The Properties
Written by Graham Wilson
Myall Creek Estate
In 1904, the Warialda Standard welcomed the proposal to purchase ‘Myall Creek’ from the owners Young Bros. and Co. for closer settlement. The matter was to be considered by the Land Board at Inverell on 27 January 1904. After an exhaustive inquiry, the Board determined that the Estate met every requirement for Closer Settlement.
The proposed resumption of the Estate proceeded through both Houses of Parliament in December 1904 and a report of the closer settlement plans appeared in the Warialda Standard, 3 January 1905. An officer was located by the Lands Department to provide information concerning the proposed subdivision to the public. In June 1907 the Bingara Telegraph published the names of the successful applicants for blocks on ‘Myall Creek’ and ‘Rocky Creek’ stations.
In September 1906 surveyor Warner completed the survey of another 30,000 acres of ‘Myall Creek Station’ extending from the boundary fence seven miles from Bingara to within three miles of Reedy Creek. The subdivision was ten good blocks of 3,000 acres each available for conditional lease or settlement lease.
A year later, a letter from the Department of Lands announced that further land from ‘Myall Creek’ was to be made available for settlement lease. The Bingara Telegraph stated ‘the price per acre put upon those blocks will certainly prevent anything in the shape of a rush for any of them’.
Photograph 5: Fodder storage, Bingara Museum Photograph Collection
Soldier Settlers
After World War One, schemes were developed to place returned soldiers on the land. The first Returned Soldiers Settlement Acts were passed in 1916 with some amendments in 1917 and 1919. In November 1919, concern arose in the Warialda District about the size of soldier settler blocks. That month, J. Lanagan of Warialda organised a petition as to ‘what constitutes a living area’ and the Department was urged not to make the blocks less that 3000 aces.
After World War Two, soldier settlement was re-introduced in a modified form. In 1941 the War Services Land Settlement Act extended the resumption of land with consideration of a settler’s eligibility and potential as a farmer. Much of the district surrounding and north of Warialda was involved in this settlement.
Development of some individual pastoral stations
The first squatter in the Bingara district was William Smith Hall who took up ‘Bingera’ station in his father’s name. By July 1889 there were ‘several well-known stations near the town of Bingara, notably ‘Myall Creek’ (Messrs. W.J. Dangar and Company’s), ‘Keera’ (Messrs. T. Cook and Co.) and ‘Big River’ (Mr Charles Bull’s).
Outlined below are some historical details of the development of individual stations. As newspapers were surveyed, information concerning the calling of tenders by architects or station owners, dates of construction and design of individual items, has been recorded. In time this information can be supplemented as further historical research is completed.
Photograph 6: Landscape of disused farm on the southern approaches to Bingara, Blake & Wilson 2006. It was the homestead of Samuel Withers and family who came to the Bingara area in the early 1860's. It still remains in the Withers family today.
Arrawatta
J.F. O’Connor called tenders for the erection of additions to and remodelling the ‘Arrawatta’ homestead for L.A. Dangar in July 1929.
Bangheet
Tenders for construction of a woolshed at ‘Bangheet Station’ were called in March 1905. Plans and specifications were available from A.W.H. Bull of Bingara. Edward Bates was the successful tenderer and the timber was cut on the property. In 1917 the woolshed burnt down and the owners purchased the Criterion Hall that was being demolished in Maitland Street, Bingara. John Thomas Bridger and James Tearne Wearne built a hall in 1889. Rebuilt on the property, the hall still serves as the shearing shed on ‘Bangheet’.
Photograph 7: Bridger's Criterion Hall in Bingara (now located on Bangheet), Bingara Museum Photograph Collection
A year later, tenders were called for construction of a homestead at ‘Bangheet’ in March 1906. Again plans and specifications were available from A.W.H. Bull of Bingara.
The property was subdivided for soldier settlers after World War Two.
Bendee, Warialda
J.A. McGregor called tenders for construction of a new homestead at ‘Bendee’ in May 1937.
Coolootai Station (Coolatai is the name of the village)
Following a disastrous flood of Ottley Creek in 1890, the present homestead was built for the Thomas Walker family. It is a gracious weatherboard building of ample proportions in about 1906. Prior to that date, the area near the Coolatai Village was the station headquarters with manager’s house, store, school and woolshed.
