PART ONE

William Dougall

“By God they do mon”

The Roaring Days The night too quickly passes And we are growing old, So let us fill our glasses And toast the Days of Gold; When finds of wondrous treasure Set all the South ablaze, And you and I were faithful mates All through the roaring day Henry Lawson.

Pioneers

They came of bold and roving stock that would not fixed abide; There were the sons of field and flock since e’er they learned to ride; We may not hope to see such men in these degenerate years As those explorers of the bush – the brave old pioneers.

‘Twas they who rode the trackless bush in heat and storm and drought; ‘Twas they that heard the master-word that called them further out; ‘Twas they that followed up the trail the mountain cattle made And pressed across the mighty range where now their bones are laid.

But now the times are dull and slow, the brave old days are dead When hardy bushmen started out, and forced their way ahead By tangled scrub and forests grim towards the unknown west, And spied the far off promised land from off the ranges’ crest.

Oh! Ye, that sleep in lonely graves by far-off ridge and plain, We drink to you in silence now as Christmas comes again, The men who fought the wilderness through rough unsettled years – The founders of our nation’s life, the brave old pioneers.

A B (Banjo) Paterson

Hearts of Gold In nights of terror and days of doubt, Shifting the outposts farther out. William H. Ogilvie

CHAPTER 1 (Migration)

Surely, in his wildest dreams, he would not have imagined that one day he would stand trial, charged with murder. But this became the reality for William. Born in the small rural town and parish of Lesmahagow, in the district of Lanarkshire, south of Glasgow, on 6th of April 1831, William was the youngest of 10 children, born to Thomas and Mary (nee Dykes) Dougall.

The Family Home Lesmahagow Possessed of an adventurous spirit and a pioneering bent that would lead him to become an explorer and settler, in the young colonies of Australia, William migrated, as a consequence of the ‘Lowland Clearances’, from Scotland aboard the “London”, arriving in the port town of Geelong, in Victoria, on the 4th July 1852. William was the first to leave the nest and was followed by John, who sailed on the maiden voyage of “The Black Swan”, departing on 30 July 1853 and arriving in Australia on 15 November 1853. James was next to leave home, and made his way to Jamaica in 1854. Thomas married Mary Hamilton in Scotland, on 4th June 1858, and the newlyweds departed for Australia from Liverpool, on 10th June 1858, aboard the Saldhana, and arrived at Port Melbourne on 18th September 1858. Several of the children of the eldest sibling, Helen (nee Dougall) Watson, migrated to New Zealand between the years of 1880 and 1886.

The Township of Lesmahagow The Locality of Lesmahagow Shortly after his arrival in Geelong, William found employment with a Mr John Cummings, and remained in his employ for the next three years. Brother John joined William in 1853 and in 1855, together, they purchased a small holding of seventy five acres, in a place called Ascot, about 10 or 12 miles north of Ballarat. The brothers operated successfully and were joined by their brother Thomas and his wife Mary in 1858. Continued success led to Thomas purchasing his own property at Wallan Wallan (now just Wallan), in 1864. He bought this property from James and Mary Quinn, the grandparents of notorious bushranger, Ned Kelly. It is rumoured that Ned was born at this property. John and William bought the Mt Franklin Estate jointly in 1867. They purchased this property from the deceased estate of Edward Stone Parker who ran the property as the government protectorate of the district’s aboriginal people, Dja Dja Wurrung. During a brief interlude in 1861, William took up a Government grant of 100 square miles (64,000 acres) in Queensland. The terms of the grant required him to stock the land within 6 months. William decided there was an element of risk that he was not prepared to take, so he sold the property for 500 pounds ($1000). Perhaps this speculation and possible success on the Ballarat goldfields set him up for his future adventures and subsequent success.

Below is a copy of the letter to the Captain of the London, from the passengers, expressing their thanks for his competent and gracious conduct during the voyage.

To Captain Tillman of the ship London.

Geelong, 4th July, 1852.

DEAR SIR, - Our voyage has now, thank God, come to a successful termination, and we, the emigrants of the ship London, under your command, cannot take our leave of you without expressing our deep and grateful acknowledgements for your unwearied exertions in promoting our comforts during the passage, as well as for your fatherly care of all.

The anxiety with which you watched over our female relations and friends, demands our especial thanks.

Your generous kindness to our sick in supplying them with food from your own table we can never forget. We wish to express our admiration of your zeal in the discharge of all your duties, and of the able and manlike way you were prepared to meet every emergency, and by which, under the providence of God, you have been enabled to bring us in safely to our "desired haven,"

Our supply of provisions was most abundant, of superior quality, and cooked in the best manner.

We most respectfully beg your acceptance of the accompanying small token of our grateful feelings, and fervently pray that God will guide and direct you in safety to your native home, and crown you with everlasting blessings.

James Robertson, Cabin Passenger; Julius Armstrong, John Bennett, Anthony Carroll, Michael Burke, Michael Hayes, Bernard Larey Emigrants, and 95 others.

CHAPTER 2 (The Northern Expedition)

John McDouall Stuart’s Marked Tree In 1864, William had found his way to Adelaide, where he became a late replacement, to join Boyle Travers Finniss’s Northern Expedition, the purpose of which, was to establish and settle, a northern capital. To appreciate the significance of the role he played in Australia’s early exploration history, I must first recount some of that history. I’ll take us back to 1862 and John McDouall Stuart’s successful crossing of the Australian continent, from South to North. Although perhaps, I should firstly mention the discovery of gold in the 1850’s and the subsequent rush to the Victorian goldfields, particularly in the Ballarat area. Both William Dougall and Frederick Litchfield spent some time in that area, ‘trying their luck’, prior to departing for the north. But no; I digress. Back to John McDouall Stuart. John McDouall Stuart left Adelaide on 25th October 1861, on a privately funded expedition, chasing a reward of 2000 pounds ($4000), offered by the South Australian Government, for the first person to successfully cross the continent. This was Stuart’s third attempt to cross from bottom to top. A distance of about 4000kms. His party comprised of ten men and included W.P. ‘Patrick’ Auld; Stephen King Jnr., and Francis Thring. About two years after their return, William Dougall would ‘rub shoulders’ with these three men, and also Fred Litchfield, who was “the first man to discover gold in the Northern Territory”. Following the successful crossing of the continent, the British Government decided to hand over the administration of the North of Australia to the South Australian Government. The British had previously made three unsuccessful attempts to settle the North. It was a huge area of land and became known as the Northern Territory of South Australia. The South Australian Government wasted no time and arranged Territory land sales (sight unseen), in Great Britain and Australia, in an attempt to attract new settlers. They also organized an exploration and survey expedition to establish and settle a capital of the north. The Northern Expedition. Initially, forty men were chosen to head north, comprising surveyors, chainmen, stockmen and labourers. They departed from Adelaide on 21 March 1864, aboard three ships. The Henry Ellis, the Beatrice and the Yatala, and would become known as “the men of sixty four”. William Dougall was aboard the Yatala. W.P. Patrick Auld and Fred Litchfield were also amongst the party. About six months later, a further forty men arrived at the settlement aboard the South Australian. A few of these men (and two women), were prospective settlers, but the others did include Stephen King Jnr., (stockman) and Francis Thring. How and why William became a part of the Northern Expedition, I’m not sure. I am sure that he wouldn’t have anticipated the adventures that awaited him.

Yatala The Yatala was at the time of her launch, the largest vessel built at Port Adelaide, and was employed on Government marine coasting duties till May, 1864, when she was sent to the Northern Territory. She was soon dispatched to Timor for repairs, and condemned there in November, 1864, and was sold for 233 pounds. She was built departmentally by daily labour, and cost over 3,200 pounds, including 536 pounds for law costs.'

The first group of forty The second group of forty

William Dougall The man chosen to lead the expedition, was Col. Boyle Travis Finniss. Finniss was a retired British army officer, who had been the first Premier of the colony of South Australia, and earlier, also the Commissioner of Police. He wasn’t an explorer as such, but had some previous training as a surveyor and had actually assisted Col. William Light with the survey of Adelaide. He had apparently fallen on difficult times financially, and as a reward for previous service to the colony, he was given command of the expedition. On arrival in the Northern Territory, Finniss, acting on prior information, selected a site at Escape Cliffs on Adam Bay, as the place for settlement.

When Stuart had reached the North coast, somewhere near Chambers Bay, some distance to the East, Stephen King Jnr., marked a mangrove tree with Stuarts initials (JMDS), and lopped its branches. They also hacked a pathway through the mangrove scrub, leading to that tree, and buried a cache containing a note, at the base of another tree to prove the successful crossing. They also raised a flag on the beach, to claim the land for Britain and Stephen King Jnr., made a sketch of the event. This sketch is currently held at the South Australian State Library and is reproduced here.

Also included below, is an extract from John McDouall Stuart’s journal of his successful crossing of the continent, and recounts the entries for the two days covering the party’s arrival at the north coast. Edited from Mr. Stuart’s Manuscript by William Hardman, M.A., F.R.G.S., &c. Thursday, 24th July, Thring Creek, Entering the Marsh. Started at 7.40, course north. I have taken this course in order to make the sea-coast, which I suppose to be distant about eight miles and a half, as soon as possible; by this I hope to avoid the marsh. I shall travel along the beach to the north of the Adelaide. I did not inform any of the party, except Thring and Auld, that I was so near to the sea, as I wished to give them a surprise on reaching it. Proceeded through a light soil, slightly elevated, with a little ironstone on the surface — the volcanic rock cropping out occasionally; also some flats of black alluvial soil. The timber much smaller and more like scrub, showing that we are nearing the sea. At eight miles and a half came upon a broad valley of black alluvial soil, covered with long grass; from this I can hear the wash of the sea. On the other side of the valley, which is rather more than a quarter of a mile wide, is growing a line of thick heavy bushes, very dense, showing that to be the boundary of the beach. Crossed the valley, and entered the scrub, which was a complete network of vines. Stopped the horses to clear a way, whilst I advanced a few yards on to the beach, and was gratified and delighted to behold the water of the Indian Ocean in Van Diemen Gulf, before the party with the horses knew anything of its proximity. Thring, who rode in advance of me, called out “The Sea!” which so took them all by surprise, and they were so astonished, that he had to repeat the call before they fully understood what was meant. Then they immediately gave three long and hearty cheers. The beach is covered with a soft blue mud. It being ebb tide, I could see some distance; found it would be impossible for me to take the horses along it; I therefore kept them where I had halted them, and allowed half the party to come on to the beach and gratify themselves by a sight of the sea, while the other half remained to watch the horses until their return. I dipped my feet, and washed my face and hands in the sea, as I promised the late Governor Sir Richard McDonnell I would do if I reached it. The mud has nearly covered all the shells; we got a few, however. I

could see no sea-weed. There is a point of land some distance off, bearing 70 degrees. After all the party had had some time on the beach, at which they were much pleased and gratified, they collected a few shells; I returned to the valley, where I had my initials (J.M.D.S.) cut on a large tree, as I did not intend to put up my flag until I arrived at the mouth of the Adelaide. Proceeded, on a course of 302 degrees, along the valley; at one mile and a half, coming upon a small creek, with running water, and the valley being covered with beautiful green grass, I have camped to give the horses the benefit of it. Thus have I, through the instrumentality of Divine Providence, been led to accomplish the great object of the expedition, and take the whole party safely as witnesses to the fact, and through one of the finest countries man could wish to behold — good to the coast, and with a stream of running water within half a mile of the sea. From Newcastle Water to the sea-beach, the main body of the horses have been only one night without water, and then got it within the next day. If this country is settled, it will be one of the finest Colonies under the Crown, suitable for the growth of any and everything — what a splendid country for producing cotton! Judging from the number of the pathways from the water to the beach, across the valley, the natives must be very numerous; we have not seen any, although we have passed many of their recent tracks and encampments. The cabbage and fan palm-trees have been very plentiful during today’s journey down to this valley. This creek I named Charles Creek, after the eldest son of John Chambers, Esquire: it is one by which some large bodies of springs discharge their surplus water into Van Diemen Gulf; its banks are of soft mud, and boggy. Wind, south. Latitude, 12 degrees 13 minutes 30 seconds. Friday, 25th July, Charles Creek, Van Diemen Gulf. I have sent Thring to the south-west to see if he can get round the marsh. If it is firm ground I shall endeavour to make the mouth of the river by that way. After a long search he has returned and informs me that it is impracticable, being too boggy for the horses. As the great object of the expedition is now attained, and the mouth of the river already well known, I do not think it advisable to waste the strength of my horses in forcing them through, neither do I see what object I should gain by doing so; they have still a very long and fatiguing journey in recrossing the continent to Adelaide, and my health is so bad that I am unable to bear a long day’s ride. I shall, therefore, cross this creek and see if I can get along by the sea-beach or close to it. Started and had great difficulty in getting the horses over, although we cut a large quantity of grass, putting it on the banks and on logs of wood which were put into it. We had a number bogged, and I was nearly losing one of my best horses, and was obliged to have him pulled out with ropes; after the loss of some time we succeeded in getting them all over safely. Proceeded on a west-north-west course over a firm ground of black alluvial soil. At two miles came upon an open part of the beach, went on to it, and again found the mud quite impassable for horses; in the last mile we have had some rather soft ground. Stopped the party, as this travelling is too much for the horses, and, taking Thring with me, rode two miles to see if the ground was any firmer in places; found it very soft where the salt water had covered it, in others not so bad. Judging from the number of shells banked up in different places, the sea must occasionally come over this. I saw at once that this would not do for the weak state in which my horses were, and I therefore returned to where I had left the party, resolving to recross the continent to the City of Adelaide. I now had an open place cleared, and selecting one of the tallest trees, stripped it of its lower branches, and on its highest branch fixed my flag, the Union Jack, with my name sewn in the centre of it. When this was completed, the party gave three

cheers, and Mr. Kekwick then addressed me, congratulating me on having completed this great and important undertaking, to which I replied. Mr. Waterhouse also spoke a few words on the same subject, and concluded with three cheers for the Queen and three for the Prince of Wales. At one foot south from the foot of the tree is buried, about eight inches below the ground, an air- tight tin case, in which is a paper with the following notice:

