William Symington was born in Sanquhar in 1824. He was the third child and second son of James Symington (1798-1862) and Catherine Menzies.  His father was the illegitimate son of William Symington, the engineer and inventor, who had worked in the lead mines at Wanlockhead. In 1841 he was living with his parents at Blawearie, Sanquhar. At the age of twenty, William married Jane Dalziel at the Sanquhar Parish Church on 12 October 1844. [1]

After his marriage he lived and worked at Castle Farm, Sanquhar, where his father in law William Dalziel was a tenant farmer. Prior to his father's death in 1862 he was working as a coal miner with his son William at Gillhead, Cambusnethan. Gillhead is described in the Ordance Survey Name Book of that time as "A few dwelling houses so called", near Waterloo. [2]

TRAGEDY AT THE GARRION BURN

On 10 October 1858, John Symington, the fourth child of William Symington and Jane Dalziel, met a tragic end when he drowned in the Garrion Burn, a small tributary of the river Clyde. He was six years of age. The family were then living at Gill Head, Cambusnethan, where William was working as a coal miner. The usually placid stream was swollen after recent rain. They had another son, born in 1860, whom they also named John but he died the following year.

[1] GROS OPR Marriages Sanquhar 848/00 0020 0181

[2] Ordnance Survey Name Books Lanarkshire 1858-1861 Volume 8 OS 1/ 21/8/96

William Symington emigrated to Australia soon after his father died. At the age of 37, together with his wife Jane and children William, Mary, James, Peter and infant daughter Jane, the family sailed to Australia in the barque Great Australia, 1661 tons of the White Star Line. Departing Liverpool on 25th April, 1862 and sailing via Algoa Bay they arrived at the Port of Melbourne on Monday 16th September, 1862; 563 passengers shared intermediate and steerage accommodation.

THE VOYAGE TO AUSTRALIA

The barque Great Australia, 1660 tons, was the pride of the White Star Line. The clipper sailed from Liverpool for Melbourne on 25 April 1862 with over 550 passengers, the greatest number to be carried in the one ship with the Line since 1857. Approaching the Cape of Good Hope, the vessel encountered a hurricane in which its rudder was badly damaged. Sails were damaged and several of the passenger's berths were washed away. Repairs were undertaken at Algoa Bay but soon after, the vessel ran into another fierce gale. There was no loss of life.

The Argus Tuesday 16 September 1862 page 6

THE ACCIDENT TO THE GREAT AUSTRALIA. -The Great Australia, Captain J. Baker, now in the bay, with emigrants for Melbourne, encountered the full force of the late gales off this coast. On the morning of the 3rd inst., the dark and hazy appearance of the horizon gave token of squally weather, and a terrific gale came on, accompanied by a cross and heavy sea, which caused the ship to roll heavily. At this time she was shipping heavy seas-the gunwales alternately under water-and several of the passengers’ berths in the second cabin, intermediate, and steerage, were carried away. Seeing that matters were so bad, the captain hove-to on the port tack, covered and secured the hatches and movable things about the decks. The gale continued throughout the night, and lasted till the evening of the 4th, when it abated somewhat. At midnight, however, it again came on to blow hard, increasing next morning to as furious a gale as any they had previously encountered. Each day the pumps were carefully attended, and, notwithstanding the severity of the weather, the ship was cleaned out. On the 5th, the weather was still squally, and a fresh gale sprang up-the sea running fearfully high. From the peculiar action of the ship, it occurred to Captain Baker that the rudder must be damaged; and, on its being examined, he found his fears unfortunately realized. This discovery was made in 39 deg. 28 min. S., 16 deg. 43 min. E., and he very properly altered his course, and steered for this port to repair. What the consequences might have been had he endeavoured to reach his destination in the disabled condition of the vessel, it would be frightful to contemplate. The rudder, it was found, would not act, and they had to steer the ship with tackles from the quarter, with a spar across the stern. In all probability, the crew and passengers owe their safety to the courage and coolness of Captain Baker, in bringing his ship safely into port under such trying circumstances. The rudder has been brought on shore to be repaired, and it will be done with all speed, when the vessel will immediately resume her voyage. Meanwhile the crew have been busily employed in repairing the damage done to the sails, and caulking the decks, which were very much strained by the tempestuous weather encountered. That she is a strong, well-built, sea-worthy craft, the dangers past bear ample evidence of, and we wish Captain Baker a more pleasant voyage than that which he has hitherto had, as some amends for the trials he has passed through.

