#52Ancestors - Week 12 - Misfortune

Working on the land in Australia can provide many challenges. Farmers and pastoralists can enjoy a run of good years on their properties but they can can also experience severe misfortune in the form of floods and droughts.

Early in the days of the new convict colony of New South Wales some convicts had access to small parcels of land to farm to help support and feed members of the colony. Eight of my family convicts settled near Windsor in the Hawkesbury area where they all farmed land of varying sizes. Although Uriah Moses depended mainly on his bakery and general store for his livelihood, he also owned some land. The Hawkesbury River provided access to large stretches of fertile land but it was also subject to flooding. The 1867 flood, known as the Great Flood, occurred 150 years ago, however the threat of flooding in the area continues.

George Hutton

However, at the other extreme, droughts can dramatically affect the livelihood of property owners in most parts of Australia.

George Hutton purchased his property, The Troffs (near Parkes, New South Wales), largely with money provided by his father. The property was initially run by the Hutton Brothers as his brother, Arthur, also worked on the property from 1883 to 1898. The Troffs was a sheep station and was run successfully until there was a period of years with insufficient rain. Early in the 1890s there was some rain each year but not enough. Then from 1895 to 1902 there was what became known as The Federation Drought.

George tried to run the property with reduced stock however eventually he was forced to concede defeat and sell his land. However he continued to live in Parkes for many years where he worked as a rabbit inspector. Meanwhile his family left the area to live in Sydney.

George was not the only family member to have to contend with drought forcing them to sell their property. Arthur Lord owned a sheep station, Metavale, near Cunnamulla, in south west Queensland from 1924 to 1946. During this time he and his family survived a number of droughts before deciding to sell the property and move to a smaller property, near Toogoolawah, with more reliable rainfall. In contrast to the dryness of Metavale, I have photos of paddocks at this new property, in 1950, covered in flood water.

Challenges of Working on the Land

The Week Two topic for the National Family History Blogging Challenge is to honour our working ancestors and the challenges they faced in their occupations.

Read more contributions here

Many generations of my family have owned and worked on properties primarily in New South Wales and Queensland.The early settlers to the colonies were often granted or purchased parcels of land. When Dorothea Mackellar wrote of 'droughts and flooding rains' in her poem, My Country, the experiences she described were faced by family members who lived in outback Queensland and NSW as well as family members with smaller properties near the Hawkesbury River.

An example of how challenging being a landowner can be can be shown through the experiences of George Hutton (1850-1936). George was born in Bath, England and at the age of 19 came to Australia. Initially he worked on a number of properties in western Victoria and southern NSW before his father arrived in Victoria to investigate settling there. The contrast between life in Bath and life in rural Australia must have been dramatic for George however I suspect he treated it as an adventure, initially anyway, as he spent the rest of his life in this country.

George helped his father in the early establishment of a property in Lilydale before deciding, in 1874, to go north to Queensland to work as a cattle drover. The next time we hear of him he had purchased (with financial assistance from his father) a sheep station, The Troffs, near Parkes.

Articles in Trove refer to the prices obtained at the wool sales and also note that George was a Pasture Director of the Forbes Pastures and Stock Protection Board in the 1890s. There is also a report of George purchasing additional sheep in 1888.

Forbes Stock Report January 13 included information that 2000 ewes on the 6th January had crossed the river travelling from Grawlin Plain to The Troffs.
Australian Town and Country Journal Saturday 21 January 1888 p4

George's brother, Arthur, joined him to help run the property. Lack of water was a problem for property owners and in the early 1890s rain was limited. However worse was to come in the form of the Federation Drought which occurred between the years 1895 to 1902.