Initially ‘Coolootai’ formed part of ‘Mandoe’ Run no. 73, which was gazetted to Richard B. Ottley on 9 September 1848. Details of the run were published in the NSW Gazette. Mandoe Run consisted of 70,000 acres with about 14 miles frontage on either side of Mandoe Creek (Ottley’s Creek) with a grazing capacity of 2,500 acres. R.B. Ottley had first established ‘Coolootai’ as a squatting run of some 100,000 acres in the 1830s and in 1858 C.J. and A. Codrington acquired the run.
The Robertson Land Act of 1861 saw the first breakup as settlers took up blocks to the east of Ottleys Creek including ‘Springfield’, ‘The Gap’, ‘Mountain Valley’ and ‘Glen Lea’. In the period 1900-1920 some seventeen blocks of 2,500 acres were allotted by ballot.
The acquisition of Coolootai as a freehold estate commenced on 25 October 1872 when the Codringtons started purchasing portions. From 1872 the Walker Trustees were also involved in taking up country and in many cases took over Codrington’s mortgages. According to records held by Barbara Walker, early managers included: F. Wyndham for the Codrington family from 1858-c1870; George Archer for the Walker Estate (1890-1899) and then Thomas Walker (senr.)
In 1890 the Walker Trustees took over the station. The Walker family had acquired ‘Tenterfield Station’ in 1878 and initially the ‘Coolootai’ property was used to breed stock for the Tenterfield property.
W.H. Walker died on 3 April 1900 and after the subdivision and sale of Tenterfield in 1907, ‘Coolootai’ became the home of Thomas, the eldest son of W.H. Walker. The Walker family had long established connections with the Bank of New South Wales. Two members of the Walker family were presidents of the bank- Thomas Walker in 1868-1886 and John Thomas Walker in 1898-1901.
A portion of the land was sold and cut into blocks in 1900. The original homestead portion was sold to J.E. Kimmorley in 1919 and re-named ‘Kargorum’. The station then centred on a new homestead at ‘Valley’ and in 1921 ‘Coolootai’ was purchased by Thomas Walker, son of W.H. Walker of Tenterfield.
Prior to the construction of a general store in Coolootai by Warialda builder Fred Beck for H. Kimmorley, the station provided supplies for the local residents.
In the 1800s, ‘Coolootai’ was bounded on the south by ‘Gournama’, the east by ‘Wallangra’ and in the north by ‘Blue Nobby’. Today Closer Settlement has brought many new families to the area.
In 1985 the Warialda Historical Society published a slightly different history. According to this report, the pioneer Major R.B. Ottley founded ‘Coolatai Station’ in 1847. He gave his name to Ottley Creek. R.B. Ottley occupied the station until 1858, when C.J. and A. Codrington who had sold ‘Ben Lomond Station’ near Guyra, New England purchased it. It was drought that forced C.J. Codrington off the property and the station was then forfeited to Thomas Walker. Walker Trustees held ‘Coolootai’ until 1921.
The transfer of 7469 acres to Thomas Walker was completed on 13 June 1921. It was in the period 1890-1921 that the Walker Trustees had introduced Hereford Cattle and horses. Since that date, the Walker family has occupied the property.
The early shearing shed on ‘Coolootai’ near the village was burned down in 1907. In February 1907, architect J.F. O’Connor called tenders for construction of the shearing shed for the Trustees of the Walker Esate. In March the Inverell Times announced that the tender of Rogers and Smith, Bingara builders, had been accepted for construction of the woolshed. Later that year, details of the building were published in the Inverell Times, 17 December 1907.
Oral evidence suggests that Chinese were involved in the construction of fences on the property. There is evidence recording the presence of Chinese. The Warialda Standard, 18 March 1918 reported an incident involving two Chinese: Su Mut, who was employed at the local Warialda gardens and Ah Gow, a gardener at ‘Coolootai Station’.
Elizabeth Wiedemann has recorded ownership of the property ‘Mundoe’ (Mandoe) later ‘Coolootai’: earliest known settler, Richard Byam Ottley by 1841; first official licensee R.B. Ottley August 1843; subsequent ownership to 1900- Run with ‘Bangheet’ (Bingara), Ashton Joyce Ottley 1849, C.J. and A. Codrington 1862; approximate acreage 70,000.
Cooringa Homestead (Coorangoora, Bingara)
‘Cooringa Homestead’ was designed by Inverell architect J.F. O’Connor and built by Ben Wade of Inverell in 1910. O’Connor had called tenders for erection of the residence in June 1909.53 The bricks were kilned on the property.