GOLD MINING AT BEECHWORTH

The family probably proceeded direct to the Beechworth goldfields. William's younger brother James and his sister Agnes Darton were already living in Beechworth and his elder sister Anne Russell was also living in the region. James had worked as a surveyor and held mining leases at Beechworth. He would acquire considerable real estate in the district.

The Register of Claims for the Beechworth Mining Division for1862-1870 (PROV VPRS 19184/C1) records claim number 80, dated 9 March 1864, W. Symington & Co, at the junction of Back Creek and Hurdle Creek.  [1] 

William secured five acres of Crown Land on 4th December, 1866 [2] followed by the purchase at auction of two adjacent blocks at Beechworth on 22nd November 1867. [3] He paid £30 for Lot 23, seven acres (Allotment 12, Section P2) and £2 10s per acre for two acres (Allotment 13, Section P2). These properties were situated on the outskirts of Beechworth, North-East of the Asylum and on the North side of the Beechworth-Stanley Road, close to the junction of Deep Creek and Hurdle Creek and near the Crow Hotel. The original land holding has been split by the new Stanley Road. 

Ovens and Murray Advertiser, Saturday 23 November 1867, page 3

Land Sale at Beechworth. — A sale of town, suburban, and country lots was held by Mr Berry, land officer, at Beechworth, yesterday, the lots being in or in the vicinity of that town. Several valuable allotments were withdrawn at the last moment in the most capricious manner. There was competition in a few cases only. The following lots were disposed of: — Suburban Lots. COUNTY UNNAMED, PARISH OF TARRAWINGEE. On Spring Creek.

On the Stanley road, near the Crow Hotel. Lot 23 -allotment 12, section P 2, 1a. 1r. 16p. Upset price £4 per acre. Valuation £30. — Upset, Wm. Symington. Lot 24 — Allotment 13, section P 2, 2a. 2r. 39p. Upset price £2 10s per acre. — Upset, Wm. Symington. 

Until at least the end of the decade, William Symington was working as a gold miner. (Bailliere’s Victorian Directories of 1868, 69 and 70). The 1875 Directory has Symington, W., farmer of Yackandandah and Symington, William, farmer of Kiewa; the 1880 Directory lists Symington, William, dairyman of Kiewa.

[1]Register of Claims in the Division of Spring Creek and Beechworth District 1862-1870; 1864 March 9

[2] See Shennan, M. Rosalyn, Silver Threads and Golden Needles 1985. Chapter 5

[3] The Ovens and Murray Advertiser, Saturday, November 23, 1867, No. 2288, page3, column C, Land Sale at Beechworth. 

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HUON LANE GRAZIER

By 1875 the directories list William Symington as a farmer of Yackandandah and of Kiewa. His first land selections were in the early 1870s. He went on to secure extensive and profitable pastoral holdings at Huon Lane on the Mitta Mitta River flats in north eastern Victoria.  His homestead, Berringa Park, was erected on a bank above the flood line on Allotment 6 of Section 4 of the Parish of Beethang.

His wife Jane ran the dairy. In her death certificate, her occupation is stated as dairy woman.  She died on November 1, 1878 from Bright’s disease and dropsy. 

After a brief illness, William Symington died from "pleurisy" aged 66 years at Berringa Park, Huon Lane on 7 November 1890. He was buried at the Yackandandah cemetery on 9 November.

DEATH NOTICE

The Wodonga and Towong Sentinel Friday 14 November 1890 page 2

We regret to record the demise of Mr William Symington, who passed peacefully away on Friday last at his residence, Huon Lane. The deceased gentleman, who was one of the pioneers of the district, had attained a ripe age, and leaves a grown-up family in comfortable circumstances. His remains were interred in the Yackandandah cemetery.

According to probate records, his assets were valued at £4370/9/1. [1] Realty included Freehold Allotments 6 Section 3, 5 Section 4, 2 & 5 Section 4 and 2 Section 2, Parish of Beethang, amounting to 505 acres, together with Crown Allotment 1 Section 2, Parish of Beethang, 250 acres under lease or license from the Crown. His livestock comprised 60 cows valued at £4 per head, 30 two-year-old and yearlings at £2 per head and two draught horses at £10 each. A tip dray was valued at £5 and this buggy at £20. [1]  

His bachelor son James and his unmarried daughter Mary inherited the lands of Berringa park and James carried on with cattle breeding and grazing  on a large scale at Berringa Park until his death in 1920. The property was renowned for the quality of its bullocks at the Newmarket saleyards where James Symington was a regular attendant. [2]

[1] VPRS 28/P2 Unit 311 item 45/546 

[2] Harry Peck, Memoirs of a Stockman, 1942

JANE DALZIEL

JANE DALZIEL  was born c. 1824 in the parish of Durrisdeer. Her parents were William Dalziel (c.1794-1851) and Isabella Clark (c.1799-1851). She had a brother James Dalziel, born c. 1819,  who emigrated to USA in 1872 and died there in 1885. He married Agnes Beattie in Sanquhar in 1850.  

