Once again this is unaltered information from the transcriptions of the Society of Edgar Families Newsletters done by Maggie Tucker and are housed here with her permission.
The images, courtesy of Lola Wilson and David Edgar, are the only additions.
Halbert Edgar, May 30, 1823 to Nov. 29 1869
and his wife,
Margaret Burgess, Nov. 20, 1823 to Sept. 6, 1887
Halbert EDGAR DOB 30 May 1823 POB Harthope, Moffat, Scotland DOM 30 December 1844 POM unknown
DOD 29 November 1869 POD Portland, Victoria POI Portland, Victoria
Father John EDGAR Mother Isabella AITCHESON Spouse Margaret BURGESS
Children
John, William, Archibald, Halbert James, Robert, Mary, Isabella, David, Margaret Tredwell, Elizabeth and Christina.
Halbert
James Edgar, born 30 May 1823, at Moffat. and baptised June 1823 at
Harthope. Emigrated to Australia. married on 30 December 1844, Margaret
Burgess (born 20 November 1823; died at Euabalong, New South Wales on 6
September 1887)and daughter of John Burgess (Bergers according to her
death certificate). Margaret was born at Moffat, Scotland and had been
in New South Wales 36 years at the time of her death. Margaret and
Halbert (Herbert so says her death certificate) were married in
Scotland 30.12.1844 when she was 20 years of age. Halbert Edgar,
shoemaker in Moffat and Margaret Burgess were proclaimed for the last
time and married on the 30th current at Moffat.
He died at Portland, Victoria. 29 November 1869.
They
emigrated to Australia during 1853 or early 1854 and were accompanied
by their five young sons; John (8), William (6), Archibald (5), Robert
(3) and Halbert (1). Coming as free settlers they were undoubtedly
encouraged to do so by Halbert's elder brother David. It is also most
probable that David helped the family upon arrival as he had large
landed interests in Western Victoria.
David Edgar had arrived in
Geelong in 1838 at the age of 26. His first job was as a shepherd near
Werribee. Soon after he became station manager for the Forlonge
Brothers on their 25,000 acre property near Hamilton. He was earning
100 pounds a year which was indeed a most satisfactory wage for those
times. Soon after he purchased a bush inn near Heywood where he stayed
for 7 years. In 1849 he swapped his Inn for a partnership in the
Mullagh sheep station near Harrow. Soon after he and his partner (Mr
Bermingham) leased Pine Hills Station which they eventually bought.
When his partner died, David Edgar became sole owner of Pine Hills
whilst Mr Bermingham's wife and daughters received Mullagh. So by 1852
David Edgar was a wealthy pastoral gentleman. No wonder he encouraged
his brothers and sisters to emigrate as he had jobs waiting for them at
Harrow. As he expanded his pastoral interests more family members
arrived in Australia to manage his properties; Bogolara, Tallangour,
Longlands West, Kadnook and Drumborg which were all situated in the
Harrow area. (In 1888 David Edgar owned 11,670 acreas in the Western
District of Victoria).
On his arrival at Port Phillip in 1853/4
Halbert Edgar made his way to Portland, either overland , by coach or
by boat. It is believed that he first worked for a shoemaker when he
arrived in Portland. Very soon he made his way to Pine Hills station
situated on the Glenelg River, just 6 miles from Harrow. Mary, his
first daughter, was only a baby when he bought 2 allotments in Harrow
in 1855. It is also believed that he had also acquired his property
"Minstrel Haugh" by this time as the obituaries of the first two
children born in Australia (1854 and 1856) state that they were born at
"Minstrel Haugh".
In November 1857 he opened his first business
in the town. it was a Boot and Shoemaking store. During 1859 he had the
Spur Inn built on this same land and he stayed in the hotel business
for a futher 10 years, whilst at the same time running the station at
Tarrayoukan. Before 1852 when Harrow was officially named, the area had
been called "The Upper Glenelg". Official naming of the town followed
the surveying of the township and the subsequent sale of town
allotments. Halbert's hotel joined two others in the town at that time.