Members of the Bull family held a re-union at ‘Cooringora’ on 4 May 1980 to celebrate 150 years on Australian soil. In 1980, present day ‘Cooringoora’ was the remains of the property taken up by Charles Bull in the 1840s.
Aged twenty years, Charles Edward Bull immigrated to Australia with a companion Borthwick. He married his wife Emma at Elsmore and they had seven sons and five daughters. Emma and Charles are buried at Bingara cemetery.
Elizabeth Wiedemann has recorded ownership of the property ‘Big River’ later ‘Cooringoora’: Richard Wiseman c1836, sold to Drake 1837 or 1838, who then sold the property to James Hale in 1844. Charles Bull and William Borthwick obtained the station in 1852.
Croppa
Scottish born John McMaster settled at ‘Croppa’, 16 miles north west of Warialda in 1885 with his second wife Lillian Howes. He purchased the holdings of Conway, Morris, Meilforth, Cain and Husseys in 1881 and 1882. Later the country owned by McIvor, Borthwick and Caroline Bull was added to ‘Croppa’. At this stage, the property totalled nearly 21,500 acres. The original home on ‘Croppa’ was built of pit-sawn timber from the station and wine making from the large vineyard and current production was developed.
In October 1910 J.F. O’Connor, the Inverell Architect called tenders for the erection of a cottage at ‘Croppa’ for H.S. McAlister.
Later, the station ‘Croppa’ was subdivided into three properties for the three sons: ‘Wyreena’, ‘Doongarra’ and ‘Invereness’.
Derra Derra
The Pastoral Review57 published a detailed description of ‘Derra Derra’, then the property of Albert Capel. At the time it comprised 15,000 acres freehold. The property was originally taken up by the Cox family and was described as ‘a most picturesque area of country surrounded by heavily timbered ranges with undulating, sound grazing land in the basin, and a long sweep of rich river flats fronting the Horton River …’
The woolshed was built by Mr Capel some years ago and was of ‘modern design equipped with eight stands of machines’. At the time of the visit by the Pastoral Review, Mr Capel had retired from active management. The Review stated that the homestead had been built in the 1860s and although it did not ‘conform to the modern ideas of architecture, yet its old rambling style loses none of the charm of its relation with the past. It is surrounded by a pretty garden and hedges, whilst the river winds past the back of it’.
Aged 78 years, Albert Capel the fifth son of the late Daniel Capel, of ‘Piedmont’, Cobbadah died in October 1931. The seven sons formed themselves into a partnership under the name of Capel Bros. and each took up a station when the partnership was dissolved. Albert Capel was born at Piedmont in 1854 and when the partnership bought ‘Derra Derra’ in 1901, he went into residence there. In 1880, he married a daughter of the late David Farquhar, of Clarence Town, NSW.
Eulorie
An early run at the Upper Horton was ‘Eulorie’ with an area of 40,960 acres, occupied by Parnell until 1851 when it was transferred to Rawdon McDouall. He held it until 1855 when it was taken over by the King family.
Today (2006) one can observe a cemetery near the road leading to the homestead. Patricia Withers has recorded a number of burials on the ‘Eulorie’ property. The names included Henry Wenham (died 7 October 1875); John Hunt (died 21 January 1876); John Marsden (died 1876); Carl King (died 25 September 1896) and William Saunders (died 2 April 1897)
Glendon, Gravesend.
This property is situated 18 kilometres west of Warialda. The homestead block used to be the centre of a much larger property incorporating ‘Hadleigh Valley’ and land west of the Gwydir River and south to Warialda Creek. In the 1840s it was part of ‘Gunerai’ Run, the area being 83,000 acres and in 1895 ‘Gunerai’ and Singapora’ runs were joined to form Gineroi Pastoral Holdings.
In May 1909, the Warialda Standard published a detailed description of ‘the fine new Homestead Residence’ nearing completion for the Mackay Brothers at Glendon. Designed by architect J.F. O’Connor of Inverell, ‘the most striking feature is the domed roof with skylights, under which is an octagonal hallway with a terrazzo tiled roof. The brick homestead had three large chimneys with distinctive chimney pots and within the roofline are three smaller gables. The building also features stonework quoins.