WILLIAM DALZIEL born c. 1794 Durrisdeer; died Sanquhar 29th December 1851. Son of James Dalziel and Margaret Black. In 1821 William Dalziel was married in Sanquhar to  ISABELLA CLARK, born c. 1799 Tynron; died 1851

1841 Census Farmer at Sanquhar Castle. 1851 Census has William Dalziel Farmer of 60 acres of land at Castle Farm

JAMES DALZIEL, the father of William Dalziel, was baptized on 3rd June 1761 at Myres; he died on19th October 1842 at Cleuchhead;

the son of John Dalziel and Florence Haining 1747-1769

1841 Census, James Dalziel farmer at Cleuchhead aged 80

THE CHILDREN OF WILLIAM SYMINGTON AND JANE DALZIEL

1.WILLIAM SYMINGTON Born at Sanquhar 10 October 1844, died 26 September 1898 at Warren, New

South Wales. Married  Anna Rigg [1]  1872 at Violet Town, Victoria.

2.  MARY SYMINGTON [2] Born at Sanquhar 13 October 1846,  died 5 December 1919 at Wodonga. Single.

3. JAMES SYMINGTON  Born at Sanquhar 22 October1848, died 8 May 1920 at Dr. Bird's Hospital, Spring Street, Melbourne. Single.

4.  JOHN SYMINGTON Born at Cambusnethan 12 January 1852, died 1858 at Cambusnethan.

5.  CATHERINE SYMINGTON  Born at Sanquhar 20 May 1855, died 25 June 1856 at Gillhead, Cambusnethan. [3]

6.  PETER SYMINGTON Born Cambusnethan 11 July 1857,  died 13 September1916 at Huon Lane, Victoria. Married  1891 Rebecca Ann Hodgson (died N. Carlton 8 April1934).

7.  JOHN SYMINGTON Born at Cambusnethan 7 March 1860,  died 1861.

8.  JANE SYMINGTON Born at Gillhead, Cambusnethan 2 January 1862, died 23 February 1881 Yackandandah,  Victoria. Single. 

[1] Daughter of John Rigg and Isabella McTaggart who settled the Rocky Water Holes Run (now Kalkallo) and discovered gold in 1859 while ploughing his paddocks on Bank Vale Station, north of Mickleham.       

[2] See death entry Yackandandah Times, Tuesday December 23, 1919; died at Wodonga, having lived most of her life at Berringa Park with her brother, James.

[3] Cause of Death paralysis, 10 days; buried in Cambusnethan new church yard

SOME NEWSPAPER REPORTS

The Wodonga and Towong Sentinel Friday 28 February 1890 page 2

From Mr W. Symington, Bungoona, requesting the council to reconsider the petition for the formation of a road from Huon Lane railway station through allotment 5, section 4, parish of Bethanga. Mr Jas. Symington was in attendance, and said the whole cost would be met by him if the prayer of the petition was granted. It was resolved that the exchange be not objected to, provided all costs were paid.

Ovens and Murray Advertiser Saturday 1 March 1890 page 1

YACKANDANDAH SHIRE COUNCIL.

Received. From Wm. Symington, Bungoona, as follows: — “At a meeting of your council held on December 30th, 1889, a petition from certain ratepayers of the shire, requesting the formation of a road from Huon’s Lane Railway-station through allotment 5, sec. 4. parish of Beethang, was presented. The petition was not then assented to. I have the honor to request that your council will be pleased to reconsider the prayer of that petition at the next meeting of the council, and allow my son, Mr James Symington, jun., to appear on my behalf and supply such further information concerning the roads referred to in the petition as the council may require.” — Dealt with by motion.

Cr BEATTY moved, and Cr MACDONALD seconded, that the council had no objection to exchange old road with Mr Symington for a new one leading direct to the Huon’s Lane railway station; Mr.   Symington to pay all expenses in connection with same. - Carried.