“South Australian Great Northern Exploring Expedition. “The exploring party, under the command of John McDouall Stuart, arrived at this spot on the 25th day of July, 1862, having crossed the entire Continent of Australia from the Southern to the Indian Ocean, passing through the centre. They left the City of Adelaide on the 26th day of October, 1861, and the most northern station of the Colony on 21st day of January, 1862. To commemorate this happy event, they have raised this flag bearing his name. All well. God save the Queen!” [Here follow the signatures of myself and party.] As this bay has not been named, I have taken this opportunity of naming it Chambers Bay, in honour of Miss Chambers, who kindly presented me with the flag which I have planted this day, and I hope this may be the first sign of the dawn of approaching civilization. Exactly this day nine months the party left North Adelaide. Before leaving, between the hours of eleven and twelve o’clock, they had lunch at Mr. Chambers’ house; John Bentham Neals, Esquire, being present, proposed success to me, and wished I might plant the flag on the north-west coast. At the same hour of the day, nine months after, the flag was raised on the shores of Chambers Bay, Van Diemen Gulf. On the bark of the tree on which the flag is placed is cut — DIG ONE FOOT— S. We then bade farewell to the Indian Ocean, and returned to Charles Creek, where we had again great difficulty in getting the horses across, but it was at last accomplished without accident. We have passed numerous and recent tracks of natives today; they are still burning the country at some distance from the coast. Wind, south-east. Latitude, 12 degrees 14 minutes 50 seconds.

There was some conjecture in the colony of South Australia, as to whether Stuart actually reached the Northern coast, so one of the first things Finniss organized, was an exploratory party, to try to find this tree. The party included Patrick Auld, and William Dougall. This group rode east along the beach from Escape Cliffs, for about 60 miles (95 kilometres), but failed to locate the tree. After Francis Thring and Stephen King Jnr., arrived at the settlement some six months later, Finniss sent Auld, King, Dougall and Thring out, once again to try to find Stuart’s tree. Again they failed. The tree was eventually found twenty years later, instigated by Gilbert McMinn, who had also been a member of the Northern Expedition, as a surveyor, and was now acting Government Resident of the Northern Territory. The find was reported in a South Australian newspaper and it seems that William Dougall, now settled at Franklinford in Victoria, noticed the article. In response, he wrote to the newspaper, asking for more detail. That letter is also held at the South Australian State Library, and is also reproduced here, with their transcription.

From The John McDouall Stuart Society web site. When Stuart died in London in 1866, his reputation and achievements as an explorer were being questioned. The first surveyors sent to locate the area where he reached the coast failed to locate the tree he had marked. Several of his companions who were working in the region, were challenged to identify the site, but after searching, they had to admit that they were unable to do so. Stuart’s latitudes were correct but his longitudes were less accurate (for navigators of that era, establishing longitude accurately was a serious issue) and so he followed the Mary River and not the Adelaide River to the coast. Half a degree of longitude (approximately 35 miles or 60 kilometres) separated the two rivers. Some critics cast doubts on his achievements and his character. It would be two decades before his tree was located and photographed, with his initials still clearly visible – his name at last was cleared! The tree burnt down in 1902 and a cairn and memorial plaque now mark the site.

From the Evening Journal (Adelaide S.A. Saturday 29th July 1899.- Courtesy Trove (NLA) STUART'S TREE. A Veteran Surveyor. Some Reminiscences.

Mr. G. R. McMinn whose portrait we publish, entered the Government service as a cadet in the Sanitary Department in 1868, and in due course attained the position of first class surveyor. Previous to this, however, he went to the Northern Territory with Colonel Finniss — to the old Escape Cliffs Settlement, the first South Australia had anything to do with it. Mr. McMinn visited the Territory again with the Surveyor-General, the late Mr. Goyder, and was one of the six surveyors who effected a survey of the land for English landholders. He then returned to South Australia, and was occupied for several years, on the drainage works in the South- East. Subsequently he was selected as one of the surveyors to carry out the transcontinental telegraph line through Central Australia. After returning from that great undertaking the subject of this sketch received the appointment of senior surveyor for the Northern Territory. During his occupancy of that office he filled the post of Acting Government Resident on two occasions, aggregating about eighteen months. He was relieved by the Hon. J. L. Parsons. Mr. McMinn terminated his career with the South Australian Government as Resident Magistrate at Borrolloola, in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Ill-health led him to resign from the service. After that he settled in New South Wales, and carried on agricultural and horticultural pursuits until he found his health was completely renovated, and he had recovered his old elasticity. Mr. McMinn was the little surprise packet at the recent reunion of explorers in Mr. W. P. Auld's office to do honour to the memory of John McDouall Stuart. Neither Mr. Stephen King nor Mr. E. S. Berry, both of whom had known him intimately, could pick the veteran of the Territory. In 1883 Mr. McMinn explored the coast through the Alligator River country and along to the Adelaide River. One of the objects of that expedition was to find Stuart's marked tree. Mr. McMinn says:—"We really did not, find it on that occasion, although I had been trying for many years to discover it. A few weeks after my return, however, from further information I received from the blacks, I dispatched a boat party down to the same spot. The party consisted of Messrs. H. V. Stevens, Buckland, Hingston, and a black guide. On the information I was able to supply them with, they found the tree. I had passed within a few hundred yards of it, but it was so

overgrown with briar and scrub that it was impossible to see it. I afterwards personally paid a visit to this, the last tree branded by Stuart. It stands a few hundred yards from the beach. It was about one mile distant from this on the other side of Point Charles that Stuart hoisted his flag and buried the canister. I surveyed the whole place and measured it out on Stuart's bearings, and found that the spot where the flag tree should be was out beyond high-water mark, so there is no possibility of that tree or the stump of it, existing. The Admiralty survey found that, the coastline had undergone considerable changes. I erected a pile on a mound for the purpose of guiding anyone in the future to the marked tree. When we went down the second time, Mr. Foelsche, Inspector of Police at Port Darwin, a capital photographer, took a picture of the tree. I saw for the first time the other day an enlarged oil painting of this in the office of the Royal Geographical Society in Adelaide. It shows Mr. Parsons and myself standing under the tree. Mr. Holtze has supplied me with the botanical name of the tree — Hemieyclia Lasioiryna. Although the process of healing had been going on, Stuart's initials, J. M. D. S., in 2-ft. letters, were as distinct as the day they were cut on the tree. I have seen many of the great explorer's marked trees through Central Australia. I followed his tracks for many hundreds of miles in Central Australia, and I can speak eloquently as to his accuracy and care in mapping and describing the country passed through. I never saw any one give such a true description and so briefly. I would rather try to glorify Stuart than glorify myself. Mr. McMinn had many experiences with the blacks in the Territory, but only three times had he to use firearms on them, and "1 don't suppose it did them any damage," he observed. When at Borrolloola he saw a fight between two of the tribes, which he describes as follows:—"It appears that a black woman when married to a black man is supposed to be his property and nobody else's. Well, in the present instance one man caught his wife red handed in a serious breach of the tribal law. He killed her. Then her friends came to fight the husband. The two parties met on the plain in front of my house. There were thirty on each side, and they were armed with nulla nullas — heavy club sticks 4 ft. in length. They fought for about five minutes. This was merely a display, but as an exhibition of fencing it was admirable. Then the injured husband and the villain singled out for a duel. Then was witnessed the most magnificent fencing possible. This went on for several minutes when the husband's club was shattered into splinters. He folded his arms majestically, turned his back, and walked away quietly. The other fellows, however, followed him stealthily with club poised in the air, and I was just in time to prevent a murder. Yes there is a great deal in the Territory that is bad, but there are some patches well worthy of attention. Unfortunately, whenever I have urged people, to go there, they have never gone. There have only been speculative companies up there so far. I am in Adelaide at present acquiring land for dredging and hydraulic sluicing for the recovery of gold in the Northern Territory. I have been studying the matter for some months in Victoria where they make 4 gr. to the cubic yard pay, and I believe there is an immense future for that sort of thing in the Northern Territory. The Northern Territory will never get on without coloured labour. I have fearlessly expressed that to every Government I have had any connection with. Mr. McMinn met Giles in the centre of Australia when laying the telegraph line, and he was able to supply the explorer with some instruments he was short of. He also met Gosse in Central Australia. “I was offered the charge of the party, but would not take it because the Government wanted me to start off immediately. I had had 21years experience in Central Australia, and I knew the season was not suitable. Gosse only verified what I predicted, and he had to wait a considerable time before he could make any progress."

Gilbert Rotherdale McMinn 1870

Gilbert Rotherdale McMinn had two brothers, one being William McMinn who became a prominent Adelaide architect and who was also a member of the Northern Expedition, and also assisted with the survey of the Overland Telegraph line, as did Gilbert. The other brother was Joseph McMinn Jnr., who was well established and operated a successful business in Penola in the South East of South Australia. Their father was also named Joseph McMinn. Oddly, my great, great grandfather on my mother’s side, was also named William McMinn and he also worked on the drainage of the South East of South Australia, with his sons Thomas James and Charles William, at the same time that Gilbert did, and when Joseph Jnr., was in Penola. My great, great grandfather William McMinn died in 1870, near Millicent. Whether these two lots of McMinns were related, I am having difficulty in proving. If they are, then my William, and Joseph Snr., may well have been brothers, or at least cousins. Such irony if my father’s family failed to find Stuarts tree, but my mother’s family succeeded.

1861 1900 Auld Billiat Thring Nash King Frew Kekwick Waterhouse King Auld Thring absent: Stuart Nash McGorrey The members of John McDouall Reunion 1900 Stuart’s successful party.

1904 Nash McGorrey Auld Thring King

Reunion 1904

John McDouall Stuart

W.P. Auld ca. 1890 Stephen King Jr. ca. 1880

F.W. Thring ca. 1890 William Dougall ca.1890

Boyle Travers Finniss Frederick Henry Litchfield

Escape Cliffs Settlement - scrubland 1864 SLSA B-22004

Escape Cliffs 1865 - the stone structure to the right is the oven of the adjacent bakehouse safely aloof from other inflammable structures SLSA B-7196

Pen and wash on paper sketch of the settlement of Escape Cliffs (not as constructed)

SLSA B-839

CHAPTER 3 (The Northern Expedition)

Law and Order

From the beginning, the settlement at Escape Cliffs experienced difficulties with the local aborigines. On many occasions, they would come into the camp under stealth and the cover of darkness, and pilfer expedition stores and supplies. Attempts to recover the stolen property had at times led to physical confrontation resulting in several members of the expedition, namely, Pearson, Auld and Litchfield, suffering spear wounds. Pearson, the most seriously, as his wounds took quite a while to heal, and he was eventually returned to Adelaide as a consequence of his injuries. A number of the party’s horses were also speared. This incident saw a native shot dead by a young member of the expedition, Alaric Ward. An inquest determined “justifiable homicide”. Because of this unrest, Finniss decided he needed to impose some sort of law and order. When he’d been Commissioner of Police in Adelaide, Charles William Litchfield had been a police Inspector. Charles was the father of F.H. (Frederick) Litchfield who was with Finniss on the Northern Expedition. Whether it was because he knew the family, or because he thought policing was an inherited ability, who knows, but he decided to appoint young Frederick Litchfield as an acting Inspector. He also appointed his own son, Frederick Finniss as a Sargent and five other men as constables to assist him as mounted troopers. William Dougall was one of these five men, and collectively, they were the first ever policemen of the Northern Territory. Their main field of responsibility was to control the natives. Sidney Downer in his book “Patrol Indefinite” states that “the first police force set up in the Northern Territory was short in duration and in manpower”. He reports that “in 1864 Mr B.T. Finniss, established a settlement at Escape Cliffs at the mouth of the Adelaide River. Finniss nominated seven men – Acting Inspector Litchfield, Constable F. Finniss, Constable Dougall, Constable King, Constable Lloyd, Constable Christie and Constable Ross, to act as a rural Constabulary” “in defence of life and property and in the pursuit of offenders.” “This settlement was short lived as was this rural Constabulary”. There’s some conjecture as to whether it was “pay back”, or just coincidence, but another situation eventuated, involving Alaric Ward on 30th July 1865. Ward had been responsible for tending a small flock of sheep, a short distance from the main camp at Escape Cliffs. He didn’t return to the camp that evening and a brief search conducted in the closing darkness, failed to locate him. At day break, a party of men was sent out to search again. They found his body in the bush, not too far from where he had been minding the sheep. He had been murdered in a brutal manner and a rather graphic description was reported in the Adelaide newspapers of the day. William was one of the men who discovered his body and he also described its mutilation in a

letter to his brother John. It seems that letter may not have reached John, as it is also now held at the State Library of South Australia. The relevant excerpt is included here. “They are beginning to get very troublesome prowling about and watching us day and night at times and they have stolen a good deal of property and on last day of July some of them attacked Alaric Ward the man that was minding the sheep at the well within 300 yards of the camp about 11o’clock in the forenoon. Unfortunately he had no firearms upon him at the time. We did not miss him till after sundown when we scoured bush on foot and horseback and found native tracks. Next morning we went out at dawn of day and found him dead in a Mangrove scrub where they had dragged him about 150 yards from where he had fallen. He was stripped naked and mutilated in a shocking manner. He had two deep spear wounds in his left breast and one through the left arm. His upper jaw and nose were completely gone as if cut out by a tommy hawk, found by his eye brows and other parts of the body cut and lacerated”. A copy of the letter in its entirety, and a transcript, are recorded later.