They were called "The Plough and Harrow" and the "Hermitage", the
latter which also boasted a store within its doors.
The hotel
was sold in 1869. Newspaper advertisements of the time show that it was
taken over by Charles Shrive who boasted of "good accommodation at
moderate charges". Halbert could now devote his full attention to
"Minstrel Haugh" which was seven miles south of Harrow and contained
1,542 acres. The sheep property had been cleared and otherwise improved
with the addition of a wool shed, press, stables and stock and drafting
yards. The homestead had 9 rooms, a cellar and of course a garden.
Halbert did not live long enough to enjoy his property as he died (in
Portland) on 29 November 1869. He had just celebrated his 46th
birthday. His death was noted in the newspapers with the simple words
"Halbert Edgar, brother of Mr D Edgar, also died on the 29th. So we
tumble off the stage one after another". Halbert is buried in Portland
Cemetery near his sister Isabella and her husband Andrew Gray. His
monument is inscribed with the words from Titus 2 Chapter 13 "Looking
for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and
our Saviour Jesus Christ."
During his years at Harrow, Halbert
became quite involved in local affairs and especially in the
development of a local school. On the 21 May 1855 Halbert was present
at a public meeting held to discuss ways of providing a school for the
children in the area, and at another meeting on 30 December 1862
Halbert and his brother David were among the gentlemen chosen to
supervise the affairs of the village school, known as Harrow Common
School. The school was conducted in the Harrow Presbyterian Church, a
brick building with a corrugated iron roof, by Mr William Bruce Ross.
There were 40 children enrolled at the school. Halbert's children
Isabella, Mary, David and Robert Edgar would definitely have been some
of his first pupils. As this was prior to the Free Education Act of
1873, Halbert would have paid regular tuition fees for his children's
education. These fees formed the basis of the teacher's salary.
The
family, by now consisting of 5 sons (Robert died 1866) and 5 daughters
stayed on the property for a further 7 years following Halbert's death.
"Minstrel
Haugh" was put up for auction in October 1875. By now the property also
boasted a newly erected four roomed cottage, which was probably lived
in by John, the eldest son, who had by now married. The property was
passed in at the first auction so the family tried another auction in
June 1876. Once again it did not sell. As the family had bought
property in New South Wales they were anxious for a sale and so it was
sold privately in 1876. Like many of the Scottish pioneers of the
Western District of Victoria, the Edgars settled in New South Wales.
This emigration was caused by a combination of successive droughts and
the land selection law which encroached on the grazier's land. New
South Wales held opportunities for much larger holdings tan did
Victoria. The new properties were close to Euabalong and were called
"Errebendary' and "Bulloak". Sadley, in the words of Jessie Roper in a
letter in 1973, "the droughts ruined them".
Mary was the only
one of the family who did not go to New South Wales (Archibald did
before the move). She was married to John James Badams and living in
the Harrow area. Her sister, Isabella was a domestic servant in the
Riverina until her marriage, in Melbourne 1877, to Richmond Armstrong
Hope. She moved back to the Western District of Victoria and settled
first at Apsley where she raised her family. The two Edgar sisters,
Mary and Isabella, stayed in the area for the rest of their lives,
until they both "retired" to live in Casterton. Eventually family ties
were further strengthened by the marriage of Mary's daughter, Edith May
Badams, to Isabella's son, Richmond Armstrong Hope.
John,
William and David were farmers like their father before them, however,
David eventually moved to Western Australia. Halbert became a hotel
owner in Deniliquin. Margaret, Elizabeth and Christina all married;
Margaret and Christina to farmers and Elizabeth to a hotel owner at
Dubbo. Their mother Margaret Edgar (nee Burgess) died at Errebendery
Station on the 6 September 1887. She was aged 63 years.
