The Pioneers

[1925]  August 1.  [This extract from a report of the reunion smoke social, the final function in connection with the Back to Mannum Carnival, includes interesting information about the Mannum pioneers honoured on that day.]

In submitting the toast of "The Pioneers," Mr. S. B. von Doussa realised the importance of the toast, and they would all agree that it was, or should be, the most important. He realised that the pioneers of the town and district in the early days did cheerfully whatever came to their hand to do. It must occur to them that the name that first came to their minds was that of Randell. Over 70 years ago the family of Randells settled in the district. They were men who had little knowledge of the building of boats or of the working of machinery, but by perseverance and determination, they built the "Mary Ann," and were the first navigators of the River Murray. It was a matter of history, the great race between the "Mary Ann" and the "Lady Augusta," to reach Swan Hill, in the year 1853. Both boats arrived on the same day at Swan Hill, September 17th, 1853. The "Lady Augusta", a larger and more powerful boat, which was not built on the Murray, but brought through the mouth of the river, by her greater speed, was able to beat the smaller boat, but all the honor and merit of that race rested with the late Willam Richard Randell. For many years subsequently and even to the present day, the Randells have been closely associated with and boat owners on the Murray. To perpetuate Capt. Randell's memory the people had erected the band rotunda on the recreation ground in 1912. At the instance of the Mannum District Council, the Government subsequently decided to name the first lock on the Mur-ray after Capt Randell. 