In response to Ward’s murder, William and ten others were despatched in pursuit of the natives. They found their camp, retrieved some previously stolen goods, gathered up a number of spears and other weapons and burnt the lot. They didn’t encounter any of the natives. About nine months prior to this incident, on the 8th September 1864, a party of sixteen men were on their way to Chambers Bay, when they encountered a small group of aborigines. A situation arose which led to the death of one of the natives, and as a consequence, three of the exploratory party were charged with his murder. The three men charged, were W.P. (Patrick) Auld, William Dougall and Stephen Chandler.

Page 72 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE NORTHERN TERRITORY COMMISSION Witness Fred Finniss April 18th 1866 2698. Did the men fire without orders?—No; I gave the order to fire. We could not overtake the natives as they ran into the jungle, and it was impossible to get in there after them, besides which they might spear us as we were on the beach. I thought it was not advisable to follow them, and I saw it useless to fire as they were too far off, so I gave orders to cease firing, which the men did. We then collected the property in the native camp. While we were doing this, Dougall came through the jungle. He came to me. I should mention that three of the horse party were on the plain on the other side of the jungle. Dougall came through and told me that the party wanted help; that one native had been shot, and that they were as black as crows on the plain. I asked him if the natives showed fight, and he said that they did. 2699. What was his expression?—He was a Scotchman, and he said "By God, they do, mon !" I told him to lead the way, and we went through the jungle. I ordered the men to fix bayonets, so that, in case the natives were in ambush, we might defend ourselves. When we got through we saw several natives.

We saw one man lying on the ground. We stopped a little time and had dinner, and then went back to the camp, taking the things the natives had stolen and some native curiosities, and a few old Dutch axes. Auld returned to Adelaide before the other two, but did not face a committal hearing until the 23rd April 1866. Committal hearing of W.P. (Patrick) AULD. South Australian Register (Adelaide) Tuesday 24th April 1866 - Courtesy Trove (NLA) POLICE COURTS. Adelaide: Monday, April 23. Before Mr. S. Beddome. P.M. and Dr.Ward. J.P

Committed for trial at the Local Court. William Patrick Auld appeared in discharge of his bail. In the absence of Mr. Bruce from illness, prisoner was defended by Mr. Ingleby.

Francis Joseph Packard, of Woodville, examined by the Crown Solicitor, deposed to the effect following:— I was employed as chainman in the Northern Territory. On the 8th September 1864, I left Escape Cliffs as one of a party of 16 ordered to Chambers Bay. Prisoner was one of the party. We were all armed. The prisoner had a revolver and a carbine. On horseback there were eight, including the prisoner, and eight on foot. I was on horseback. I proceeded in company with prisoner and Dougall to Chambers Bay. There prisoner, Dougall, and I diverged and rode inland, leaving a narrow belt of scrub between us and the foot party on the beach side. We had proceeded about half a mile when seven or eight natives ran across our track from the beach. We rode after them, shouting and firing revolvers. I rode after two or three. Dougall and Auld went in different direction. I rejoined them when called back. Dougall was standing with a black man, who went by the name of Dombey, in front of him. While Dougall and I were talking Auld came up. Dougall said, 'We had better take him back a prisoner to the Cliffs.' Auld said,. 'The Governor does not want any prisoners at the Cliffs. We were to shoot them. Auld shot him with a revolver. The black was about 12 yards off. The revolver, which was loaded before, was fired at the breast; I believe at the left breast, but am not certain. The black man had a yam stick about four feet long and about the thickness of a spear. It was pointed at one end. He had done nothing with that stick before Auld fired. Nothing was said by Auld before firing. The bullet went through, coming out at the back of his neck. The bullet went through the man's breast and back. He walked about 50 yards after that. I did not hear prisoner say anything. Dougall said it was a pity to see the man suffering, and he fired both barrels of his gun. The native had his back turned towards us, and Dougall fired at the back of his head. The discharge seemed to have no effect on the man at all; he kept on walking. He dropped down suddenly after walking a few yards. Auld rode up to the native and began loading his revolver. Dougall and I came up to where the man was lying on his back. He appeared to be dead. There was a small track of blood down from his breast to his legs. I only saw the one wound. I think it was on the left breast It was just such a wound as would be caused by a revolver bullet. I never touched him. He was lying in the same position when I saw him again in half an hour. I had lost my revolver and went to find it. The prisoner did not say anything. The man was lying apparently dead and in the same position. Nothing was done with the body. I remarked nothing more at the time. About half an hour after Roberts came, also McMinn, Murray, Fitch, Dyer, and Litchfield. I saw nothing done with the body.

By Mr. Ingleby. There was another black named Dombey. I fired a revolver before Auld did.

I was 90 yards on, but nearer to the black than Auld when I fired. I did not believe I hit him with my revolver, but when I heard he had a wound in the leg thought I must have hit him. On looking, I saw no wound in the leg. My revolver was loaded with powder and bullets. Dougall fired two barrels of his gun. I saw the wound in the breast directly after Auld had fired. I saw him fire. I was nearer to the black when he fired, and standing to the left of Auld, distant four or five yards. I did not hear the third of the bullet striking the black man. I saw a wound in the neck, and supposed it was from the shot fired by Auld. I saw a little stream of blood running down. I was about 12 yards off. When I discharged my revolver I was cantering along. Dombey was one of the last of the blacks I was pursuing. I had passed him, and was about 90 yards off when I fired. On looking at the wounded black after afterwards I saw a wound in his leg. I do not think I did hit him when I fired, but I might have done so.

Michael Edward Fitch deposed— I was engaged as chainman and seaman at the Northern Territory. On the 8th September, 1864, a party was sent from Escape Cliffs to Chambers Bay. I was one of the party on foot, and proceeded nearly to Chambers Bay with the prisoner. I saw him leave our party at the Bay. He went between the scrubs and the beach. I saw Dombey. He was lying on his back, but alive. Several of the party were present— Roberts, Chandler, and several others. I saw a wound. I think it was in the right breast It was a small wound, such as would be made by a revolver bullet The blood was trickling down over his belly towards his groin, and thence down his leg. I saw no other wound at that time. I stopped about 10 minutes with Roberts and Chandler, and then went away towards the scrub. At a second visit I met the prisoner, but had no conversation with him. The black man was still lying on his back, and still alive. I saw him turned over, and then saw a wound near the spine similar to the wound on his breast The wound near the spine was on the side corresponding with that on the breast but four or five inches lower down. I saw no blood issuing from the back wound. He was alive when I left I did not see the body afterwards. As to a wound in the leg, attributed to Packard, I cannot remember. I never searched for the body afterwards. No inquest was held.

John Dyer deposed— I was employed as a labourer at the Northern Territory. On the 8th September, 1864, I was one of the mounted party. I remained with prisoner till we came to Chambers Bay. There we parted company. Sometime after I saw an aboriginal native man lying on the ground. It was about 20 minutes after Auld left our party to go in from the beach. It was on open ground between two bolts of scrub. The black man was known by the name of Dombey. When I saw him he was lying on his back. I could not say if he was alive or not I did not take much notice. I saw there was blood on his breast but I cannot say on which side. The blood had trickled down from his breast. I think it was his left breast, I was not close enough to see the wound. I rode past in returning, about an hour after, and then he appeared to be dead. There was no motion, and the face was downward. I do not remember seeing any blood on the back part. I do not remember Fitch being there, but several of the party were; none near enough, I think, to see whether the man was breathing. I never searched for the body after.

William McMinn deposed— I was in the Colonial Architect's Department at the Northern Territory. On the 8th September, 1864, I accompanied on foot a party from Escape Cliffs to Chambers Bay. The prisoner was one of that party. He left us at Chambers Bay and went

inland, across a belt of scrub. About an hour after I went through the same scrub, to the plain inside, in company with all the remainder of the party except Packard, Dougall. and Auld. We saw two aboriginal natives— one in a dying state and one running away. I did not know the wounded native by the name the others knew him by. He was at first on his back, and then, I think, supported by his elbows. He was not dead: but when I passed him on my return, half an hour after, he was in convulsions. He appeared to be partly on his back and partly on his side, I saw one wound like a bullet wound on his breast I do not remember which breast. There was congealed blood which had flowed from the wound, I saw other wounds afterwards, One was in the back of the head; but by the blood and hair it had become matted over, The wound had been caused by a shot or bullet apparently; but it was so matted over that I could not see the skull. I saw the prisoner. After that we all went home together.

By Mr. Ingleby-I am not sure that Packard said he thought he had struck him, or that he saw a wound in the leg. I believe Fitch was there. I never looked again for the body. I was over the same ground again and did not see it. I cannot say whether the wound on the head had penetrated the brain.

The Crown Solicitor said he did not propose to call any other evidence.

Mr.Ingleby submitted that in the first place, there was no sufficient evidence of the man's death. The case appeared to rest mainly on the evidence of Packard, who, as particeps criminis (partner in crime), might have been trying to exonerate himself. Why was not Dougall called? There was no evidence that death had occurred from a wound given by Auld. Shot had been fired which might have penetrated the brain, and such a wound might better account for the convulsions seen by one witness than a wound on the body.

The Crown Solicitor, in reply, said the proof of death was quite sufficient. In the former examinations of witnesses, Roberts was positive the man had died, and he (the learned gentleman) would not detain the Court by any argument to prove that the evidence was sufficient to go to a Jury. The prisoner, who reserved his defence, was committed for trial at the Supreme Court.

In reply to Mr- Ingleby, His Worship said the Court had no power to take bail under the circumstances.

Auld was ordered to stand trial for murder at a date to be confirmed. Time dragged on and before he was again to face court, one of the main witnesses, Francis Joseph (Frank) Packard, had drowned in the Murray River and others had “dispersed”. Due to the lack of available evidence, he was acquitted. It had also been rumoured, that the “murdered aborigine” had been seen some time after “the murder”, alive and well!

There was a somewhat conflicting report of the circumstances, relating to Auld’s trial in an article in the News (Adelaide) of Saturday the 7th December 1940, titled :-

DIARY RECALLS TROUBLED EARLY HISTORY OF NORTHERN TERRITORY Courtesy Trove (NLA)

There was an unpleasant aftermath of the expedition for Mr. Auld, for, in August. 1865, he was charged in Adelaide with the murder of Dombey, an aborigine, at Chamber's Bay. The Government had no case against him, for he had been sent out by his leader, Mr. Finniss, for the purpose of suppressing aggression, and was acting in conformity 'with his orders. The case would have been abandoned' if Mr. Auld had not insisted on having his name cleared, so he was tried and 'acquitted. He declared that Dombey had been seen alive and apparently in good health long after the date of the alleged murder.

Adelaide Advertiser 8th Sept 1866 – Courtesy Trove (NLA)

Mr W. P. Auld, who has so long had a trial for murdering a black fellow in the Northern Territory hanging over, him has been acquitted without a trial, as owing to the death and dispersion of witnesses the Crown Prosecutor did not consider that there was sufficient evidence to offer.

The demise of Frank Packard was reported as below. It seems that Frank had given evidence at the trial of Dougall and Chandler in February 1866 and also at the Committal hearing of W. P. (Patrick) Auld in April 1866. He then joined his brother J. H. (Jack) Packard, as a member of Ebenezer Farie MacGeorge’s Government Survey party, commissioned to accurately survey the then disputed state boundary between South Australia and New South Wales. En- route, the party had camped on the banks of the Murray River, where the town of Loxton now stands. It was here that Frank drowned in August 1866. (The bend in the river, at that point, is named Packard Bend in memory of Frank Packard). Just three weeks later, Aulds trial was declared nolle prosequi.

South Australian Weekly Chronicle Saturday 18th August 1866 – Courtesy Trove (NLA)

We regret to hear that a telegram has been received in town announcing that Mr. Francis Packard late of the Northern Territory, has been drowned in the Murray We learn that Mr. Packard and his brother were at the Pyap station on the Murray, and were taking a bathe at the time. They swam across the river, and were returning when Mr. Packard sank and rose no more. Up to Friday morning his body had not been found.

South Australian Register 29th August 1866 – Courtesy Trove (NLA).

PACKARD - On the 14th August, of cramp, while endeavouring to swim across the

Murray, Francis Joseph, second son of the late Rev. D . Packard, Walkerville, in the 24th year of his age.