The Spur
Inn, Harrow, owned by Halbert Edgar. One of 3 Hotels in Harrow at the
time. Built 1859 on land Halbert had bought in 1855. Hotel sold in
1869. It was demolished in the late 1950's, although delicenced in
1922. After Halbert sold it the name was changed to the "Harrow Hotel".
An
empty site is where once stood Harrow's second main hotel, the Spur
Inn, built in 1859, a two story brick bldg. With a change of ownership
in the 1870's it also underwent a name change to the "Harrow Hotel",
trading under this name until it was delicenced in 1922. This came
about when both hotels, the Spur and Hermitage, were owned by one
person, from then on it was used as a private residence gradually
falling into disrepair and was pulled down about 1958. The remains of a
brick wall are all this is left of the brick stable belonging to the
Harrow Hotel. After extensive excavations had been carried out for a
suitable site these stables were built in 1877. In later years this
building housed the town power supply. It was destroyed by fire in the
1960's.
a] Kadnook Station was a subdivision of the original Kadnook which was a subdivision of Kout Narin:
August 1868 to July 1873, Adam Smith
July 1873 to May 1878, D Edgar
May 1878, John Thomas Edgar, cancelled in 1882
b] Bogolara - 9 miles north of Chetwynd:
Owned D Edgar October 1867 to June 1875
c] Mullagh - 7 miles north of Harrow:
June 1849 to November 1854 W Birmingham and D Edgar
d] Newlands:
July 1873, Walter Laidlaw and Christine Gordon
e] Tallageira - 25 miles north of Apsley:
April 1865 to March 1879, Adam Smith
f] Tallangour, was also a subdivision of the original Kadnook in August 1864.
April 1870 to April 1874 - D Edgar;
then subdivided into Tallangour and Lake Paddock:
Tallangour - April 1874 to May 1878, D Edgar
May 1878 to December 1880, J T Edgar, then cancelled
Lake Paddock - April 1874 to April 1875, D Edgar
g] Pine Hill (or Konnepra), 12 miles north of Harrow:
February 1850 to November 1854, D Edgar and W Birmingham
November 1854 to September 1881 D Edgar, then cancelled
h] Longlands or Rickets Run, near Harrow:
May 1877 to June 1877, Broughton Bros. and D Edgar
subdivided into East and West Broughtons
West Broughton, D Edgar 1882, lapsed.
i] Drumborg:
August 1848 to 1851, D Edgar
The family also owned Bulloak Station as well as Errebendary.
Halbert
is buried at Portland (1.12.1869) in the Presbyterian section
Grave/Book Bo.25. His headstone has passage from Titus 2:13 inscribed
on it as well as Minstrel Haugh.
Halbert's Will:
Halbert Edgar late of Minstrel Haugh, County of Dundas. Gentleman Deceased
This is the last Will and Testament of me Halbert Edgar of Minstrel Haugh in the County of Dundas; Gentleman.
I
leave and bequeath all my real and personal estate to my wife Margaret
Edgar for her sole use and benefit absolutely and I appoint her sole
executor of this my will and guardian of my infant children ... my hand
this twentieth day of November one thousand eight hundred and sixty
nine...
Signed in the presence of Phillip Scott, Solicitor and Andrew, Law Clerk both of Portland.
Probate
granted on the Second day of May one thousand eight hundred and seventy
three to Margaret Edgar of Minstrel Haugh in the County of Dundas.
Colony of Victoria. Widow of the said Deceased.
Date of Death 29th November 1869
Property valued to 202 pounds (even)
Issued 6th May 1873
(A)
John Edgar, born 21 April 1845, in Scotland. Farmer. He married at
Harrow, Victoria. Alice Thomas (born 15 June 1851). He died at
Condoblin, New South Wales and is survived by his widow. They had issue
seven sons and three daughters.
(1) John Burgess Edgar who lived at Condoblin, New South Wales
(2) Alexander Edgar
(3) William Edgar
(4) Gordon S. B. Edgar. Owner of a 1,500 acre property at Condoblin, New South Wales
(5) Lindsay Edgar
(6) Archibald Edgar
(7) Halbert Edgar
(8)
Margaret Edgar, born 2 April 1881 at Errebendary Station, Euabalong.
married 13 November 1900 at Condoblin to William Carter Preston. They
had issue six sons and four daughters.