Federation drought 1895-1902
The five years preceding Federation had been intermittently dry over most of the country. Very dry conditions set in across eastern Australia during the spring of 1901, and became entrenched over the following months. As the drought worsened, enormous sheep and cattle losses were reported from Queensland, and many rivers dried up. The Darling River at Bourke virtually ran dry, while Murray River towns such as Mildura, Balranald and Deniliquin - at that time dependent on the river for transport - suffered badly. The Australian wheat crop was all but lost. Rain in December 1902 brought temporary relief, with a more substantial break in autumn 1903. The long drought and its severe climax in 1902 had devastated stock numbers, and began focusing attention on planning for irrigation, especially in the three states through which the Murray River flows. Australian Yearbook 2008 - Natural disasters in Australia.

The family property, The Troffs, was sold and George needed to find new employment. His wife, Annie, moved to Sydney and took their two daughters with her but George elected to remain in the Parkes area where he became a Rabbit Inspector for the Molong Pastures Protection Board.

As we all know the introduction of rabbits to this country was a disaster for property owners. Rabbit Inspectors were therefore appointed to check that property owners were complying with regulations to minimise the spread rabbits on their properties. Articles in Trove show that monthly meetings were held which included reports from the Rabbit Inspectors.

Rabbit Inspector Hutton reported that he had travelled 304 miles since the previous meeting, and had made 45 inspections. He reported ten holders to be unsatisfactory, and recommended three owners for prosecution. The board decided to lay poison in reserves at a cost of £25, and to prosecute three holders reported by Inspector Hutton.
Sydney Morning Herald Wednesday 23 December 1914 p9

According to the Sands Directory, George was still a Rabbit Inspector in 1926. It was around this time that he left Parkes and spent the rest of his life living with his daughter and her family on their property in Western Queensland.

While trying to make a living from the land in his new country George discovered that the environment provided many challenges difficult to overcome no matter how hard you perservered.

52 Ancestors #33 George Hutton

George Hutton was born in Bath, England on 5 May 1850. He was the eldest son of William Forbes Hutton and Eleonora Mackillop. Later in 1850 his parents returned to Madras, India, where his father was a captain in the 34th Native Infantry. George's sister, Jean Elizabeth was born in Bangalore, India in November 1851. His parents returned to Bath in 1854 when a second sister for George, Eleonora Mary, was born in May. At this stage I do not know if George went to India as a baby but we do know that during the early years of George's life his contact with his parents would have been limited as he and his two sisters lived in Bath with his  grandparents, George Mackillop and Jean Eleanora Hutton.

On 23 October 1855 George's grandmother wrote a letter to her daughter in India providing a progress report on the bairns including information on George's first lesson:

George is greatly improved and is reasonable and obedient - he speaks more intelligibly, and does not lose himself so often in a maze of words and thoughts - I hope that when he can read he will learn to express himself well and clearly; he had his first lesson this morning and was very attentive - but I will have to begin with BA again - humanly speaking there will be no more interruptions and I expect to have to give you a good report of his progress in my next. Bessie tells me he was most anxious to do everything "as Grandmama would like". He does not know the Lord's Prayer quite perfect but almost so. I do not think he is quick at learning by heart, at present - but his technical memory will probably improve when he acquires the habit of giving his mind to his occupation. He is to write to you next, if he is a good boy - this goes by Marseilles and therefore must be brief and light.

The 1861 English census shows that George and his family were at the home of their grandfather, George Mackillop, at 26 Grosvenor Place in Bath. George's grandmother had died in 1859. There were five house servants working in the house. George was listed as being a scholar.

The next we hear of George is on 30 August 1869 when he arrives in Melbourne aboard the ship, Somersetshire. In the early 1930s George wrote detailed notes about his his first few years in Australia. He was met by Daniel Stodhart Campbell who took him to his home in Richmond where he stayed for several days before travelling to the property, Bundyulumbah, a sheep station north west of Deniliquin in New South Wales where he worked for Mr D'Arlet until November. George spent the next two months in Melbourne looking for work until he met Dick Creswick who managed a property, Brim, in the Wimmera. Dick Creswick invited George to return to Brim with him so they travelled by train to Ballarat where George purchased a horse and they then proceeded to ride to the property. Unfortunately the horse damaged a leg so they left her at Avoca and purchased a buggy to take them the rest of the journey, stopping off at the Avoca Races en route. George spent more than twelve months on Brim. George estimated the size of one paddock being about 20,000 acres and noted that he never rode the entire boundary fence of any paddock, the area being so huge.