South Australian Register Friday 31st August 1866 – Courtesy Trove (NLA).

The late Francis Packard - We learn that it was at a station called Pyap, on the Murray, that the survey party to which the late Mr. Francis Packard was a member were engaged. It appears that the deceased had gone into the river to swim, and after swimming about 150 yards sunk like a stone, and was drowned before assistance could be rendered. Since the date of the accident one of the Overland Corner police, with a boat belonging to the station, have been trying to recover the body, but up till Sunday, August 26, without success. At present the water is very cold, and bathing in the deep parts dangerous.

The following extracts from an article printed in 1926 in the Adelaide Register, of the memories of Jack Packard, give a detailed account of the tragedy of Frank Packard’s death.

Adelaide Register Saturday 25th December 1926. – Courtesy Trove (NLA)

A SURVEYOR'S EXPERIENCE

In the Early Days. Some Costly Mistakes. By J. H. Packard Member S.A.I.S.

Boundary Between New South Wales and South Australia.

In 1866 Mr. Ebenezer McGeorge (surveyor) was selected by the South Australian Government, with Mr. Daniel Daly, nephew of the Governor (Sir Dominic Daly), as second in command, to define upon the ground .the boundary between New- South Wales and South Australia. Before beginning this task it was found necessary for them to pick up the boundary south of the Murray between Victoria and South Australia, surveyed by Mr. Surveyor White in 1852. My brother Frank and- I joined McGeorge's party, whose object was to define upon the ground the eastern boundary of South Australia from the River Murray to the Gulf of Carpentaria. My brother was a member of Col. Finniss's expedition to |Escape Cliffs (N.T.), and was the sole witness to the shooting of a Northern Territory native--Dombey by name — by a |well known Adelaide citizen, and against whom the Government had instituted proceedings on a charge of murder; but before the commencement of the trial my brother was accidentally drowned, and he being the only witness the Government entered a plea of nolle prosequi. The case was therefore abandoned. As a preliminary to picking up the Victorian boundary we had to run a true east line from the Murray for about 74 miles, starting a few miles below Blanchetown. Our work ran through practically unknown country, which proved thick scrub and waterless; therefore we had to carry water m bags on horseback the whole of the way, consequently had to make only a small allowance per man each day. Our line cut within about four miles south of the great Pyap Bend. When at this point, the nearest to the river, our chief decided to make for the river, in order to rest for a week. Washing our clothes was quite out of the question, only a very

meagre allowance of water could be spared for the purpose of cleansing our faces, and it was afterwards used for grinding our axes. The excitement for the day was in tossing up for the privilege of first wash. The last man had to' content himself with a very dirty wash. This had been going on for about a month. My readers can therefore perhaps imagine the eagerness with which we looked to having the blessing of plenty of water to drink, clean clothes, and the joy of a delightful bathe in the river. In our exuberance of spirit and anticipated pleasure of bathing we quite overlooked the bitterly cold, frosty weather when icicles were hanging on water bags, as the sequel will disclose.

A Tragedy.

On the morning after our arrival at the river near the hut of a shepherd named Loxton (where the town of Loxton now stands) we camped near some cliffs at a sharp bend in the river. We walked upstream to the next bend-where we decided to bathe. My brother carried a fire stick for the purpose of lighting a fire. After starting the fire he said to me. Jack, I like the look of this better than that, pointing to the river. Those were the last words he ever spoke to me. The previous night we were all discussing swimming, and some wonderful tales were told about swimming across the river I interjected, 'Why, that is nothing; I have more than once swam across the Murray ' They doubted my statement. I replied. Well, you will see in the morning, I will swim across.' The whole party except the cook walked to the place already indicated. My brother Frank, a strapping young fellow about 27 years—some years older than myself— and a good swimmer, plunged off the bank, and remarked -'It is very cold.' I touched the water, and said, 'It is like ice—too cold for me. I was taunted, and my companions said. 'Look at your brother: he does not mind now he is in'. With that, I. took a header and struck out for the opposite bank. When a little more than half way I was being carried rapidly downstream and, feeling terribly numbed with the cold, I was getting fagged. My brother called out (as I thought), 'Turn on your back,' but it must have been Come back!' I lay on my back for some time, then made a supreme effort to gain the opposite bank. The strongest current was ahead of me, and just as I was on the point of being swept past the bank I managed with one hand to catch a small branch of a dead tree standing on the elbow of the bank.

In Terrible Straits,

I landed on the bank, stiff, cold, and blue. The thought flashed across my mind, 'No boat for returning in: no shelter of any kind, no food; what is to be done? Looking across the river I saw the men running up and down the bank, and heard a distressed cry from my brother for 'help.' He had tried to regain the bank which we had left. His strength had given out. I screamed out, ‘Oh, save him. Tether ropes, cans, and casks.' Exhausted and weak as I was, I took a running jump into the icy stream. God only knows how I got across, but I went across like a torpedo in a straight line, although previously when strong and well, I was carried down many hundreds of yards. I was only a few minutes crossing, but my poor brother was gone. I asked where he was, but they pointed mutely into the river. I made a movement to go back into the river, with the object of diving for him. The river at this point was deep and muddy and full of whirlpools, which carried him further out. I was forcibly held back by the four or five men, who for reasons best known to themselves did not venture to try and save their companion. Thus ended one of my saddest-experiences in life. My brother's body was several days afterwards picked up some miles

distant by the steamer Molgewyance. Capt. Randell, who kindly sent our family his gold ring, which he took from his finger. The only memorial to his memory is given on the official maps of the Murray. The fatal spot is marked as 'Packard's Bend.'

The other two accused of the murder of Dombey, Dougall and Chandler, returned to Adelaide on 13th February 1866, when the Ellen Lewis arrived, carrying Finniss and the majority of the remaining members of the Northern Expedition, who had all been recalled, effectively abandoning the expedition. A policeman, Constable Potter, had previously been despatched to the Northern Territory, to arrest the accused men and escort them back to Adelaide.

By the Ellen Lewis. Police-trooper William Potter has gone round for the purpose of arresting William Dougall and Stephen Chandler, against whom warrants have been issued for "the wilful murder of an aboriginal native man, name unknown, at Chamber's Creek, on the 8th of September, 1864." Mr. Manton is instructed to "give assistance and support" to the trooper in the execution of the warrants, and also in serving summonses upon F. B. Finniss, W. S. Murray, F. H. Litchfield, J. Dyer, F. J. Packard, Thomas Brennan, M. E. Fitch, and Alaric Ward (already deceased), who are to return to Adelaide per Ellen Lewis, for the purpose of giving evidence in the murder case; and Dougall and Chandler are informed that any other persons may be brought whose evidence they may wish to secure on the trial.

Return to Adelaide

Adelaide Advertiser. Wednesday 14th February 1866 – Courtesy Trove (NLA)

In the Legislative Council — The long expected Ellen Lewis arrived on Tuesday evening, bringing Mr. B. T. Finniss and 38 other passengers from the Northern Territory. The vessel arrived at Adam Bay on the 5th of November, and left again on the first of December, her protracted voyage homeward being occasioned by a continuance of head winds. Of the passengers by her Messrs. W. Stow, Christie, Grainer, J. and F. Wadham have arrived in very bad health, and several other of the passengers on board are, we believe, almost as ill. The cause is, we are informed, bad food and the noxious gases from the swamps in the Northern Territory. Our correspondent's letter will be found in another column, and it brings the story of the settlement up to the time of the departure of the Ellen Lewis. Mr. McKinlay, after his arrival, set to work vigorously to explore the country, though its nature is such that He has already lost three horses. He has rounded the Adelaide River, but, as we are informed, he has expressed a very poor opinion of the country, so far as he has seen it. We saw last night more than one of the party returned from the Cliffs, and they also spoke of the country in the strongest possible terms of disgust. Mr. Finniss arrived in town with his son, between 12 and 1 o'clock this 'morning, and proceeded to Freemason's Tavern. The following are the names of the passengers by the Ellen Lewis. The asterisks (*) signify severe illness : —

CABIN.- Mr. B. T. Finniss Mr. J. V. Lloyd Mr. Fred. Finniss Mr. T. Gilman Mr. J. Stuckey Mr. F. Packard Mr. G. Warland Mr. S. Baker. STEERAGE-.Fred. Litchfield Henry Martin Wm. Dougall George Kersley — M. Fitch Gilbert McMinn Wm. Murray W. H. Walker Stephen Chandler G. C. Christi John Dyer J. Varley Thos. Brennon Stephen King Police Trooper Potter James Douglass James Ross C. E. Niel *John Wadham *W. Stow *Fred. Wadham Edward Burford Robert Beard William Moreshead Henry Baumgartel Alfred Smith *C. W. Grainer D. B. Wiltshire Ed. Strawbridge John Ryan. Joseph Austin

On reaching Adelaide, both Dougall and Chandler were denied bail and stood trial on 18th February 1866. A copy of the Adelaide Advertiser newspaper report, on the trial, is reproduced below.

Adelaide Advertiser Friday 16th Feb 1866 – Courtesy Trove (NLA)

Police Court—Adelaide Thursday February 18. Before Mr S Beddome, PM Rev S.L.Harris, and Dr. T. Ward The Northern Territory Murder Case - William Dougall and Stephen Chandler were brought up on the following charge, preferred against them by Inspector Peterswald.—"That they did on the eighth day of September.1864, at Chambers Bay, in the province of South Australia, feloniously and wilfully, and of their malice aforethought, kill and murder an aboriginal native man, whose name is to this informant unknown, against the peace of our Sovereign lady the Queen, her crown and dignity." The prisoners were defended by Mr. Ingleby. Francis Joseph Packard, chainman in the survey party of the Northern Territory, said he was in the Northern Territory on the 8th September. 1864. Formed part of an expedition on that day. It consisted of 16 men, including himself. The two prisoners were in the party. Was on horseback. Stephen Chandler was on foot, but William Dougall was also on horseback. They proceeded in the direction of Chambers Bay. There were eight of the party on foot and eight on horseback. They left Escape Cliffs about 9 o'clock in the morning. Arrived at Chambers Bay a little after 10 o'clock, it was a light scrubby country between Chambers Bay and Escape Cliffs. When they reached Chambers Bay the party divided into two portions. One portion consisted of Auld, Dougall, and he (witness). They went along the edge of the plain. The remainder of the party (some of whom were on horseback and some on foot) proceeded along the beach. They were all armed. As Auld, Dougall, and himself were going along some natives ran across their track from the direction of the beach. They pursued them, at the same time firing and shouting. Thought the object of the firing was to frighten them. They passed one native about 40 or 50 years of age. He was apparently making his way after the other natives. Left Auld and Dougall and went in another direction about 200 yards. Was away two or three minutes. Returned at the call of Dougall, and found him standing by the black fellow whom they had previously passed. The black man was standing still. Dougall said. "We had better take him prisoner." While they were standing talking alongside the black man, Auld came up and remarked that the Governor's orders were to shoot the natives. Dougall said, "We had better take him prisoner back to the Cliffs."

Auld replied "No; the Governor does not want any prisoners; we are to shoot them." Auld then shot him with a revolver in the breast. The ball came out of his back. The black man walked slowly on for about 50 yards, and they remained where they were. Dougall said, " lt is a pity to see the man suffering. Auld and he (witness) agreed with the remark. Auld was loading his revolver at the time. Dougall had a double-barrel gun with him loaded with shot. He fired at the black man.who had his back turned towards them. Could not say whether Dougall hit him. Saw no marks upon him, but he fell down almost immediately afterwards. Dougall fired both barrels. The black man fell on his back. They then went up to him, and he (witness) saw a wound in his breast, and blood running down his leg. He appeared to be dead. Did not touch the body. Went away directly to look for his (witness's) revolver, which he bad lost. When Auld shot the black man, Dougall went to the other party to tell them what he had done, and then they all came to the place where the man was lying. Saw the man again about half an hour after he was shot. He was dead. By Mr. Ingleby - As far as he knew it was only the shot of Auld which took effect. After Auld fired at the black fellow they saw a number of natives coming towards them, but they went off when Dougall discharged his gun. Did not know why they carried arms. Supposed it was to protect themselves against the natives. The natives had a little previously speared some horses. Dougall wanted to take the black man prisoner. He did not tell Auld to shoot him. Auld appeared to be the head of the party, consisting of him, Dougall, and witness. By His Worship — Could not swear that Dougall aimed at the black man. Did not see Chandler do anything. Dougall's gun was pointed at the black man, but could not say he was taking aim at him. Saw nothing done to the black man after he fell. There was no inquest held upon the deceased. Supposed the black man was dead, because his eyes were nearly closed, and because he saw no signs of breathing. Would not say for certain that he was not now home with his wife and family. By Mr. Ingleby - Was not sure, that Dougall's gun was not loaded with blank cartridges. William Potter, police-trooper, said he arrested the two prisoners in the Northern Territory in November. Cautioned them, but neither of them made any statement. By His Worship — Chandler came out to the ship in which he (witness) was, and Dougall met him the next morning. Inspector Peterswald asked for a remand until the next day, so that he might be able to subpoena a very important witness (Mr. Roberts) who had refused to attend. His Worship said he must have some evidence against the prisoners on which to grant a remand. Inspector Peterswald - l cannot obtain any more evidence against the prisoners today. His Worship to the prisoners — There is no evidence whatever against you. You may both go. The decision was received with loud cheering from the spectators in Court.