(9) Emma Edgar, born 26
January 1887, at Errebendary Station. She married firstly in May 1911
at Sydney, Alfred George Carruthers and secondly on 30 January 1932,
George Thomas Price. Of the first Marriage there were issue two sons.
Emma Edgar retired to Temora, New South Wales.
(10) Alice Edgar,
born 20 January 1892, at Errebendary Station. She married on 11
February 1910, at Condoblin, Harold James Brewer. They had issue four
daughters.
(B) William Edgar, born 27 January 1847, in Scotland.
Landowner. married Mary Ann Barnes [born 1848, Cavendish, Victoria] and
had issue six sons and five daughters. (not necessarily in the
following order)
(1) Halbert Edgar
(2) Robert Edgar
(3) William Edgar
(4) John Edgar
(5) Walter Edgar
(6)
David Andrew Edgar [born 11 July 1882, Euabalong, NSW; died 28 June
1963 at Mt Lawley WA; married 12 January 1922 to Mignon Ann ROSE, born
1897, Perth WA]. They had issue [at least] David Rossiter Edgar, born
15 March 1922 at Subiaco WA, died 1971, Pine Creek NT; married on 14
May 1946 to Alma Violet, born 1916, Perth WA, died 24 June 1957 at
Wyndham WA. They had issue Garth Rossiter Edgar. The three generations
of Edgar men ie David Andrew Edgar, David Rossiter Edgar and Garth
Rossiter Edgar, were all stockmen and drovers. David Andrew Edgar with
this droving plants stuck around the Murchinson-Geraldton area and
Garth worked in the Derby-Fitzroy River-Halls Creek area.
(7) Margaret Edgar
(8) Tibbie Edgar
(9) Isabella Edgar
(10) Mabel Edgar
(11) Alice Edgar
(C) Archibald Edgar, born 8 October 1848, in Scotland. Died in Victoria, as the result of an accident. unmarried.
(D)
Halbert James Edgar, born 6 December 1852, in Scotland. Hotel Owner.
married at Deniliquin, New South Wales, Elizabeth Rundle. he died in
Sydney in March 1937. They had issue five sons and a daughter. Marilyn
Fordred has a photo of his Hotel and additional information upon
request.
(1) Richard Edgar
(2) Renwick Edgar
(3) Leslie Edgar
(4) Llewellyn Edgar
(5) Lindsay Edgar
(6) Margaret Edgar
(E) Robert Edgar, born 13 February 1850, in Scotland. he died when aged only 16 years.
(F)
Mary Edgar, born 27 May 1854, at Harrow, Victoria married John James
Badams, born 13.11.1834 and died at Casterton, Victoria. They had issue
two sons and five daughters. John James Badams came to Australia in
1853 from Birmingham England with his brother. He and Mary were married
at "Mistral Haugh" in 1873.
(1) Margaret Rose Badams born
2.12.1874, died 15.3.1937. married Mr Cox and lived at Casterton, had 4
boys and 2 girls, including Halbert, Colin and Verna
(2) Catherine Isabella Badams born 23.8.1876. married Mr Hodges (fireman at Hamilton), had one son who had a son called Edward
(3) Elizabeth (Bessie) May Badams born 2.5.1878, died 19.3.1881
(4) Mary Christina Badams born 21.6.1880. lived at Casterton
(5)
Frances (Fanny) Elizabeth Badams born 10.5.1883, died 4.8.1948
Casterton. She did the cooking when her Mum was running the nursing
home in Addison Street, Casterton. She "reared" Edna Brown (MF has a
photo)
(6) Edith May Badams
(7) William Halbert Badams
born 6.1.1888, died 25.2.1957 Adelaide. Bill had 3 children from his
first Marriage, lived in Payneham, Adelaide. married 2nd: Eva and had
one boy and one girl
(8) John (Jack) Robert Badams born
23.4.1892 Casterton, died 17.7.1976 Sydney, married Vera. Head of
T&G in Sydney until his death. Lived at Bondi, Sydney. One daughter
Susan married Michael High.