On 31 May 1871 George's father arrived in Australia and he left Brim to meet his father at Ercildoune, a property near Ballarat owned by the Learmonths who were friends and business associates of the George Mackillop. According to George, his grandfather had helped finance the purchase of Ercildoune by the Learmonths. Unfortunately, before George Mackillop left Hobart, there was a dispute about repayment of the loan but the differences were eventually resolved.

George and his father returned to Melbourne and then travelled by ship to Launceston to view the Castra project, a settlement established by the government to encourage the settlement of officers from the Indian Army in the region. George noted: 'It was raining hard when we got to Deloraine and rained all night, so Dad jibbed on a 40 mile drive over bush roads in an open buggy. ' Instead they took a coach to Hobart. 'We had a wretched journey down, frosts and fogs nearly all the way, and as the coach was full inside we rode on top of the coach and were almost frozen.' After a week in Hobart they returned to Launceston by coach. 'Father tried to get inside seats on the  coach but they were all booked, but we brought blankets and rolled ourselves in those during the journey so we did not suffer as much as we did going down to Hobart.' George then added, 'However it cured Father of any inclination to settle in Tasmania.' Not surprisingly winters in Tasmania were very different from the climate in India.

After this adventure George's father decided to purchase land at Lilydale in Victoria and George worked with his father for several years as the property was established. In 1874 the rest of the family travelled from England to settle in Victoria and some of George's younger brothers were now available to assist their father. George told his father that he wanted to head north to Queensland to join an outlanding party moving cattle from Queensland. He decided the best way to do this was to travel by ship to a large port in Queensland and then contact stock and station agents to find employment. Unfortunately at this point in the story George stopped writing his memoir so there is a gap in the story. 

In Parkes, New South Wales, on 8 January 1889 George married Annie Wilson Hardwick Weston. We know from articles in Trove that, at that time, George owned a sheep station west of Parkes named The Troffs. George's brother Arthur also worked on the property and some of the articles refer to the Hutton Brothers. Arthur was secretary of the Parkes Jockey Club and owned and raced a number of horses.
George and Annie had three children - William Clifton Weston (1889-1893), Eleonora Ruby (1892-1990) and Nancy Hazel (1899-1997). Family stories relate that William loved water and would often disappear. One day when visiting friends William wandered off and his body was found in the nearby creek.

The Troffs until the beginning of the twentieth century. Unfortunately there was a lack of rain in the years between 1895 and 1902 referred to as the Federation Drought. George and his family had to sell the property. A family member purchased much of the furniture. Annie and their two girls went to live in Sydney while George remained in the district trying to earn a living. He eventually became a Rabbit Inspector for the Molongo P P Board.


Rabbits were in plague proportion in rural Australia and rabbit inspectors were required to ensure that property owners were following procedures to reduce rabbit numbers on their property.  Newspapers contained reports of the rabbit inspectors at Molong Pasture Protection meetings such as the following report in Sydney Morning Herald Wednesday 23 December 1914 page 9:

Rabbit InspectorHutton reported that he had travelled 304 miles since the previous meeting, and had made 45 inspections. He reported ten holders to be unsatisfactory, and recommended three owners for prosecution. The board decided to lay poison in reserves at a cost of £25, and to prosecute three holders reported by Inspector Hutton.

The Sands Directories show that George, who was now 76, was a rabbit inspector in the Molong area until at least 1926. The directory entry also noted that he was a JP. Electoral rolls for 1930 and 1936 show that George was living with his daughter Nancy and her family on their property, Metavale, Cunnamulla, Queensland. My mother has memories of an 'old man with a beard' who used to call her, 'My little gal'. He spent most of his time reading or going for long walks.
George Hutton died in Sydney on 5 November 1936 at the age of 86.