Also below, is an excerpt from a letter written by John Dougall to his brother Thomas on 28th February 1866, relating William’s safe arrival in Adelaide and his subsequent acquittal, as described in a South Australian newspaper sent to him by William.

From the material available and recorded in this chapter, it could be considered that William Dougall was a compassionate man. He wanted to take the native prisoner, and he didn’t want to see him suffer. Was his gun loaded with blanks? Did he aim to miss? Did he shoot to scare the other natives? Or, was he just a lousy shot? I wonder. I also wonder whether Patrick Auld might not have uttered a few prayers in thanks.

CHAPTER 4 (The Northern Expedition)

Gold

William Dougall had spent some time on the Ballarat area goldfields in the 1850’s and early 1860’s. On his excursion to the Northern Territory in 1864-65, he used the knowledge he’d gained, to identify the possible existence of gold somewhere near the Finniss River, when with an exploratory party led by Frederick Litchfield. He and Litchfield agreed that the quartz rock they discovered would probably bear gold. They washed for colour and William took quartz samples. William was also a member of another party led by Patrick Auld to explore the country between Escape Cliffs and Port Darwin and again he took samples of quartz, promising gold deposits. Included here are extracts from the South Australian Register of July and August 1865. South Australian Register Adelaide, SA Monday 31 July 1865 – Courtesy Trove (NLA)

It was intended that a surveying party should go up the river 40 miles, to survey land for an inland settlement. Colonel Finniss had made an exploratory trip in the Beatrice along the coast from the Adelaide River to Port Darwin. Mr. Litchfield had charge of an exploration party between Escape Cliffs and Port Darwin, to examine the country inland. Messrs. Litchfield and Dougall, gold diggers, had discovered large quantities of quartz near Port Darwin. They were very sanguine that it would prove a good gold country.

A party under the command of Mr. Auld went to inspect Port Darwin. On their way they crossed two or three extensive creeks described as being almost as large as rivers, and as containing abundance of fish. The report of most of the members of the expedition was unfavourable to Port Darwin; but Mr. Warland, however, an experienced bushman and competent person, stated that it was very good country, with a gradual rise from the sea ; that the harbour was good and that there was plenty of stone and building material easily accessible. Mr. Dougall, one of the party, brought back quartz which was believed to be auriferous.

From the Special Correspondent of the S. A. Register, August 16th 1865 Escape Cliffs. Courtesy Trove (NLA)

The Beatrice arrived on the 8th April. She sailed on the 18th with the Government Resident, for Port Darwin, to meet a party sent by land, consisting of six men with nine horses. They crossed the Adelaide River on the 17th. The following are the names of the party: — P. Auld (leader), G. Warland, W. Dougall, F. Litchfield, Dr. Ninnis, and Fred Finniss. Mr. Warland, a well-known bushman of South Australia, has kindly furnished me with a copy of his diary: —

22nd. Camped all day. Auld and Litchfield rode round the country. Collected specimens of quarts and trap. Dougall, who had been for some years on Ballarat, said the quartz and general appearance of the country would lead any one to search for gold. Signs of natives having been here lately.

Also reproduced here is another extract from William’s letter to his brother John, held at the State Library of South Australia. “I would have left this place myself then had it not of been that an exploring party was formed at that time to proceed to the head of the Adelaide River overland. I was one of a party of six men 12 horses and four weeks rations. We went up the east side of the river in a line parallel with it from 10 to 15 miles off it till we struck a few miles above the tidal influence. For 20 miles prior to arriving here, the country …….(?) on for 50 or 60 miles further on a nearly SW course. I reckon it’s fair passable (?) pastoral country but a the altitude is not great. Imagine a vast plain one mass (?) of ranges not higher than Mount Hollowback not very thickly timbered with dwarf Ironbark Box and gum trees with fresh water creeks lined with bamboo in some places in other places the spiral or Vacquois palm is growing so thick you can scarcely approach. The nature and surface of the soil gives very strong indications of being of an aurreifourous character there is plenty of loose quartz. Quartz reefs cropping out of the surface …. (?) rock conglomerate ironstone basalt and granite of which I have got samples that I intend to bring back with me in fact I may say that I have scarcely seen gold found in more likely looking places in Victoria. Mr Fred Litchfield an old mate of Mr. Matt Batters upon the diggings and leader of our party, he and I are quite agreed and have only one opinion upon the subject and that is that there must be gold although there has not been one speck seen yet but in fact we had not time to make any sort of a search except look at the stones upon the surface but many times we said to ourselves that if some of the Ballarat diggers new of this it would not lay long untried in the neighbourhood of Port Darwin where I have been. Looks equally inviting as a gold field but of limited extent. I consider it as a spur from the main load of aureifourous country running in towards the interior. I may mention that these places are easy of access as the Beatrice lay close to us at Port Darwin and when she was up the river she could have landed goods within 5 or 10 miles of aureeferous country. You may tell Mr. Davis to take notice of this in the papers if you like. I am not going to write you a long letter or history of the country as it is very likely I will leave here first chance now in fact a great many will leave with the first vessel”.

Below is a transcript of evidence given by Fred Litchfield to the Commission into the conduct of the Northern Expedition. He was presumably under oath, and clearly states that he found gold. He also, makes mention that Dougall was there.

Page 79. April 19th 1866. Witness F. Litchfield. MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE NORTHERN TERRITORY COMMISSION. Mr. Frederick Litchfield called in and examined: 2996. (By Mr. Finniss—You are the son of an officer in the army, and signed the agreement to go to the Northern Territory as a labourer?— Yes.

3036. Did I ever send you on an exploring trip in April or May round the Adelaide River?— Yes. 3037. That is the country you have described?—Yes. 3038. Did you cross the Adelaide?—Yes. 3039). Is the water fresh there ?—Yes. 3040. Did you cross the horses there?—It was difficult to get down the banks they were so steep ; we crossed above the tidal influence. The stream was sixty or seventy yards across and running two miles an hour. 3041. Will you point out the position of Ross's Ponds ?—[Witness complied.]—They are permanent water. 3042. Did you on that occasion go to the west ?—Yes. 3043. Did you reach a river called the Finniss ?—Yes : we followed it for nine miles. 3044. Is there a good country between the two rivers?—Yes, but it is rather hilly in places. 3045. Did you find some specks of gold?—Yes. 3046. What did you do with them?—I gave them to you. 3047. Did you see any other gold country?—I saw a promising country in lat. 12° 46'; there were heavy dykes with quartz and ironstone ; it resembles Bendigo, where I was for seven years, both in the timber and the description of the country. 2048. Had any of the other labourers been to the Goldfields ?—-Yes, Dougall had. 3049. Did he agree with you ? —Yes, he was more sanguine than 1 was—he was certain that it would someday prove a goldfield.

In a despatch to Governor Ayres in Adelaide, the Government Resident (B.T. Finniss), did advise that Litchfield handed him a small amount of gold, following this expedition, and Fred Finniss is quoted here, as having seen the gold, so it would be reasonable to assume that Litchfield and Dougall were the first to find gold in the Northern Territory.

Observer (Adelaide S.A.) Saturday 10th November 1906. Courtesy Trove (NLA) HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR IS DUE.

From "F. R. Finniss," Port Darwin:

"Attached to the report of. Mr. H. Y. L. Brown (Government Geologist) on his geological examination of the Northern Territory last year is a paper written by Mr. H. Basedow on mining in the early days of the Territory, in which it is stated that gold was first discovered in 1869 by surveyors sent out by the late Mr. G. W. Goyder. That is incorrect, as gold was first found by the late Mr. F. H. Litchfield in 1865 on the bank of the Finniss River, near to Mount Bennett. I saw the gold myself at Escape Cliffs, and I have a map of the Northern Territory-the first ever published-on which the spot where the gold was found is marked. 'Good promising gold country' is printed across the country between the Adelaide and Finniss Rivers in consequence of the report of Mr. Litchfield and Mr. W. Dougall, who accompanied him on his exploring trip. Both those gentlemen had had great experience on the Victorian diggings, and they agreed that they had never seen more promising looking country for gold. On that same expedition Mr. Litchfield struck the Daly River, which had just before been discovered, and entered in a boat by my father, the late Hon. B. T. Finniss, but, as Mr. Litchfield was not aware of this fact at the time, he may be credited with the honour of the discovery. He named those now well-known hills Mounts Hayward. Litchfield and Tolmer, and also the rivers Reynolds and Finniss."

From Flinders Ranges Research Web Site The first actual discovery of gold in the Northern Territory was made by F. H. Litchfield on the south side of the Finniss River in 1865. Four years later, members of Goyder's survey party found more gold at Tumbling Waters. In December 1870 a work party drilling holes for the Overland Telegraph Line discovered alluvial gold near Yam Creek. When the line was completed, it meant very little to the few locals, but the possibility of finding gold attracted thousands of prospectors, both from the southern colonies and China. Attention then turned to Pine Creek and although conditions were harsh and primitive, miners were flocking to the area, and within a short period it became the site of one of the Territory's most frantic gold rushes

The Oxford Companion to Australian History, Revised Edition, Oxford University Press, 2001 Exploration parties always consisted of a team of men. The smallest groups numbered just two or three, while the best-equipped included gentlemen, Aboriginal guides and negotiators, smiths, carpenters, shipwrights, horsemen, labourers, horses, sometimes camels or bullocks, and scores of sheep and cattle. In either case, it became customary to speak of an expedition as if it were the work of a single man or partnership - as if the white 'explorers' were somehow alone and transcendent in the midst of their men.

As leader of the exploratory party, Fred Litchfield was credited with being the first person to discover gold in the Northern Territory. Whether it was Litchfield or Dougall, is open to conjecture, and, whether William Dougall should share the ‘honour’ is debatable. Instead of Litchfield National Park in the Northern Territory, we may well have Dougall National Park! The son of William’s brother, James Dougall, who migrated to Jamaica, and who was also named James, became a prominent sugar and tobacco plantation manager/overseer in Cuba, and in fact there is a Dougall Park in Havana, Cuba, named in his honour. Perhaps one Dougall Park in the world is enough! Below is an extract from a letter written by Samuel Dinwoodie a cousin from South Africa, to Thomas Waddell Dougall (William’s son), in Australia in 1958.

“Wamphray” Oak Avenue P.O. Broughton Near Johannesburg Transvaal South Africa 2/4/58

James Dougall Cuba manager of one of the biggest sugar and Tobacco plantations, passed away sometime ago. There is a park in Havana called Dougall Park and when he married a Londoner? (maybe a surname starting with L), she was presented with a magnificent white stole that was over 50 years ago, James Dougall passed away many years ago, and as far as I know all my mother's step family now gone, and now I only communicate with Isabelle Dougall now Mrs Lord Yours affect. S. Dinwoodie.

It’s also interesting to note, that both Patrick Auld and Fred Litchfield are credited with being amongst the first Europeans to walk where the streets of Darwin are now situated. William Dougall should also share this credit, as he was with both these men, on separate occasions, in small exploratory parties, when they explored and traversed the Port Darwin area. In fact, he has been recognized in some small way, by having a street, (Dougall Crt) named in his honour, in Howard Springs, a satellite suburb of Darwin

Photo provided by Di and Ian Dougall. (Taken on their trip to Darwin 2014) Ninnis Ct. is named in honour of Dr. Belgrave Ninnis, the second doctor on the Northern Expedition and also a member of Auld’s exploratory party to Port Darwin. From Wikipedia

In 1864, Belgrave Ninnis was selected to serve as naturalist on a survey expedition to the Northern Territory of South Australia, aboard HMS Beatrice. The expedition, under Boyle Travers Finniss, was charged with surveying the coast in the area of the Adelaide River, with the aim of selecting a site for a future territory capital. Together with W. P. Auld, Ninnis was the first to survey the area to the west of the river, around what is now Darwin. In his role as naturalist, Ninnis collected specimens of reptiles and birds, which he presented to the South Australian Institute (later the South Australian Museum), and timber, which was donated to the Adelaide Botanic Garden. Ninnis later reported to the Adelaide Philosophical Society on geological findings; "the coast at the Northern Territory," he said, "was generally composed of red and grey sandstone, with small quantities of quartz."

In 1875 he joined the British Arctic Expedition under Captain Sir George Nares, serving as Staff-Surgeon on HMS Discovery.

He was the father of Belgrave Edward Sutton Ninnis, an explorer who was lost down a crevasse, during the 1911–14 Australasian Antarctic Expedition, under the command of Douglas Mawson.

The schooner HMS Beatrice, on which Ninnis served as naturalist during the survey expedition to the Northern Territory

HMS Discovery and HMS Alert in the Arctic during the 1875–76 expedition

Belgrave Ninnis was the fourth son of Paul Ninnis, originally of Cornwall. He was married to Ada Jane Sutton, with whom he had three sons and one daughter

Ninnis' third son Belgrave Edward Sutton Ninnis

The above extract from the NT Place Names Register, indicates that Frederick Litchfield named a mountain in William’s honour, on the 21st May 1865. Mount Dougall doesn’t appear on any of the maps I’ve found, however diaries of George Warland and Fred Litchfield show the latitude readings they took on the 20th May, as Lat. 12° 53' and 12° 53' 24.4", respectively. The exploring party camped for the day at the same location on the 21st of May, so, although, it may be too insignificant to show on maps, or it may have had a name change, the ‘mountain’, should not be too difficult to locate, This expedition and date, correspond with Litchfield’s finding of gold, and the naming of the mountain may be to pay tribute to the part William played in the discovery. I’ve also included an extract from the diary of John Lloyd, for those two days.

