down.

23 Dec 1866  Cowra. Hot day.

24 Dec 1866  Went with T. Walsh for a load of wood. Had a swim in the creek.

25 Dec 1866   Christmas Day. I got a quarter of beef early this morning.

26 Dec 1866  Cowra – nothing strange today.

27 Dec 1866   Cowra. Doing nothing.

28 Dec 1866   Cowra. Repairing  cart for T Walsh. The priest came.

29 Dec 1866   Finished the cart. James Markham came.

30. Dec 1866  Cowra  Sunday. Father Ryan^[9] said Mass. Edwards came from Bathurst.

31 Dec 1866   Tom Walsh and I went for a load of bricks – tyre came off. We took the wheel off and put the tyre on again.

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To go to Part Six 1867, click here.

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