(G) Isabella Edgar, born 25 April
1856, at Harrow, Victoria married Richmond Armstrong Hope, farmer, and
died at Casterton, Victoria. They had issue four sons and six daughters.
(1) Richmond Hope
(2) Halbert Hope
(3) Thomas Hope
(4) Edgar Hope
(5) Alice Hope
(6) Margaret Hope
(7) Isabella Hope
(8) Jessie Hope
(9) Mollie Hope
(10) Effie Hope
(H)
David Edgar, born 24 December 1857, at Harrow, Victoria. Farmer. He
married on 8 February 1888, at Euablong, New South Wales., Annie Mary
Taplin. They lived in Perth, Western Australia and had issue six sons
and a daughter.
(1) Norman Edgar
(2) Stewart Edgar
(3) Wallace Edgar
(4) Henry Edgar
(5) Keith Edgar
(6) Eric Edgar
(7) Marjorie Edgar
(I)
Margaret Tredwell Edgar, born 28 December 1859, at Harrow, Victoria
married on 18 February 1880 at Euabalong, New South Wales to Edward
Townsend, farmer (died 1 October 1931 at West Wyalong, New South
Wales). They had issue five sons and six daughters.
(1) Thomas Townsend
(2) Halbert Edward Townsend
(3) Clayton David Townsend
(4) Eric John Townsend
(5) Keith McKellar Townsend
(6) Victoria May Townsend
(7) Christine Catherine Townsend
(8) Margaret Eliza Townsend
(9) Helena Isabella Townsend
(10) Alice Elizabeth Jane Townsend
(11) Maud Violet Townsend, died, aged 13 years.
(J)
Elizabeth Edgar, born 29 September 1861 at Harrow, Victoria. married at
Euabalong, New South Wales, Robert McLean, Hotel Owner of Dubbo, New
South Wales. They had issue three sons and four daughters.
(1) Hughie McLean
(2) Edgar McLean
(3) Kenneth McLean
(4) Margaret McLean
(5) Amy McLean
(6) Heather McLean
(7) Hope McLean
(K)
Christina Edgar, born 29 June 1863, at Harrow, Victoria. married at
Euabalong, New South Wales to William Frederick Orr, farmer (died at
Lake Cargelligo, New South Wales). They had issue two sons and two
daughters.
(1) Leslie Orr
(2) Percy Orr
(3) May Orr
(4) Mary Orr
EXTRACTS FROM "BURNT EUCALYPTUS BARK"
by Nancie Edgar
"John George Robertson Returned To Scotland"
After
the sale of Wando Vale was completed John George Robertson went back to
Scotland to live, one of his main reasons would be to be near his
mother again.
He wrote to William Moodie at Wando Dale about
1858, his address being Baranald, Lanark., and his letter referred to
his years of work out here, in retrospect.
As he wrote he would
think nostalgically of sheep - sheep "ringing" at a gate frustratingly
pelting themselves round and round till one breaks, jumps and is
through the gap, then the rest pour through to follow it, giving the
indispensable sheep dog a chance to sit, his dripping tongue hanging
out - sheep in camp on a hot day, some tightly packed under the shade ,
others spilling out from it, all motionless with their heads down. His
mind's eye would look down into the open Wando Vale valley and see
winding, merging sheep tracks, some alive with woolly shapes moving so
rhythmically along that the line would appear to pulsate like a maggot
travelling over meat.
He would remember that the end of the day
is the nicest time in the country as the animals slowly move towards
camp and for man the worries about their welfare are for the most part
put away; and how the sun would set over the bank to the west of Wando
Vale splashing the wispy clouds above it with the colour of light
reflections in copper.
He would think again of how hail showers
bring welcome rain and the heavy gum leaves are blown sideways and when
the sun breaks through they sparkle with raindrop diamonds; how the
next day can be blue skied and sun drenched by a sun that soaks warmly
into your skin even in winter.
He would recall that it was a
wonderful feeling to be free and easy in limb and digestion so to walk
beneath the gums as he would have done many times leading his horse,
the reins slung lightly over his arm.