From the diary of George Warland.

20th.— Started at 8.25 on a course W. 20 N. 8 miles, over a poor description of undulating stony rises, interspersed with fine grassy gullies and flats. Two miles further crossed a double range with a very narrow grassy gully between. Lat. 12° 53’. At two miles on same course struck a creek and camped. Saw low stony rises all around us, but good country for cattle; timber very stunted. Country has the appearance of being auriferous. Plenty of kangaroo grass. Although the country is adapted for cattle, and would in time do well for sheep, yet it does not at all seem suitable for agriculture. The highest hills are about 200 to 400 feet above the surrounding country, running nearly N. and S. The country seems to improve to the south and west. Heard an opossum at night. 21st — In camp today to spell and shoe horses. Weather splendid—cool nights, and fine days. Large fires in neighbourhood of camp.

From the diary of Fred Litchfield.

Saturday, May 20th Fine strong breeze from south and very cold during the night. Left Meadow Camp 8.30 a.m. course west-north-west eight miles. Mr. F. Finniss took an observation here, in a fine long narrow gully, 12° 53’ 24.4”. The country we have travelled through this morning is equal to any we have seen, and is a promising one for a goldfield. The country becomes more hilly here, and as it is tiring our horses I will change our course to south – south – west. Course south south-west, down a fine gully; struck a fine open fiat at two miles, half a mile wide. A great body of water runs down here during the rainy season, and runs from east to west at halt: a mile west forms itself into a creek, camped. Distance to-day ten and a half miles. There is another creek joins this one here, running from north to south. Some beautiful native willows, and many varieties of birds, the same description –as Ï have seen m South Australia. Fine breeze from south-east all day. The days are very pleasant and the nights agreeably cold.

From the diary of John Lloyd.

20th Started on course N.N.W. for eight miles. Some very rough and rocky country; plenty of grass. Got some very fine views from the tops of the ranges— flats and gullies all open, ranges thinly timbered. Altered course to S.S. W. for two miles, and then to S. for half a mile, and camped for the night on a large running creek, which we called Willow Creek, on account of the quantity of weeping willows on it. Very pretty country here, and good-sized ranges— first-rate sheep and cattle

21st Sunday. Camped to-day at the same place to spell the horses, and Warland and I were busy all the forenoon in shoeing some of them. Fires all round us. We were in great danger of being burned, but we burnt the grass round where we camped.

About ten to fifteen years after returning from the Northern Expedition, back in Victoria and well settled on the Mt. Franklin Estate, it would appear that William again found gold. In the late 1870’s and early 1880’s, the Mt. Franklin Estate Gold Mining Co., mined for and found gold at Mt. Franklin, on the land owned by ‘Mr. Dougall’. It was short lived, but successful. Around 1865 the presence of a deep lead in Mount Franklin was established. Deep lead mining was initially unsuccessful, and it was not until the late 1870s that the Franklinford Gold Mining Company mined at Mount Franklin on a significant scale. A few years later the Mount Franklin Estate Gold Mining Company also struck gold, followed by the Shakespeare and Great Western companies in the mid-1880s. By the late 1880s, however, deep lead mining had ceased in the area.

The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.) Monday 19 March 1883 – Courtesy Trove (NLA)

THE GOLDMINES OF VICTORIA IN 1882-3. BY R. BROUGH-SMYTH, F.L.S., F.G.S. DAYLESFORD.

The Mount Franklin Estate Gold mining Company are driving for a lead which has its source in the Dry Diggings of old days, and which is known for a portion of its length as the Shakespeare Lead. This adventure is justly regarded as of great importance in the district, and I was glad to have an opportunity of examining the works. The company hold 1,200 acres of land in fee simple. The north-eastern angle of the area is a little to the south-west of Mount Franklin, and it is expected that the lead will be found at a distance of 2,808ft.from the mouth of the adit, which is being driven in a direction N. 72deg. E. It is believed that the load runs from the old Leviathan claim (which is included in the property) north-westward and that the extent of it yet to be worked is at least one mile and three quarters. . The leads in the neighbourhood of Daylesford are not exhausted, and if the Mount Franklin Estate Company's operations be successful, other similar works will be undertaken. There are obstacles in the way of the miner which cannot now be easily removed. Much of the land is in private hands and the owners naturally wish to get a large share of the profits which may be derived from the leads. I was told that one landholder near Daylesford received £34,000 as royalty from a not very large area, and if a rich lead were discovered tomorrow, a hard bargain would be driven by the fortunate possessors of the soil. The changes that have taken place in the mining division of Hepburn during the past ten years are considerable. In 1872 there were 627 Europeans engaged in alluvial mining and 906 in quartz mining and some 550 Chinamen were re-washing the shallow drifts of the creeks.

Mount Alexander Mail Friday 19 March 1886 – Courtesy Trove (NLA)

MINING PROSPECTS OF FRANKLINFORD.

Many, years ago attention was centred in Franklinford and the operations of a company, of that name, but although a large quantity of gold was obtained, it was not at that time remunerative, and the ground was abandoned. Years before this again the Leviathan, further to the South, and on what is now Mr Dougall's property was in, operation; but was also abandoned. The Mount Franklin Estate Co. started some three or four years ago to put in a tunnel but funds became exhausted and work has for some year or so been suspended save that boring operations have been continued with a view of finding, the deep ground which undoubtedly exists. The Gotorrinient diamond drill is now at work about half a mile lower down the road from the Mount Franklin Hotel.

William and several members of his extended family were listed as shareholders in several mining companies in the Daylesford and Franklinford areas. William’s eldest son, Thomas Waddell Dougall, some 20 years later, was camped in the bush, with one of the woodcutters (Harry Jackson), who featured in his travelling axemen show, that he toured Europe with, when he literally scratched the ground at an old camp site, and exposed two good sized nuggets of gold. About another twenty years subsequent, Thomas moved to the Western Australia goldfields with his sons, to chase the elusive metal. What success, if any, they had, I don’t know.

From THE WIDE WORLD MAGAZINE

Later still, in the late 1930’s, my father Cyril John (Jack) Dougall, (William’s grandson), was looking through some old diggings in the bush north of Daylesford, on the west side of the Daylesford - Castlemaine road, around the Dry Diggings area. He reckons he found a lead of gold on the side of a small rise, but because of the outbreak of the Second World War, he was unable to follow it up. After the war, he couldn’t relocate the lead. In the mid 1970’s, my father took me back to the area, where he pointed out a similar spot, but alas, not the spot. The area was dotted with very old vertical shafts and also one horizontal shaft that still had the remnants of rails and an old trolley. The land sloped steeply down to a swampy patch, where I presume the water from the sluicing collected. Gold, it seems was “in the blood”, but perhaps not in large enough doses. William’s letter to his brother John, written in July/August of 1865 from Escape Cliffs, is reproduced below in its entirety, and is followed by my transcription. This letter is currently held in the State Library of South Australia.

Escape Cliffs

July August 10th 1865

Dear John, As there is a mail leaves here tomorrow by way of Timor, I beg to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am in good health. Trusting that you and Thos., Mrs Thos. and family are all enjoying the same blessing. I only wrote a few lines last time expecting Mr W.P. Auld to call upon you on the way home and give you all the news from the Northern Territory. I would have left this place myself then had it not of been that an exploring party was formed at that time to proceed to the head of the Adelaide River overland. I was one of a party of six men 12 horses and four weeks rations. We went up the east side of the river in a line parallel with it from 10 to 15 miles off it till we struck a few miles above the tidal influence. For 20 miles prior to arriving here, the country …….(?) on for 50 or 60 miles further on a nearly SW course. I reckon it’s fair passable (?) pastoral country but a the altitude is not great. Imagine a vast plain one mass (?) of ranges not higher than Mount Hollowback not very thickly timbered with dwarf Ironbark Box and gum trees with fresh water creeks lined with bamboo in some places in other places the spiral or Vacquois palm is growing so thick you can scarcely approach. The nature and surface of the soil gives very strong indications of being of an aurreifourous character there is plenty of loose quartz. Quartz reefs cropping out of the surface …. (?) rock conglomerate ironstone basalt and granite of which I have

got samples that I intend to bring back with me in fact I may say that I have scarcely seen gold found in more likely looking places in Victoria. Mr Fred Litchfield an old mate of Mr. Matt Batters upon the diggings and leader of our party, he and I are quite agreed and have only one opinion upon the subject and that is that there must be gold although there has not been one speck seen yet but in fact we had not time to make any sort of a search except look at the stones upon the surface but many times we said to ourselves that if some of the Ballarat diggers new of this it would not lay long untried in the neighbourhood of Port Darwin where I have been. looks equally inviting as a gold field but of limited extent. I consider it as a spur from the main load of aureifourous country running in towards the interior. I may mention that these places are easy of access as the Beatrice lay close to us at Port Darwin and when she was up the river she could have landed goods within 5 or 10 miles of aureeferous country. You may tell Mr. Davis to take notice of this in the papers if you like. I am not going to write you a long letter or history of the country as it is very likely I will leave here first chance now in fact a great many will leave with the first vessel. Our camp is derelict. Mr Manton at the head of three survey parties has gone up the river 50 miles to survey country sections. They have got all the bullocks and six horses. There is only 14 horse left here now. I am one of 7 that have been appointed at 7/ per day as a mounted trooper force to scour the country and catch or shoot blacks. They are beginning to get very troublesome prowling about and watching us day and night at times and they have stolen a good deal of property and on last day of July some of them attacked Alaric Ward the man that was minding the sheep at the well within 300 yards of the camp about 11o’clock in the forenoon. Unfortunately he had no firearms upon him at the time. We did not miss him till after sundown when we scoured bush on foot and horseback and found native tracks. Next morning we went out at dawn of day and found him dead in a Mangrove scrub where they had dragged him about 150 yards from where he had fallen. He was stripped naked and mutilated in a shocking manner. He had two deep spear wounds in his left breast and one through the left arm. His upper jaw and nose were completely gone as if cut out by a tommy hawk, found by his eye brows and other parts of the body cut and lacerated. There was 11 of us despatched on horseback in pursuit. Second day we found there camp 30 miles off in a straight line. We detected it about ½. In great commotion we galloped straight into it just in time to see the last of them disappear in the scrub when a few shots were fired but I fear without any effect. We got some stolen property and a great number of spears and weapons. We burned in fact everything we could lay our hands upon. There is so much scrub and cover for them that it is almost impossible to attack them. Still they will follow your tracks and watch you like a native dog. The boat party that left this for Adelaide by way of Camden Harbour I gave a note of introduction to two of them if any of the parties are there you wrote me of should you send any letters or papers here after I leave Mr Hood now Post Master will attend to them. I hope the horses are getting on all right with you. Some of us have plenty to do here now both day and night work. I will now close by wishing you good night. I remain your affectionate brother William Dougall

CHAPTER 5 (The Northern Expedition)

Mateship and Loyalty For an expedition such as the Northern Expedition, true mateship, sacrifice and loyalty are tantamount to success. This cannot be borne out better than by the care and concern shown by the members of the exploration party that went up the Adelaide River, towards Stephen King Jnr., who became seriously ill with fever. Putting all else aside, the actions and ministrations of these men, (including William Dougall) in all probability, saved Mr Kings life. Another extract from J.V. Lloyd’s diary (as reported in the Register), appears below. South Australian Register (Adelaide) Tuesday 6th March 1866 – Courtesy Trove (NLA)

LITCHFIELD'S EXPLORATION OF THE ADELAIDE RIVER.

Mr. John V. Lloyd, a member of Mr. Litchfield's Exploring Expedition up the Adelaide River, in May-June, 1865, has at the request of several members of the, party, handed us a diary which he kept on that occasion, and we subjoin a series of extracts from it. Our readers will obtain here a very distinct idea of the physical appearance of the country traversed. The party consisted of F.Litchfield (leader), W. Dougall, F. Finniss, J. V. Lloyd, G. Warland and S King Jnr.

2nd. Camped all day at Lloyd's Creek, S. King is much worse to-day, and, consequently cannot travel. Great gloom is cast over us this morning, not knowing what to do with him. He is very ill. The conclusion come to is as follows:- F. Litchfield and F. Finniss left us at midday with three of our best horses to go on to Escape Cliffs as quickly as possible to send a boat up the river to take S. King down in, while Warland, Dougall, and myself are to take him and the eight remaining horses to a place called Fred’s Pass four and a half miles E. by S. nearer the river than this, and camp, till we find a passage to the river.

3rd. S. King is a little better this morning. Started from Lloyd's Creek and went to Fred’s Pass. Hills all the way, stony, with corkscrew palms. Camped beside plenty of water and good feed for the horses. This is a deep pass or gorge through the range, in the centre of which is a large pond - a very pretty place it is. Between here and the river is an open plain, gradually falling into a fresh water swamp before it reaches the river.

