Governor MacDonnell's Pastoral Operations

In a letter dated November 30, 1861, the Governor-in-Chief (Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell) was able to advise Mr. H. Holroyd that he had purchased "all Mr. Borthwick's runs adjoining Strawberry Hill and including Strawberry Hill, with 4,600 sheep," and he said "making his run a valuable and compact one." He asked Holroyd to take delivery at leisure, but the Governor-in-Chief did "not wish delivery taken till near the expiration of a month which is allowed by the conditions ... as cash payment has to be made immediately after delivery." They had up to December 29 to take deliveries.

His Excellency expected to be at Port Lincoln by December 21, and contemplated taking Mr. Davenport, "who will hold my power of attorney." There was trouble with the tally of the sheep, for the Governor-in-Chief said, " I am at a loss to know what, became of my sheep, for I purchased with the run 1,114 ; add lambs, at least increase 200 ; from Mt. Brown (presumably Mr. Richman's) 1,915, total 3,229, returned as shorn 2,975, missing or unaccounted for 254." The manager was expected to be able to account for the shortage, or else go.

STRAWBERRY HILL HOLDING

From the two foregoing paragraphs it would appear certain that Sir Richard must have had land near Strawberry Hill, for with the addition of Borthwick's they all made a "compact" holding. In addition when buying the run he bought 1,114 sheep. This number is more than could have been run on the freehold land at Lake Wangary, indicating he had bought the lease of land elsewhere.

His Excellency advised Holroyd that he did not expect to leave the Colony finally till near the end of January, giving him more time to settle his affairs. Actually he did not get away until March 4, 1862. Holroyd had valued the wool at £500 to £600, but Sir Richard was sorry to say that Mr. Spicer estimated the value at not higher than £350 "but we must look forward to better things, else sheep farming would be a very losing concern." The Governor said he had been very ill, but was gradually recovering, though slowly. This was the end of the letters preserved.

The mention of Spicer's name suggests he is the same man as is referred to in Rodney Cockburn's "Pastoral Pioneers" where it is said "Spicer further extended his operations by purchasing the Poonindie run on Eyre Peninsula, which he afterwards sold to Archdeacon Hale as a mission station for the blacks. He once held 150 square miles of country on Eyre Peninsula and stocked it with sheep. Mr. Spicer retired from pastoral business in 1851, after having played the genuine part of a pathfinder."

Hon. John Lewis in his book, "Fought and Won," published in 1922, relates how in 1862 he took a flock of sheep from Gum Creek to Coffin's Bay, passing through Yalluna, thence through Pillaworta country to the Tod, thence to Strawberry Hill, where he found yards and a hut. He said "I think Strawberry Hill at that time belonged to Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell."

In a parliamentary return of pastoral leases from 1851 to 1864, prepared in 1865-6, it is shown that Sir R. G. MacDonnell on January 17, 1860, claimed 80 square miles of country in the Port Lincoln district, the expiring date being March, 1874. At the time the return was made up the name of the lessee was W. R. Mortlock and the rent for the year 1860 was £33. As the originating date is January, 1860, this area could not include the purchase from William Borthwick. The transaction between MacDonnell and Borthwick does not appear on the return.

DEPARTURE FOR PORT LINCOLN

On December 28, 1861, His Excellency and about 20 other passengers left for Port Lincoln and Port Augusta in the steamer Lubra, 220 tons (H. Ward, master). The Governor-in-Chief and Mr. Davenport disembarked at Port Lincoln on Sunday, December 29. The occasion gave an opportunity for the Port Lincoln correspondent of the "Register" to extend his descriptive powers to the limit. The Lubra was decked out with flags of all nations, and the various hotels responded by flying all the bunting at their disposal, but they were all outdone by "that sturdy old Port Lincolnite, Captain Bishop, who ran up to the truck of his own particular flagstaff, a superb specimen of the ' flag that braved a thousand years the battle and the breeze,' garnered up by the worthy captain for the special occasion."

His Excellency and suite stayed at the Castle Inn (the Port Lincoln Hotel being so crowded, it could not accommodate the party), thence proceeded to Sir Richard's estate at Lake Wangary, a place, it was said, that for beauty of aspect and salubrity of climate was unsurpassed in New Holland. Game was abundant and the waters teemed with a variety of fish, while boating on the picturesque waters of Douglas Harbor was available. Sir Richard "bagged no end of game." As His Excellency was taking to pastoral work so seriously, the Port Lincoln people were indulging in the fond hope that he might eventually settle at Lake Wangary.

FERTILITY OF SOIL

We have no details of what was done by the Governor-in-Chief on the trip, but as said above it gave the "Register" correspondent a chance to give us all the news. So we learn that the wheat harvest was progressing as well as could be expected. The late storm had done some damage, but Mellor's reapers were rapidly taking off the balance. The yield was good. Black rust was a stranger to the district. The correspondent voiced the ''regret that Port Lincolnites do not turn their attention a little more to horticultural pursuits, as we have ocular demonstration that fruits and flowers thrive amazingly in our rich deep soil — down even to the very sea beach. The trees in Inspector Holroyd's garden bend with their load and his flowers are unsurpassed by the choice treasures of Glen Ewin, Norwood, Medindie or the Briers. Would that a few adventurous vignerons from overcrowded Germany settled down and turned to good account our limestone slopes. Soon would the vine-clad hills of Port Lincoln add their quota to our lists of exports." He also bemoaned the fact that the paternal Government had not expend-ed a penny on roads or bridges in Port Lincoln, and he was treasuring up the time when he would be permitted to drive the Road Board over one particular hill road.