He would think again of
the heavy eucalyptus scent which saturates every breath one takes when
the dry forest is drenched by a passing shower, after a hot day in
summer; how the gum leaves flower sparingly dropping honey coloured
blossoms on to the brown earth.
He would remember the aroma from
a fire of gum leaves and bark, its intensely blue smoke lazily rising
through the silent scrub to be lost in the rustle above it. He would
hear again the eternal whisper of the squat, symmetrical, brown tipped
sheoak.
Receding to the back of his mind would be the unpleasant
things mercifully this is what happens, things as unwelcome persistent
misty rain at shearing time; the bursts of unrelenting heat during our
fly blown, sun drenched summer; the worry of insufficient staff
especially when facing up to a yard full of footrotted, 'scabbit' sheep
and he would recall perhaps some of the small pinpricks of every day
living.
A small faded strip of newspaper told of his passing, it
simply said - Robertson, John George on the 4 July, 1863 at Baronald,
near Lanark, Scotland, formerly of Wando Vale,
So I move on to
the letter which started me on this history it seems more than a
coincidence that it was dated 15 July 1863 and it came from Scotland.
At
Moffat, Dumfries on that day the kettle would be singing on the side of
a shiny stove and all would be quiet within as a pleasant evening
mantled the countryside.
David Edgar's father, John, sitting by
the window at a table covered with a frayed chenille cloth would take
up his quill pen and start to write. He would pause occasionally to
scan the country he knew and loved so well, for in it he had spent his
life as a shepherd and farmer.
He was then past 84 summers, with
a high smooth brow and faded blue eyes which mirrored the honesty of
the man, his hair was fine and grey. he was deeply religious and the
family Bible held pride of place on the chiffonier; his family had
regularly gathered round to heat the message read from its pages and
inside the cover was a register of births and deaths.
His hand was shaky as he wrote, but his mind was clear:
Moffat. July 15th, 1863.
Dear Walter,
As
we heard a month or two ago you were leaving Mullagh and as we have no
sure word of you, we are anxious to hear, we had a letter from Libby
(Isabel Gray) last month I think she said you and David had been at
their place and you were all well, she seemed to think you would be
writing from harrow, but hers was the only letter we got last month. I
think it is the first month we have wanted one from David or some of
his children since he was here and we seldom get a letter from James or
Halbert and never John, he was with Jess (Johnston) the last account we
heard of him.
I must tell you something of your relations on
this side of the globe. We had Jean (Hairstens) at Moffat a fortnight.
Robert and his family are well as far as we know, we expected Chrisa
here when Jean came but we have neither seen or heard of her since.
Your
mother and me are in moderate health for which we have great reason to
be thankful to the Giver of every good and perfect gift, we are getting
frail but able to stir about and do everything needful which is a great
blessing for we are far from any of our own.
We have been at
Robert's, I think every summer since he went to the Highlands, he is
anxious for us to come this year but it's rather far from home for us
and takes a good deal of expense and we have not made up our minds to
go yet.
I think of nothing in our neighbourhood that would be
any news to you, the Australian overland mail came in, we will have the
other in a few days.
it cannot be long till we go whence we
shall not return, we are far separated with seas and mountains, it is a
comfort to know that we may all meet where there will be no more
parting and all be peaceful and joy; that this will be the happy estate
of us all ought to be our daily prayer.
I hope you will let us know how Grace and all the children are keeping,
Your mother joins me in our best regards to Grace and all the children, while I remain, your affectionate father, John Edgar.
Mr Walter Edgar
care of Mr David Edgar, Pine Hills, Harrow, Victoria.
As
the old man put his pen and ink in the chiffonier drawer his wife would
pour water from the singing kettle into a small teapot and bring it to
the table and as they had their supper, the soft arms of a Scottish
night would enclose the small dwelling.
Out here in Australia.
Walter Edgar.
On
15 July 1863, towards evening Walter would have just come in from
tending the sheep on Kadnook, which by now he looked after for his
brother, David.