George Hutton was my great grandfather.

George Hutton & The Troffs

MELBOURNE WOOL SALES.

We have received the following cable -

MELBOURNE, Tuesday.

We offered to-day 1,350 bales, and sold 1,270 bales. Competition was brisk, but a little irregular. Low grade wools were quite firm, and better sorts a shade easier. Greasy crossbred sold to 9d. Willow-park crossbred and lambs, 8d. Merino, to 8½d (refused). Alice Downs crossbred, 9d. Merino, 7½d. Troffs, to 7¾d. Scoured sold well. Stawell Scouring Co , to 16¾d. Talleyrand, to 15¾d.

THE AUSTRALASIAN MORTGAGE AND AGENCY CO LIMITED.

The Mercury (Hobart) 25 October 1893 p2

Stock Board.-At a meeting of the Forbes Pastures and Stock Protection Board, held on Wednesday last, the following gentlemen were elected as directors of the board for the ensuing year: Sheep directors, Messrs. John Martin (Dronbalgie), F. A. Edols (Burrawang), W. Hunter (Wandary), Thomas Leslie (Blink Bonnie), and W. A. Wilcox (Wongagong). Pasture directors: Geo. Hutton (The Troffs),

S. E. Close (West Billabong), and W. W. Priddle (Glenelg).

Australian Town and Country Journal Saturday 18 February 1893 p17

[also February 1896]

Australian Town and Country Journal Saturday 22 February 1896 p15

PARKES.

(Independent.)

A serious accident occurred at the Troffs Station last week to a 3-year old daughter of Mr. Geo. Hutton. It appears that the little one was playing on the verandah, which is about two feet above the ground, when she fell off, fracturing the bone of her left leg just above the knee. As the accident happened in the evening the child could not be brought into town before next morning, when she was at once placed under the care of Dr. Johnson. We are pleased to state that she is progressing as favorably as possible towards recovery

Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal Saturday 23 November 1895 p2

Agricultural and Fastoral.

At Parkes Police Court on Feb. 2, Geo. Hutton, ot Troffs Station, proceeded against O'Brien Brothers, of Yarrabundie, for travelling sheep through the former's run without giving notice. The case was dismissed, on the ground that notice was unnecessary, as sheep having travelled under forty miles were not travelling stock within the meaning of the act.

Australian Town and Country Journal Saturday 11 Feb 1899 p15

A number of refereces to The Troffs mention the Hutton Bros as being on the property. Arthur William Hutton (1857-1930) arrived in Australia in 1874.

The past season has been a successful one, so far as the Parkes Jockey Club is concerned. At the annual general meeting, held on January 15, the balance sheet showed £56 to the club's credit. The following office-bearers were appointed: Messrs. A. S. Balcombe, J.P., Coradgery, patron; J. G. Lackey, .J.P., Nelungaloo, president; J. A. Rise, J.P., and A. Hutton, Troffs, vice-presidents. Mr. Joseph Strickland handicapper. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Arthur Hutton for his services in connection with the club.

Australian Town and Country Journal Saturday 24 January 1891 p15

[The Balcombes at Coradgery were cousins]

[At Kensington on 1 February 1894]  Dumpy, owned by Mr. Hutton, won the Thirteen-two Handicap, beating Cabin Boy, which brought about a protest, which was dismissed.

Australian Town and Country Journal Saturday 10 Feb 1894 p37

AW Hutton was secretary of the Parkes Jockey Club in 1899 - an advertisement for a two day race carnival to be held early April including The Troffs Handicap, a race of 1 mile worth 20 sovereigns/

Australian Town and Country Journal Saturday 18 Feb 1899 p44

Australian Town and Country Journal Saturday 17 Feb 1900 p14 provided the list of men selected to serve with the Bushmen's Contingent in South Africa. Arthur William Hutton from Forbes was listed in C Squadron.