Only a year or two afterwards came the family of Baseby, and they were pleased to know that Mr. John R. Baseby was present with them that night. The name of Ben Baseby had always been held in high esteem. Mr. John Baseby was clerk of the District Council of Mannum for a period extending over 43 years — that statement alone was sufficient. The name of Baseby, at the instance of the District Council, had been placed permanently on the map of South Australia. The swamp land below the town, originally held by the Baseby's and since reclaimed by the Government, had received the name of Baseby, and they were proud that pioneer name would remain on the map. Another name which came to them was that of Walker. About 1874 Benjamin Walker came from Mount Torrens and established the flour mill at Mannum. Prior to this date there must have been wheat grown in the district, or there would have been no mill established, and they had pay a tribute to the early pioneers, who came and subdued the land and grew wheat. Some of the early names which occurred to him were Haby, Faehrmann, Ramm, Bottroff, Hoffmann, who took up land and produced wheat. The greater number of these settlers were of German origin, and it was generally recognised that they made splendid pioneers and good colonists.  Later the mill was worked by Mr. J. W. Walker, and it was only necessary to mention his name, as they all knew his fine qualities as a townsman. He was pleased that the mill was still in the family. Mr. G. W. Schuetze and his brother took a great part in the development of the town. Mr. F. E. Schuetze, whose qualities they all knew, was still with them. The Shearer family came many years ago and from very humble beginnings had worked up a wonderful business, of which Mannum was proud. The carnival was originally inaugurated with the idea of raising money for the purpose of reclaiming the recreation ground. If it had not been for the pioneers that ground would not now have been available for the people of Mannum. About the year 1898 a number of gentlemen Messrs. F. E. Schuetze, Ben Baseby, C. F. C. Mau, J. W. Walker, and John Shearer, decided to purchase the property and hold it in perpetuity for the benefit of the people of the town. Those gentlemen had shown great foresight, and they of the present day were grateful. He knew the toast would be honored enthusiastically, as it was, indeed, the most important of the evening.
Mr. John R. Baseby, a pioneer of 1851, responding, said it was a great honor to be asked to respond to the toast of "The Pioneers." He supposed that he was the sole survivor of the pioneers of 70 years ago. On the 5th March, 1855, he and his brother first saw the grand old Murray, at a spot about a mile below Mannum. He could well remember the last of that journey, at that time he was a boy of .six years of age, and his brother 16, and they rode bareback on an old razor-back horse named Billy, from Mount Torrens to Mannum, a distance of 28 miles. He had a vivid recollection of having to take his meals for some days afterwards. At that time there was no habitation of any kind at Mannum. the nearest being a stock-keeper's hut at Caloote, about four miles down the river, and the next the Randell's, at Noana, about the same distance up river. This was where the "Mary Ann" was built, and not at Mannum, as generally supposed. The surrounding country consisted of dense pine and mallee, the denizens of which were blacks, kangaroos, and dingoes. It was in the early part of 1856 that Capt. Randell built four rooms on the present site of the Mannum Hotel; he also built a wharf and store. Mr. Frank Randell started a cattle station and built his hut at the foot of the rise, where the old post office now stands. Their nearest post office was Mount Torrens, where they went about once a month for mail and about once a year they would go to Adelaide in a bullock dray for stores. He had seen Mannum grow from the first cottage to its present population of over 2,000, and it was still progressing. He hoped in the near future to see a long white board with black letters on it, "Beware of the train." With railway facilities the town would forge ahead by leaps and bounds, and he hoped to see it extend back until Palmer became a suburb.
Mr. John Shearer, who came to the district in the early seventies, said he felt ashamed to speak as a pioneer after hearing Mr. Baseby. It was 50 years ago since he came to Mannum and started a blacksmith shop. He was assured that there was nothing for a blacksmith to do. On interviewing a few farmers he had found they had dug in and were determined to stick. He found that they either wanted implements or had implements to repair, and his business gradually increased, so that he got his brother to come down. They started implement manufacture in a small way, and they jointly invented a plough share which had been of great benefit to the district and State, and had helped to solve the problem of farming. When super came the business went ahead so much that they decided to open a branch at Kilkenny, which very soon grew to be almost as large as the original business. The two partners later took different branches of business and both firms had progressed very well indeed. He still took a great interest in Mannum; there was a certain amount of sentimental interest. It was very regrettable that when the railway was built it deviated from instead of to Mannum. Some trades-people had been frightened that if the railway came to Mannum, people would buy their goods in Adelaide, and the local businesses suffer. That was wrong—with a railway the population would increase and the local trade would grow. It was not too late now for the building of the railway if they had an energetic Government. He thanked them for the manner in which they had honored the toast.
The chairman read the following letter from Mr F. E. Schuetze, an early pioneer, who was unable to attend through indisposition: "I am sorry that I cannot be with you to-night, as I have a bad cold and I feel that after the allotted span of life—having been born 20th September, 1847 [he died 1 Jan 1930]— one cannot with safety take as much risk with health as in younger days. I have always tried to keep my end up, and the best day's work I ever did was when I engaged Capt. Arnold, about 10 miles above Mannum, on my steamer "Golcouda," in 1890. He remained with me until I sold out. In those days there was no eight hours' work, and Capt. Arnold would work 18 hours a day if there was anything to do and no extra or overtime pay. Well, you all know what Capt. Arnold has done for the town, and if I had not engaged him I suppose he would have gone back to sea, and Mannum would have lost its best citizen."
Mr. John F. Godfree submitted "The Town and District of Mannum." After all that had been said about the pioneers, he would point out that he was one of the oldest residents of the district in the room. It was a pleasure to have Mr. John Baseby with them and lo know that relatives of the pioneers were then present. The speaker, who was in a reminiscent mood, told many stories of early days. He paid a tribute to the work of John and David Shearer, whose industry had done much to build up the town. He also spoke of the other industries which had brought the town its present state of development and progress. He would like to see the railway come into Mannum—such facilities should have been given long ago.
The Hon. R. T. Melrose, M.L.C., in supporting, recalled the fact that he was born almost within sight of Mannum, and had ever since been interested in the development of the district. His mother was the first white woman to go up the Murray, and his father had held the Victoria and Rufus Creek stations over 80 years ago, seven years before they knew which State they were in. He congratulated the pioneers of the town and those who had followed them on the progress.
In responding, Mr. David Shearer thanked them for the enthusiastic manner in which the toast had been honored. In choosing a place for their business they had not wanted to go to the city, which at that time was run by a few city merchants, and anything manufactured locally was called colonial, and of no account. If they looked back into history, even prehistoric times, they would find that big industries were always settled on a river, men were happier and found life much pleasanter than in living in the big cities. His evidence before the previous Railways Standing Committee had been credited with being an over-statement, the actual fact was that it was under stated. If the railway was built to Mannum—which could be done at a third of the cost of the bolstered up figures of the railway officials-—the line would pay and the town would progress. They had not invented the stump-jump plough, the credit of which belongs to a man named Mullins, but they had done their share in developing the stump-jump plough. He hoped the railway would soon he forthcoming.
Capt. J. G. Arnold, in supporting the previous speaker, said they were all proud of their town, which had been built up by individual industry, and not pampered by Governments. They had seldom asked anything from the Government, and when they did seldom got it. They were also very proud of their District Hospital, and in this case the Government had helped them considerably. In referring to swamp across the river from Mannum, the speaker said that it had now been reclaimed for eight years, and had been put to no use. He hoped that the Government of the day would see that it was soon settled. He was pleased to be at the gathering and to know that the carnival was a success. He hoped that the recreation ground would soon be reclaimed and that they would all be at a similar gathering to celebrate the occasion.
Cr. G. H. Mann, in supporting, said a rail way would give greater facilities to the producing portion of the district. The reclaiming of the swamps along the river had been fully justified in his opinion. The speaker mentioned Neeta and Wall as examples. In the old days the swamps were useless to a large extent—to-day they are under cultivation and supporting many families, where previously only one had occupied the property. He had been surprised to see the magnificent condition of the cattle which could not be equalled on the ordinary river farms. The cost of reclamation, however, was too heavy, and some cheaper method would have to be found. Decentralisation was good, but it needed extending to its limit. Conditions in the city were such as to attract men from the land. He thought the agricultural output was the most important, and therefore greater efforts should he made to make the conditions of the man on the land more congenial as against the city life.  . . .
The toast of "The Ladies" was submitted by Rev. A. L. Bulbeck, and in doing so paid a fine tribute to the pioneer women who had faced with courage the lack of comfort, danger, sickness without medical attention, and worked loyally with their pioneer husbands. The ladies of Mannum had joined whole-heartedly in the work of the carnival, and much of the success was due to their efforts. Mr. J. Laffan, hon. secretary Carnival Committee, responded on behalf of the ladies. He said if it had not been for the women pioneers Mannum would not have been what it is to-day and during the carnival the ladies of Mannum had played a very important part. He thought they would like to know the approximate amount raised during the period of the carnival, which now amounted to £520.