In February 1916 it was announced that the Glendon Freezing Company would shortly commence operations near the railway bridge over the Gwydir River about a mile from Gravesend. That month, tenders were called for the supply of firewood for some twelve months. Despite the optimism it was several months before the company commenced receiving rabbits. The delay was caused by difficulties concerning the title to the land for the freezing works. It was expected that the company would commence operations in August and that many trappers would earn some ₤12 a week.
Photograph 8: Glendon Homestead, Blake & Wilson 2006
Glen Prairie
In September 1928, J.F. O’Connor called tenders on behalf of Mr D. Sinclair for construction of a residence at ‘Glen Prairie’.
Gournama
David Jones and Co. obtained a depasturing licence for the land now known as ‘Gournama’ in 1839. In 1848 the area was 25,000 acres and was still held by David Jones.
McMaster has written a detailed history of the property. In this report he quotes from a Department of Lands report that states: ‘The original design of Warialda village dated 1849 shows ‘Gournama’ on the north bank of Warialda Creek and east of the Village’. Russell Blanch has alos written an account of the ‘Gragin-Warialda Connections’.
Alfred Cheeke and Edward Broadhurst purchased ‘Gournama’ in 1849 and later they sold the run to Oswald Bloxsome. A company worked it before selling it to to the Capel Bros. The property remained in this family for many years although it was gradually reduced in size.
The present homestead was erected on the northern side of the old home and Mr Livingstone gave the old house to the Pioneer Village at Inverell.
In February 1909, R. Capel called tenders for erection of the homestead on ‘Gournama’. Inverell builder, B.M. Wade completed the building using blue basalt quarried on the property for the foundation. One of the notable architectural features is the use of elaborate plaster cornices crafted by an Italian master. The Warialda Standard described the homestead in November 1909.69 In June 1915 Richard Capel called tenders for construction of a brick and concrete sheep dip.
Elizabeth Wiedemann has recorded ownership of the property: settled by Bourn Russell 1840; in 1842 the station was sold to David Jones (merchant, Sydney); Jones returned to England for a visit and ‘Gourama’ was added to ‘Gragin’. When the three properties (‘Graman’, ‘Gragin’ and ‘Gournama’) were bought in 1864 by the Gordons, ‘Gournama’ was then sold to Oswald Bloxsome (1865).
Gragin Station
Captain Rober Mayne was first associated with ‘Warialda Station’ in 1840 and later he was the licensee of ‘Gragin’, ‘Graman’ and ‘Rocky Creek’ (later part of ‘Strathbogie’). He died in 1843 aged 38 years and his interests were taken over by his partner P.J. Elwin.71 Investors Alfred Cheeke and Edward Broadhurst purchased ‘Gragin’ in 1846. They were trained in law and lived at Potts Point and Darling Point.
Elizabeth Wiedemann has recorded ownership of the property: the earliest known settler was Captain John Pike c1839; first official licensee was Captain Robert Mayne 1840 with ‘Waryalda’; the subsequent ownership to 1900 included- P.J. Elwin’s (Mayne’s partner) took over 1843, Cheeke and Broadhurst in 1846 and in 1864 the Gordons of ‘Strathbogie’ retained it; with an approximate acreage of 90,000.
Gravesend Station
Joseph Onus arrived at Sydney Cove in the ship ‘Gatton’ in 1803. Joseph married Ann Eather in about 1810 and they had six children including William (182-1855). It was William’s son William who came north to Inverell and then owned Gravesend Station. He married Emma M. Powell in 1873 at St. Matthew’s Church at Windsor. They had eleven children but three died in infancy.
William used ‘Gravesend Station’ for breeding cattle and racehorses. The three sons of William and Emma were Sydney James (1877-1958), Alick (1884-?) and William (1886-1964). They were reared at Inverell but worked on ‘Gravesend Station’ when they left school. The station was managed by J.T. Daley, who lived in the homestead.
Sydney James Onus married Ella Crane of Warialda in 1902 and when he became manager, they moved into the homestead. The house was on the banks of the Bell’s Creek near the Gwydir River.
On Sunday 13 November 1905 the manager’s residence on the station was totally destroyed by fire. The residence consisted of seven rooms and several outhouses.
The children of Sydney James and Ella Onus were Norman William born 1903, Sydney Allan born 1906 and Geoffrey Richmond (1910-1936). At that stage, the Onus Brothers ran ‘Gravesend Station’. Alick Onus later sold his share to A.W. Gill, whose wife Eva was a sister to Ella Onus. The brothers sold most of ‘Gravesend’ to K.W.B. Campbell in about 1920. Sydney Onus purchased ‘Yagobie’ and William Onus retained part of ‘Gravesend Station’ called ‘Terilba’, now known as ‘Avon Downs’.