Forbes Stock Report January 13 included information that 2000 ewes on the 6th January had crossed the river travelling from Grawlin Plain to The Troffs

Australian Town and Country Journal Saturday 21 January 1888 p4

A Sad Accident.- On Friday last at Nelungaloo a sad drowning fatality occurred. Mr. G. Hutton, who was proceeding to Sydney with his wife and children, broke the journey and intended staying for the night at Mr. J. G. Lackey's residence. His little boy, 4 years of age, wandered away from the house. A search was made for the little fellow who was found in a creek close at hand in about 2ft of water. He was carried to the house and every effort made to restore life, but without success. Wide spread sympathy is expressed for Mr. and Mrs. Hutton.

Australian Town and Country Journal  28 January 1893 p16

George Hutton and the Federation drought 1895 -1902

Federation drought 1895-1902
The five years preceding Federation had been intermittently dry over most of the country. Very dry conditions set in across eastern Australia during the spring of 1901, and became entrenched over the following months. As the drought worsened, enormous sheep and cattle losses were reported from Queensland, and many rivers dried up. The Darling River at Bourke virtually ran dry, while Murray River towns such as Mildura, Balranald and Deniliquin - at that time dependent on the river for transport - suffered badly. The Australian wheat crop was all but lost. Rain in December 1902 brought temporary relief, with a more substantial break in autumn 1903. The long drought and its severe climax in 1902 had devastated stock numbers, and began focusing attention on planning for irrigation, especially in the three states through which the Murray River flows.
Australian Yearbook 2008 - Natural disasters in Australia http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/b4005c38619c665aca25709000203b8d/fecb2ab6de16171eca2570de0005871b!OpenDocument

My Place for teachers - Federation drought
http://www.myplace.edu.au/decades_timeline/1890/decade_landing_11.html?tabRank=3

HUTTON.-November 5. 1936. George, eldest son of the late Colonel Forbes Hutton and Mrs. Hutton, of Lilydale. Melbourne and loving father of Nora and Nancy, aged 86 years.
Sydney Morning Herald Friday 6 November 1936 p12

HUTTON-On the 5th November at Mosman Bay Sydney, George, eldest son of the late Lieut-Colonel Hutton, in his 87th year.

Argus Thursday 12 November 1936 p1

HUTTON.-April 29, at her residence, 25 Alexander Street, Manly, Nan, dearly beloved wife of George Hutton.

Sydney Morning Herald 30 April 1924 p14

HUTTON.-The Funeral of the late Mrs. GEORGE HUTTON will leave her late residence. 25

Alexander-street, Manly, THIS AFTERNOON, WEDNESDAY, at 2.30 o'clock, for the Church of England Cemetery,  Manly.

T. WAUGH and CO., Tel. Manly 42._Funeral Directors

Sydney Morning Herald 30 April 1924 p13

George Hutton owned a property, The Troffs, west of Parkes. The birth of his three children were recorded as being registered at Parkes between 1889 and 1899. Unfortunately there was a lack of rain in the years between 1895 and 1902 referred to as the Federation Drought. George and his family sold the property. Annie and their two girls went to live in Sydney while George remained in the district trying to earn a living. He eventually became a Rabbit Inspector for the Molongo P P Board.

Need to find out more about the property in Parkes and also when George became a rabbit inspector. When did Annie acquire Wyalla? George left Victoria in the early 1870s to join a droving party travelling north to Queensland. What did he do until purchasing the Parkes property. He kept detailed notes of his first couple of years in the colony and then recorded nothing. His final years were spent at Meta Vale in Queensland.

Sands & Kenny Directories
1903 - Mrs G Hutton 46 McLaren Street, North Sydney
1904
1905
1906
1907
1910 - Mrs Annie Hutton 46 Pitt Street (Upper Pitt Street) North Sydney near Jeffrey Street
1915 -

In 1916 the house was sold to St Aloysius College and became the Senior School

George
1918 - G Hutton - Molong
1919
1920
1921
1924
1925
1926