One can picture him - before he entered the
undressed timber cottage he would get a tin dish, part fill it with
water from the tank and with home made soap wash away the soil from his
hands and the sheep yards dust and the sweat from his face. As he did
so a flash of white wings against the clear blue sky would catch his
eye, cockatoos whirling overhead, shrieking like a thousand hens caught
in the sky.
Still later in the day, as the sun set and the heavy
leaves hung still, he would see a haze came over the land under the gum
trees and the light from the setting sun would penetrate through it in
long finger like rays of soft gold, etching the sheep silhouetted in
its path with silver.
As he moved inside he would notice an iron
boiler suspended over an open fire with a leg of mutton simmering in
it. His daughter, Jane, every now and then would lift the lid and turn
the meat and the smell of roasting fat would permeate the small
dwelling.
David Edgar.
This same day, 15 July
1863, the sound from the hooves of a pair of fast buggy ponies would be
heard as they pulled a well kept vehicle along the track leading from
the Harrow-Edenhope road; this, the drive in to Pine Hills passed under
majestic red gums through paddocks covered with short green grass.
David
Edgar would drive with skilful hands, his work and public interests
took him many miles in a year. To ride to Portland from Harrow then was
commonplace. He had a likeness to Walter Edgar and they both in turn to
their father, the same wide smooth brow and wide set eyes with lids
that inclined down at the side.
As he came near to the homestead
this day, he would pass the gardener's cottage and soon reach the front
of the house passing along a drive that went round a well kept lawn;
from here the buggy and pair would be taken to the stables by a groom
who was instructed to rub the ponies down well.
The Pine Hills
house is still there, it is typical old English style farmhouse of
brick with two gale ends and a verandah between two sets of windows in
each gable, the upper being attic. There were two small dormer windows
in the centre part of the roof at one time. Wings from the gable ends
help form a central courtyard.
David Edgar died at Pine Hills in
1894; his wife Sarah in 1911, at Babba Mia, they are both buried in the
private cemetery at Pine Hills.
One can conclude what is
virtually a humble attempt to justify the early run holders, who set
about developing the land under very difficult conditions, by stressing
that they should get some credit for doing just this instead of all
being bundled in together as 'squatters' who walked in and 'grabbed'
the land without 'by your leave'. Reference to their early privations
is now often quoted with a heavy overtone of sarcasm.
David
Edgar remarked that the run holders realised that one day they 'would
either have to buy or be bought out', and from the first Land Act of
the 1860's this became the case.
Referring to the impending
implementation of the second Land Act of 1862, the statement in a
letter of this year, 'the whole of Warrock will be open for selection
from 1 October next', is important. Surely this, following years of
occupancy with a covenant giving pre-emptive purchase right, was
sufficient cause to stir even the most devout to take some remedial
action, as indeed it was. For those who had not been able to take up
the right to buy in much land it would mean they must sell most of the
flock of sheep they had laboured over the years to build up and improve
and walk off all but the purchased pre-emptive section, or, they must
try to buy in as best they could. (Warrock Run was opened for selection
under the Agricultural Areas of Hodgkinson and Ligarwood, parishes of
Warrock, Barnoolut, Dewrang and Brimboal).
Although wool was
selling well at this time, the borrowing to finance quick land purchase
with agents and 'dummy' costs added, often put a load of debt on the
run which was never worked off and which did not help when the land
crash of 1890 came,
Actually the struggle during the period of
consolidation set the image of the squatter or run holder as a member
of a hard core of Australian aristocracy (sqattocracy). he later became
known as a pastoralist, then a grazier.
Thinking back, it is
quite clear that the early settlers, or 'colonists' as they were
called, could have no conscious feeling of guilt whilst they were
settling this land, which as far as they were concerned and by their
standards was not being used.
How could they have any feelings
of guilt, for they were sent out here, at first as convicts and those
in charge of convicts; then many were sent out or induced to go as
pauperised or near pauperised migrants to be made better financially
and at the same time help get the wool off the sheep's back. As well,
others were sent out to try and cure chest complaints with our warm
sunny climate.