Gunyerwarildi
Commissioner Mayne granted the lease in January 1840 to William Cox for this run of 35,000 acres. Historian A. Shiell McMaster states that the run ‘got its name from the number of cockatoos that swarmed at a waterhole and where the natives met during their walkabout and for corroborees’.
The NSW Government Gazette, 9 September 1848 listed William Cox as the holder on the run on Croppa Creek. He held the run until 1851 and on 1 January 1852, his son Sloper Cox took out a fourteen-year lease. At that stage, the estimated area of the run was 102,400 acres. The run stayed in his name as late as 1878 although after his death, his executors J.V. Lamb and Thomas Knox worked the run. In 1879 the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney held the lease and they remained the lessees for the next ten years, until 1889. That year the property was sold to Campbell Bros. of Inverell Station and in 1891 it was sold onto the Mackay Bros.
Another account is that Sloper Cox, died in 1874 and the mortgagees the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney, administered the property until it was purchased in 1883 by P.C. Campbell of Inverell. When the MacKay brothers bought it in 1891, ‘Gunyerwarilda’ then consisted of 18,000 acres freehold; 54,000 acres leasehold and 27,000 cares by occupied licence. In 1922 11,000 acres went to closer settlement. Donald and Ronald MacKay purchased their brother John’s share of the property in 1933. It was then divided into two areas of 14,448 acres freehold. Ronald MacKay’s share, ‘Rockwell’ was bequeathed to relations, the Webb family in 1936, then part sold to W. and H. Woods in 1948 with the three blocks offered for closer settlement. “Gunyerwarildi’ was retained intact by the MacKays until sold to the Twynham Company in 1977.
The original ‘Gunyerwarildi’ homestead on was sited on Cox’s Creek along the Croppa Creek Road. A later homestead was built about 1854 with additions made by the MacKays, including a brick bungalow adjoining the timbered house. Grapevines that were planted in 1858 and once lined the front verandah, are still there.
In July 1925 J.F. O’Connor called tenders for alterations to ‘Gunyerwarildi’ for the McKay Bros. to cost between ₤2000 and ₤3000. That December he again called tenders for extensive alterations to the homestead. Lord Stonehaven, Governor of Australia, stayed with his wife at ‘Gunyerwarildi’ in 1929 when he visited the north-west.
In January 1978, the Inverell Times published a photograph of ‘Gunyerwarildi’. At that stage, Twynam Pastoral Company Pty. Ltd., a Sydney based steel firm, owned the property. The firm had purchased a number of properties throughout the north during 1977 including a property at Ashford.
Elizabeth Wiedemann has recorded that ownership of the property: ‘Gunyan’, ‘Gunyerwarildi’, Warialda was taken up in 1840 by William Cox 11, and ‘Gunyan’ shortly afterwards as a cattle station.
Photograph 9: Gunyerwarilda Homestead (now unoccupied), Jill Woodward 2006
Keera
A detailed history of Keera Station is published in the publication J. Oppenheimer, Munro’s Luck from Scotland to Keera, Weebollabolla, Bombah and Ros Roy, Ohio Productions, 1998.
In February 1905, J.F. O’Connor called tenders for the construction of a ‘modern shearing shed and wool store for H.R. Munro, Esq. Keera’.82 A detailed description of the wool shed built by James Henry was published in the Bundarra and Tingha Advocate.
In time the station was subdivided and the Warialda Standard, 22 November 1920 announced a ballot for ‘Keera’ land.
Photograph 10: Keera Homestead, Blake & Wilson 2006
Hugh Robert Munro died peacefully in his sleep at ‘Mirani’ at Walcha on 13 February 1958. He was taken back to ‘Keera’ and buried beside his parents in the Bingara cemetery. An obituary for H. R. Munro was published in the Northern Daily Leader, 20 February 1958, reprint, J.M. Tomlinson, ‘Hugh Robert Munro of ‘Keera’, Bingara. Following his death, a monument was placed on the hill overlooking the ‘Keera’ homestead commemorating the four Clans associated with ‘Keera’ and the Munro family: Munro, Gordon, Macpherson and Macdonald. It was unveiled on 14 February 1960 by M.F. Bruxner, MLA for Tenterfield. A detailed report on the occasion was also published in the Bingara Advocate.84
A description of the property was published in the New England Bulletin, May 1981. Another history is available at the Bingara History Museum Research Centre, in an undated newspaper cutting.