4th. The mosquitoes are very bad here, as they are at most of our camps. Very swampy on the

banks of the river in some parts and for some distance inland. We have no meat except what we shoot, but plenty of flour.

5th. Left Fred’s Pass, and went three miles S. and camped about half a mile from the river, on the side of a hill-a very nice place, named Aurora Hills. Warland and I cut a road through the line of bamboos growing on the bank of the river, and planted a flag for the boat party today when they came up the river. Hills come close to the river banks here.

6th. Poor King is suffering very much. We are anxiously looking out for the boat today. We are living on what we shoot now. About half an hour after dark to our great joy, we saw a rocket sent up a few miles down the river, and we sent up another to let them know where we were. Continued to fire shots with our carbines at intervals through the night, but we saw no more of them for the night.

7th. This morning I saddled my horse and left our camp by myself to go in search of the boat party, as it is likely they will go to Fred’s Pass in search of us if they have not seen our rockets. In crossing a small flat near King's Hill, I met Litchfield, Benham, and Dr. Ninniss, who had come overland. I directed them to where we were encamped, and continued my journey to Fred’s Pass, where I left a letter, saying where we were, in case anyone should come there. In coming home, discovered a passage to the river, over some swamps, and went in search of the boat, but could not find it, so I went back to camp. When I got home to the camp I found that the boat party had arrived there. The doctor soon gave King some things to freshen him up, and before next morning he felt much better. The country is very stony here – sandstone in general. The flats, I think, are all flooded in the wet season near the river.

8th. This morning I got in all the horses, ready for a move. We carried. S. King down to the boat on a bamboo stretcher, and they started there and then with him for Escape Cliffs. We then made up our packs, and started on our way home also,- namely, Litchfield, Benham, Dougall, Lloyd, Warland, Young, and Dr. Ninniss, with twelve horses. We arrived at Lloyd's Creek in the evening, and camped for the night.

June 11th. Arrived at the Narrows last night, and today swam the horses across the river, and arrived at Escape Cliffs after dark, having been absent one month.

John Vereker Lloyd

John Vereker Lloyd was born on Prince Edward Island, America, and arrived in Australia with his family at the age of 16. He joined Mr. Litchfield’s exploration party of the Northern Territory and Adelaide Rivers in 1865, enlisting in the police force in order to carry arms. It was on this expedition that Mr. Lloyd discovered a river which was subsequently named after him. On his return to Adelaide, he remained with the mounted police for some time, before going into business with Mr. A.W. Clutterbuck. Later he took up land in the far north, and following the death of his wife in 1920, retired to Adelaide. Mr. Lloyd died at the residence of his son at Mile End on 10 January 1927 aged 84 years. He is buried with his wife in Plot 3041, Path 17

Following the death of Stephen King Jnr., in 1915, the Adelaide Observer printed a tribute to his life achievements, and included the passage below.

Extract from an article published in The Adelaide Observer Saturday 16th October 1915. Courtesy Trove (NLA).

A PATHFINDER - THE LATE MR. STEPHEN KING. —Opening up the Territory.—

The following year (1864) found Mr. King a member of the Hon. B. T. Finniss's expedition to colonize the Northern Territory. He had charge of stock in transit by the steamer South Australian for the new settlement at Adam Bay. He landed sheep at Escape Cliffs, and thence started, in charge of the horse party, with Mr. F. H. Litchfield's expedition to the head of

the Adelaide River and back. During that journey Mr. King was seized with fever and ague. His life was almost despaired of, and he was carried back in a litter for more than a week's march to the depot. An advance party secured the aid of Dr. Ninnis. Who after a two-day's ride, came to the relief of the patient, and ordered his return to Adelaide. Among the exploits of Litchfield's party was the discovery of the Finniss and Reynolds Rivers, and the finding of gold near the former river in the gorge of Mount Bennett (lat. 12.55 S.).

From the beginning, the Northern Expedition, under the leadership of Boyle Travers Finniss, suffered from a combination of, varying degrees of disorganization and disloyalty. Most of Finniss’s officers disagreed with him regarding the suitability of Escape Cliffs as a site for a capital city. They didn’t like his militaristic approach, or his apparent unwillingness to consider any of their suggestions seriously. They therefore rebelled against him in subtle and not so subtle ways and didn’t offer him much support or loyalty, and did indeed actively attempt to undermine him. The main offender was Dr. Goldsmith, the expedition’s Doctor and Protector of Aborigines. He and Finniss failed to see ‘eye to eye’ from the start, and Goldsmith was quite vocal in his criticism, both locally and in letters to Adelaide. Some of the surveyors and labourers also ‘dragged their weight’ and made discipline and achievement very difficult. Several had their employment terminated, but due to lack of transport, had to remain at the settlement until the next ship arrived. Their presence only compounded Finniss’s problems. When the second group of forty arrived at the settlement in December 1864, matters became even worse. Amongst them, was J.P. Stowe, a representative of the colonists who had applied and paid for land allotments, and he was far from satisfied with what he saw. He wrote several damning letters back to Adelaide, condemning Finnis, and it was probably these letters that led to the Expedition being cancelled, and Finniss and most of the remaining members of the Expedition, being recalled in December 1865. When Finniss named the seven men to form a local constabulary, he also nominated them as stockmen and explorers. It appears that most of these seven men were amongst the few who remained loyal to Finniss. William Dougall was one of these.

Extract from Letter from John Dougall – 11 March 1865, to his brother Thomas. Kerse Ascot - 11th March 1865 Dear Thom, Since I wrote you I have had several letters from Wm (William) giving a very minute account of his travels. His last one was dated 10th Dec and scarcely so flattering accounts as in his former letters and said if there was nothing new turned up he would leave, but then he had not been far inland and after that he was expecting for to get away inland and his next letter might be more encouraging. He spoke of some of the officers and some of the men were turned against their leader Mr Finnis but Wm says he adheres strictly to the governor’s party and considers him quite qualified for his situation. He likewise thinks times there were rather short of provisions before the steamer, South Australia Line, arrived with supplies on the 5th Dec. Let me hear from you about the wheat. John Dougall

In his final despatch from Escape Cliffs, to Governor Ayres in Adelaide in November 1865, Finniss concluded with the following statement in which he named and praised the loyalty of several men. This document was produced as an appendix to evidence given at the Commission into the conduct of the Northern Expedition. Five of the Policemen/Stockmen/Explorers were named, and included Litchfield, Dougall, Lloyd, F. Finniss and Ross. APPENDIX TO EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE NORTHERN TERRITORY COMMISSION. Escape Cliffs, 14th November, 1865 I now conclude by particularizing the conduct of such of the officers and men as deserve my special commendation. Mr. Manton, my second in command, has worked hard at surveying and deserves my best thanks. Mr. Young, in the Treasury department has been careful and attentive. Mr. Bennett, draughtsman, has been diligent, useful, and steady; also Mr. Roland, acting clerk. Mr. Litchfield has made great and unusual exertions in the public service; whilst directing the police, the stockmen, and explorers, he has taken on himself, personally, the hardest labour, and set an example in that branch of the service which has been attended with the happiest results. Ross and Dougall have both supported him, and also Mr. F. Finniss and Mr. Lloyd; Mr. Willshire, as acting-pilot and coxwain of the Julia, and generally superintending the boat service, has been of great assistance, and his will has been with his duty. There are individuals whose services have been less obtrusive than those whose names I have mentioned, but none the less efficient, and I would name them, but I should fill my despatch with detail

I have, etc, B.T. FINNISS, Government Resident, NT.

W. P. (Patrick) Auld, who also led several exploring parties, was another praised by Finniss, as is indicated in the article below, from the Adelaide News of 7th December 1940.

News (Adelaide) of Saturday the 7th December 1940. Courtesy Trove (NLA).

DIARY RECALLS TROUBLED EARLY HISTORY OF NORTHERN TERRITORY

That Mr. Finniss held a high opinion of him (Auld), was shown by the testimonial of his leader quoted at this time:-."He was one of my main supports, zealous, loyal, and full of truth and integrity." And whatever may have been Mr.Finniss's faults, the men who deserted and reported against him were certainly not loyal to their leader.

William Dougall was also held in high regard by his peers, and was given the honour of leading the funeral procession of young Bastin Boucaut, who had taken ill and subsequently passed away.

Also from Auld’s diary. One of the members of the party, Bastin Boucaut, brother of Judge Boucaut, became ill and died. There is a little note in the diary.encircled with black ink: "B. Boucaut died at 10 p.m. We made his coffin in the-cart. Dougall led the 12 men in single file.

The Adelaide Express Thursday 15th December 1864. Courtesy Trove (NLA). BOUCAUT - On the 16th September, at Camp, Escape CIiffs, Northern Territory, Bastin Boucaut aged 21, brother of J. P. Boucaut Esq., of Adelaide, of remittent fever, after an illness of eleven days, universally respected by the officers and men of the Expedition.

In that same letter from John to his brother Thomas, John states that he had received several letters from William, from the Northern Territory. What an insight these could have provided, had they also been hoarded. If he’d written them to his brother Thomas, rather than to brother John, they may well have been.

“I have had several letters from Wm. giving a very minute account of his travels. His last one was dated 10th Dec and scarcely so flattering accounts as in his former letters and said if there was nothing new turned up he would leave, but then he had not been far inland and after that he was expecting to get away inland and his next letter might be more encouraging”.

CHAPTER 6 (Franklinford)

Family Life

William came back to Victoria, in 1866, only to return to South Australia and marry his first wife, Caroline Waddell on the 30th July 1867. The wedding took place at the Mt. Barker

residence of Caroline’s parents, John and Isabella Waddell. Caroline had immigrated to South Australia from Scotland, with her parents and siblings in 1839. Just when and where William and Caroline met is unknown, however they returned to Victoria immediately following their wedding, on the steamship Penola ,and settled on the Mount Franklin Estate to begin their lives together and start their family.

Melbourne July 23rd 1867 Mr Thomas Dougall Dear Brother I received your letter of the 20th ult., yesterday. I need only say that I sail for Adelaide this day at noon. The Penola steamer returns in ten days. If I can accomplish it, I will come by her. If not, the next following. I will drop you a note when I arrive. You will have an idea of the time to expect the letter, as I will not stop over a day or two in Geelong. Mrs Dougall will have to be prompt to the time. Trusting you are all well, I remain Your affectionate brother Wm. Dougall

SS Penola, Built by Laurence Hill & Company in 1863 for Grice, Sumner & Company, Melbourne to service the Melbourne - Adelaide passenger trade.

Adelaide Advertiser Thursday 29th August 1867. Courtesy Trove (NLA). DOUGALL - WADDEL —On the 30th July, at the residence of the bride's father, by the Rev. James Gordon, William Dougall Esq., Mount Franklin, Victoria, to Caroline, youngest daughter of John Waddell Esq., Mount Barker.

Caroline Waddell 1867 William Dougall 1867

The Rev. James Gordon

William and Caroline produced five children. First was Isabella Mary Dougall, born 10th June 1868, died in infancy on 20th March 1869.Second was Jessie Brown Dougall, born 9th January 1870, died 23rd February 1948, followed by Thomas Waddell Dougall, born 5th December 1871, died 5th October 1964. William Franklin (Frank) Dougall, was next, born. 1874, died 15th October 1960 and finally Caroline Mary Paterson (Carrie) Dougall born 20th August 1877 and died 22nd March 1956.

Following his adventures in the Northern Territory, William’s life seems to have settled into a routine of family life, community affairs and agricultural pursuits, including further gold exploration. He increased his land holdings at the “Mount Franklin Estate”, Franklinford, and in partnership with his brother John expanded with properties at Bullarook, and (Kiora) Ararat. They also put in an offer on an established horse stud “Bryan O’Lynn” at Purnim, near Warrnambool. They were heavily involved (and quite successfully) in the importing and breeding of Clydesdale horses, and regularly attended local and district agricultural shows, exhibiting not only horses, but other stock animals as well. They participated and judged ploughing competitions and William was a member and president of the Glenlyon Franklin and Daylesford Agricultural Society (below).

The letter below, written by John Dougall to his brother Thomas, mentions both the offer he and William placed on the Bryan O’Lynn property near Warrnambool, and also the property they owned, named ‘Kiora’, north of Lake Bolac, near Ararat.

Kerse Farm, Ascot 3 May 1866

Dear Brother,

I received your letter on our arrival home from Warrnambool containing the cheque for 107 Pounds 10 Pence. I handed it into Mr. Lewers yesterday and you must lift the Bill out of the Bank of New South Wales Melbourne. With Bills of that sort always be particular and lift them, for if the parties retain them they may bring them up against you at any time. William and I had a look over Bryan O’Lynn but he did not like it so well this time as before. It is good on the whole but in a fearfully dirty dilapidated state. It is something like the Bullarook Farm – about 200 acres of it rather infirm and the most of it overrun with sorrel. White clover grows there in great luxuriance and tall white Gum trees. There is the strongest spring of water on it I have seen anywhere, rising off the limestone. We have sent him an offer of 3 Pounds per acre cash for it and if we don’t get it for that we won’t have it at all. Should we get it for that I think it will be well worth the money, but it will take a deal to put it in proper order.