Photograph 11: Keera Station, Bingara Museum Photograph Collection
Kelvin Grove
In July 1934, Gwydir Pastoral Company acquired shares to the value of ₤50,000 to acquire land owned by F. Tyrell at Bingara known as ‘Kelvin Grove’ and to carry on as business as graziers and landowners. First directors included: E.W.P.E. King, R.N. Altworth and W.C. Moodie.
Luton
‘Luton’ Homestead, the home of Austin J.G. Mack, was built in 1895 and destroyed by fire in 1940. A bathhouse was situated on the banks of the Horton River about 50 metres from the house. A well and hand pump was situated at the far end of the water troughs.
Morrell Family
In December 1925 tenders were called for construction of a new homestead near Warialda for J.F. Morell.87
Mount Ottley, Coolootai
Architect J.F. O’Connor called tenders for erection of a woolshed and storeroom for F.J. McLean, Mount Ottley, Coolootai in May 1905.
Mosquito Creek
A list of persons employed or residing at ‘Mosquito Creek Station’ on 1 January 1847 is published in Historic Warialda, Passing Glimpses, no.4.89 The superintendent was John McGeachie. The NSW Government Gazette, 1848 described ‘Mosquito Creek Station’ as a run of 46,080 acres.
Oregon
The original run of 80,000 acres was held by John MacMillan and extended to the village of Warialda. On the east it joined north ‘North Gunyerwaldi’ and ‘Gournama’ while on the west it joined ‘Mosquito Creek’ holding owned by the McGeachie family. The son of the original MacMillan family married a McGeachie from the ‘Mosquito Creek’ holding. At this stage, ‘Mosquito Creek’ was worked in partnership with ‘Oregon’. Later the MacMillan’s purchased the McGeachie family interests.
The NSW Government Gazette, 1848 describes ‘Oregon Station’ as a run of 16,000 acres (6,478 hectares).
The Warialda Standard, 10 October 1918 announced that the station had been sold after 92 years in the one family. The property was sold to P.E. and A.N. Stirton of Inverell. A brief history of surrounding properties has been published in Historic Warialda, Passing Glimpses, no.1 and no.5. A number of subdivisions took place when ‘Oregon’ was split up for soldier settlement. The article records details of the properties created at the end of World War Two and in the early 1990s, Mr Brian Dabis, a son of Mr Hal Davis, the soldier settler who drew the homestead block in 1949, occupied ‘Oregon’.
Onyon
O’Connor and Ogilvie called tenders for erection of a homestead ‘Onyon’ at Cobbadah in March 1914.92 It was in January that David Ogilvie was admitted by J.F. O’Connor into a partnership at Inverell.
Pallal
Squatter William Ogilvie first occupied ‘Pallal’ in 1838. The original house was built on the Horton River and it was the river that determined the location of the homestead. In 1872 the run was passed onto Cousins, Austin and Tange. Cousins was the manager, Austin an investor whilst Tange was a French financier. In 1883 his brother in law offered the property to Austin Mack, and in 1884 the eldest son A.J.G. Mack took control of the property, now some 170,000 acres. The property was fenced into inner and outer sections and part of outer post and rail fence can still be seen.
In July 1900, Austin Mack of ‘Pallal Station’ called tenders for a brick maker to make 25,000 bricks. Inverell architect J.F. O’Connor called tenders for labour and materials (excepting brick and lime) for the erection of two brick cottages for Austin Mack on ‘Pallal’ in July 1907. Austin Mack writes that the existing Pallal house was built in 1907, replacing an old slab and shingle dwelling of the same size, with all the bricks being made on the property. At the same time, bricks required for the Hill house and the Plain house were also made.
It was in March 1906, that J.F. O’Connor had called tenders for the erection of a new woolshed for Austin Mack, Pallal.
In 1962 Mrs Briscoe (nee Mack) was interviewed by the Australian Women’s Weekly. She gave an insight into day to day life on the property and described a later homestead built with timber from Bingara mills:
The main building had a double roof, small wooden shingles under the corrugated iron, and the chimneys built of dried brick made on the spot. There was also a long building between this one and the original house.
There are beautiful hills around Pallal. The house was set in a grove of English elms, cedar, and acacias, and at the side with a large kurrajong tree. One walked into an open space between the tennis court and the shrubberies.
Mrs Briscoe also described the setting as ‘a kind of “cultivated” wilderness’. The setting included shrubs, honeysuckle, lagerstroemias, orange trees, lawn and garden. A large cedar tree dominated a position between the old and the new part of the home. A huge white lilac tree shaded the entrance to the stables; on the left was a line of orange trees and flowers included roses, violets, hyacinths, English honeysuckle, tiger lilies, irises, jonquils and wisteria. A grove of elm trees and acacia surrounded the kitchen and below the house was an orchard including peach, plums, apricots, pears, mulberries, quinces and grapes. A vegetable garden was established along the river flats and an experienced gardener was employed.
The woolshed hill was set in a grove of eucalyptus, cedar and white acacia. Mrs Briscoe remembered the days when the woolshed was cleared for dancing. ‘People came scores of miles to attend the dances, and the parties continued sometimes for several days.’
The father of Mrs Briscoe added an L shaped brick home to the original older house. He also constructed a cottage put up in line with the rest of the house for the six daughters. There were over 30 rooms in the main part of the house. The kitchen and domestic quarters were connected by two covered verandahs.
About 1948 the government considered Pallal for closer settlement. Provided 5000 acres was set aside for settlement and the fact that many of the family were returned soldiers, the family was allowed to divide the property amongst them. Consequently in 1962 there were seven homes comprising from 5000 to 7000 acres. Some of the properties included:
• Luton Hoo (Mr and Mrs Austin Mack)
• Lyndon (the W.A.R. Macks)
• Mitiamo (Mrs A.P.T. Mack)
• Tyranna (Mr and Mrs E.J. Mack)
• The Terricks (Mr and Mrs A.J. Mack)
Mrs Briscoe’s four unmarried sisters, Ellie Alice, Katie and Anna inherited ‘Pallal homestead and the last of the four died in 1954. A son of Austin Mack and his wife Sue lived in the homestead in 1962. At that stage the old part of the homestead had been demolished with the brick section restored including the garden.
Piedmont Station
Daniel Capel, pioneered ‘Piedmont’ in 1841 and ‘raised (it) into the front rank of fine Merino wool growing properties’. His seven sons formed themselves in the Capel Bros. partnership and once the partnership was dissolved, then occupied properties in their own name.
Rocky Springs, Coolatai
In February 1926, architect J.F. O’Connor called tenders for the construction of a residence at ‘Rocky Springs, at Coolatai.
The Plain
‘The Plain’ homestead was the home of Frank Mack. Of rammed earth construction, it was built in the period 1906-1908. It was badly damaged by the 1960 flood and was then demolished. An earlier slab dwelling was built to meet the demands of the closer settlement legislation. It was also demolished in the 1960s.
Welbon
In February 1928 J.F. O’Connor called tenders for the erection of a new homestead and other buildings at ‘Welbon’ for A.T. Carrigan.
Yagobie
In 1844, ‘Yagobie’ consisting of some 26,000 acres, was known as a cattle station on the Big River, now known as the Gwydir River, and the occupier was John Eales. Later by 1920 the station was subdivided and Sydney Onus purchased a smaller area of the original property.
Yallaroi Station
J.B. Rundle settled on 202,000 acres c1840, which became known as ‘Yallaroi Station’. A stone homestead was constructed between 1860-1863. German stonemasons built the block of station shops and the oldest part of the kitchen; these stone remnants still stand. Henry Dangar bought ‘Yallaroi’ in 1859 and the property was held in the family until 1930 when the Scottish Australian Company purchased it.
In 1957, it was subdivided for soldier settlement.100 Some subdivision had taken place at earlier times. In July 1899 the Bingara Telegraph reported a number of settlement leases that were allocated by ballot.
The Warialda Standard, 8 July 1912 reported that B.M. Wade of Inverell was constructing shearers’ quarters at ‘Yallaroi’.
Elizabeth Wiedemann has recorded ownership of the property: Taken up by J.F. Beattie, for North British Australasian Co. of Aberdeen in 1841; sold to T. Kerr, then Rundle in 1849, eventually passing into Henry Dangar’s estates and remaining with his heirs until after World War Two.
V.C. Chapman, architect, Inverell
In June 1938 V.C. Chapman called tenders for the erection of a large homestead in brick and timber in the Warialda district.