In regard to cattle I have only one here near the calving and they are dear at the present time 8 to 12 Pounds for anything good. Those at Kiora of mine 4 are dead and 2 or 3 more bad with the disease and they want both more grass and water. Should we get B. O’Lynn we intend to shift down there with them at once and another party will take Kiora off our hands.

Bryan O’Lynn was situated about ten miles north of Warrnambool, on the Warrnambool to Mortlake Road, and there is now a road out there called Bryan O’Lynn Road. Judging by the date of the above letter, William and John’s offer was made early in 1866, and going by the

information below, we can presume that the offer wasn’t accepted and that the property went to Auction early in 1867.

From the Bryan O’Lynn Story (1848 – 1867)

“It seems quite prophetic that the clearest description of the Bryan O’Lynn estate was gained courtesy of an auctioneer’s sale notice following the death of David Wilson. Clearly his only surviving relative - his 67 year old widowed sister Margaret Dowie - is in no position to continue with its management. Consequently it was presented for auction, the notice (below) being published in the Melbourne Argus on Monday 15th April, 1867 and in The Ballarat Star a week later. In what would have been a spirited and competitive gathering at Warrnambool’s Commercial Hotel, David’s close neighbour, Cooramook land owner Henry Phillips Esq. became the new proprietor”.

PANIC (1858, from Queen of Beauty by Melbourne) was purchased by Samuel Blackwell in 1860, after he ran second in Beverley's Driffield Stakes, and taken to Tasmania. There he was among the top runners of his day, servicing mares while still a racehorse. He ran third to Mormon in the 1861 Australian Champion sweepstakes held at Hobart before a crowd of 10,000 wild fans, was second to the great Archer in the second running of the Melbourne Cup, and, in 1865, won the first running of the Launceston Champion Cup. Sold to Henry Phillips of Warrnambool, he stood at Phillips' Bryan O'Lynn stud near Victoria, Melbourne, until his death in 1878, getting many outstanding runners of Australia's premier distance races.

William Dykes ( a cousin of the Dougalls), had a property of 840 acres at Lake Bolac, and after selling on the 26th March 1908, bought another at Scotts Creek near Cobden. His brother Andrew, also lived at Scotts Creek. In the following letter from John Dougall to Thomas

Dougall, he states that William Dougall had a property not far from the Lake Bolac property also.

Kerse 29th June 1865

Dear Thos

Wm Dykes has selected close on to 600 acres on the area of Worondoo 4 or 5 miles from Lake Bolac . I believe pretty fair land. He intends settling on it. It is not very far from Wm Dougall's place. Andrew has not got any yet but he has about 100 acres rented above their old place. I remain your affectionate brother,

John Dougall

Another half-brother to William and Andrew Dykes, was the Rev. John Dykes, who was based at the Mortlake Presbyterian Church for a couple of years, before transferring to Jerilderie, where he became known as “The Pioneering Parson of the Riverina”.

Below,are a number of articles and advertisements that appeared in the Ballarat and district newspapers over a period of twenty and more years or so and they reveal just how involved in and successful William and John Dougall were with regards to the importing and breeding of Clydesdale horses. They also reveal just how serious and competitive was the industry, and the Dougall’s in particular.

The Star (Ballarat) Monday 27th August 1860 Courtesy Trove (NLA).

TO SERVE MARES THIS SEASON, at Kerse Farm, Ascot, the celebrated pure bred Clydesdale stallions, RENFREW & MAJOR, Imported in May, 1860, by J. & W. Dougall, Proprietors.

RENFREW, a bright bay, is 4 years old, stands 16 hands 2.5 inches high, has great muscular strength, excellent bone, and superior action, combined with amiable temper, and all the good qualities inherent in this celebrated breed of horses. When one year old he gained the first prize at Kilbirny, and again at Dalry. When two years old the first prizes were again awarded to him at the aforementioned places. Afterwards was sold to Samuel Clark, Esq., - Mansware. When three years old he competed at the Renfrewshire exhibition of stallions, held in Paisley, against horses of all ages, 32 being exhibited, he was selected as the best horse, and awarded a premium of 30 sovereigns by the Duke of Hamilton to serve mares in the Island of Arran amongst his own tenantry. Renfrew's sire, " Lofty”, was the property of S. Clark, Esq. When two years old he was the gainer of seven premiums; afterwards he gained the premium of 40 sovereigns at Dalkeith, as likewise the premium of 30 sovereigns and a silver medal at Glasgow Agricultural Society's exhibition, and was sold for 350 sovereigns to leave the country. His grand sire, great grand sire, dam, grand dam, and great grand dam were all first-class stock, and of unexceptionable pedigree.

MAJOR is a dark bay, with black points, 4 years old, stands 17 hands 1 inch high, of proportionate build, not to be surpassed by any horse of his age and size in the colony for strength of bone, muscular power, and splendid action. "Major" was the properly of S. Clarke, Esq., and gained several prizes; was bred by Mr. Craig Greenend, Ayrshire. His dam was a very powerful draught mare, and she was awarded the first premium at the Ayrshire Agricultural Society's Show in 1859, as also several others at shows of high standing in former years. His

grand dam was a, very superior mare; one of her offspring carried off the first prize at the Highland Society's Exhibition held in Perth. His sire was the well-known horse "Superior;" the premium of 30 sovereigns was awarded to him at Hamilton; the following year a prize of 40 sovereigns was awarded to him at Falkirk; afterwards was sold to travel in Aberdeenshire. His grandsire was the far famed horse "Britain," the gainer of more prizes than any other horse known. Provided for mares will be a securely fenced accommodation paddock containing 150 acres, well grassed, watered, and sheltered. A few racks will be fitted up in the paddock with an ample supply of hay. The proprietors respectfully inform the public that every care and attention will be paid to the stock entrusted to their care, but without responsibility. Parties are respectfully requested to remove their mares when notice is given of their being stinted. Terms - Six Guineas, payable on removal of mares. For further particulars apply to the proprietors, or to James Orr, the groom, who has been in charge of the horses since they left Scotland. J. & W. DOUGALL.

The Star (Ballarat) Wednesday 5th September 1860 Courtesy Trove (NLA).

RENFREW AND CLYDE. (To the Editor of The Star.)

Sir,- In today's paper I observe that yon have not given the true height of our horse Renfrew; likewise, that you have as much overstated Mr Sim's Clyde. I hope you will be kind enough to correct the error in your paper. I may further state that Renfrew's true height is 16 hands 2.5 inches; he is taller and wider and heavier, and in every way a larger horse than Clyde; and what I ask in the public papers is a fair thing between man and man. Trusting that you will agree with me, I remain Yours truly. William Dougall. Pro J. & W. Dougall Kerse Farm, Ascot, 3rd September.

The Star (Ballarat) Saturday 7th September 1861 Courtesy Trove (NLA).

TO SERVE MARES THIS SEASON - The celebrated and well known pure bred Clydesdale stallions, RENFREW AND MAJOR. Imported in May, 1860, by J. and W. Dougall, proprietors. Renfrew, a bright bay, is five years old, stands 16 hands 24 inches high, has great muscular strength, excellent bone, and superior action, combined with amiable temper and all the good qualities inherent in this celebrated breed of horses, besides having proved himself a sure foal getter. Renfrew was bred by Mr Logan, Boag, Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, and gained five first prizes before leaving Scotland. Renfrew will stand during the season every Monday night on and after 30th September, at Mr Pascoe's Bellevue Hotel, Forest Hill; Tuesday nights, at Mr. Dockery's, Cumberland Hotel, Smeaton; returning home on Wednesday, where he will be found during the remainder of the week. Major is a dark bay with, black points, five years old, stands 17 hands 1 inch high, of proportionate build, excellent bone, great muscular strength, and splendid action, and has proved

himself a sure foal getter. Major was bred by Mr Craig, Greenend, Ayrshire, out of very superior stock, and was the gainer of several prizes before leaving Scotland. Major will stand during the season every Thursday night, on and after the 3rd October, at Mr. Goody's Glendaruel Hotel; on Friday night, at Mr. McKay's Stag Hotel, Learmonth; returning home on Saturday. Provided for mares is a securely fenced paddock, containing 150 acres, well grassed, watered, and sheltered, with an ample supply of hay for those who may wish to send their mares. AU mares must be unshod on the hind feet before entering the paddock. The greatest care taken without responsibility. Parties are respectfully requested to remove their mares when notice is given of their being stinted. Fees - Five guineas (groom's fee included) payable on removal of mares. For particulars apply to the proprietors, or to the groom.

J. & W. DOUGALL, Kerse Farm, Ascot.

N.B - Mares served and paid for last season which have missed will be served during September free of charge.

The Star (Ballarat) Monday 10th October 1864 Courtesy Trove (NLA).

TO SERVE MARES THIS SEASON, at Kerse Farm, Ascot. That pure-bred Clydesdale Stallion, the BARON OF RENFREW,

Three years old, imported last April by the proprietors. There is a well-fenced paddock with abundance of feed and water for the accommodation of mares, and every attention will be paid them without responsibility. Terms:- £5 5s, groom's fee included, payable on removal of mares. For farther particulars apply to the proprietors, J .and W. Dougall Kerse Farm, Ascot.

The Star (Ballarat) Thursday 8th December 1864 Courtesy Trove (NLA)

SMEATON, SPRING HILL, AND BULLAROOK AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. Monday, 5th December.

Present-Mr Coffey, president; and Messrs Miller, Ercrard, Turnbull, McAndrew, Trethowen, and Anderson, members of committee.

The following correspondence was read: 1. From Mr James Orr, protesting against the award of the judges in the case of Mr Dougall’s horse, the Baron of Renfrew, for the reason that he being foaled in July, 1861, as stated by Mr Dougall, was disentitled here or at home from entering as a three-year old, and should have entered in the class for imported draught horses. Mr Orr said he himself saw the horse in Scotland in April, 1862, as a yearling. After much discussion, in which all the members expressed themselves in favour of the protest if the horse was foaled as stated by Mr Dougall in July, 1861. Mr Miller moved - "That the protest be allowed, and the opinion of the judges be

taken as to which horse should be awarded the prise; that Messrs. Dougall be informed of the decision”. This was seconded by Mr. Trethowen, and carried.

The Ballarat Star Tuesday 25th July 1865 Courtesy Trove (NLA).

SMEATON, SPRING HILL, AND BULLAROOK AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

The monthly meeting of the Committee of this Association was held on the 19th inst. Mr Miller brought forward the question of the prize at the last show for a three-year old entire, and moved —"That the money be paid to Mr James Orr for his Sir Colin, in accordance with the decision of the judges after the Baron of Renfrew had been disqualified." The motion was seconded by Mr McAIpine and supported by others. Mr Everard proposed —"That the Port Phillip Farmers' Society be written to on the subject." Mr Curtin moved —" That the prize be paid to Mr Dougall." The President had no sympathy with either, but would like the rules adhered to and the judge's decision to be final and without appeal. The motion was lost. Mr Curtin moved and Mr Calder seconded — That the motion of January last, disqualifying Mr Dougall's horse, be rescinded."Carried”. At the annual meeting which followed, there was a considerable attendance of members. Mr Coffey was elected to the chair. The election of office-bearers was then proceeded with,

The Star (Ballarat) Saturday 22nd September 1866 Courtesy Trove (NLA).

THE ANNUAL SHOW OF THE BALLARAT AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY CLASS A – DRAUGHT HORSE STOCK

- honorary certificate. J And W. Dougall Kerse farm, Ascot, Baron of Renfrew;

The Ballarat Star Saturday 7th November 1868 Courtesy Trove (NLA).

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SHOW. Section -4.— Best two-year-old colt— First prize, Board's, L10; second prize, L3; third prize, Honorary certificate. First prize, William Frazer, Burrumbeet; second prize, J. and W. Dougall, Ascot; third prize, William Simpson, Dowling Forest, Duke of Edinburgh, by Blackleg. ;

Leader (Melbourne) Saturday 27th August 1870 Courtesy Trove (NLA).

ADMIRAL ASSCOTT, rich dark bay, black points, rising seven years, with great bone and muscular power, stands 17.5 hands high, well furnished with hair; he is an excellent worker and sure foal-getter. Admiral Asscott is by Major (imported): dam, Messrs. J. and W. Dougall’s favourite mare Maggie, by Star.

THE SMEATON, SPRING HILL, AND BULLAROOK AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION. ….. and one of Messrs Dougall’s animals a second prize. Messrs Dougall’s mare was awarded a first prize J. & W. Dougall’s Major," second prize, silver medal J. & W. Dougall’s “Renfrew" SEC 5-BEST COLONIAL DRAUGHT MARE. J. & W. Dougall "Jeannie" first prize, gold medal SEC 6-BEST DRAUGHT MARE. Messrs Dougall “Jeannie” first prize, silver medal

Leader (Melbourne) Saturday 30th March 1872 Courtesy Trove (NLA).

GLENLYON, FRANKLIN, AND--DAYLESFORD AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S SHOW.

Messrs. J. and W. Dougall, Mount Franklin, were, as usual, large and successful exhibitors, and took first prize for the best dry mare, best cart horse, and best pair of cart horses.

The Bacchus Marsh Express Saturday 19th December 1874 Courtesy Trove (NLA).

THE following is Mr. Muir’s letter, addressed to Mr. Dugdale, referred to at meeting of West Bourke Agricultural Society on 5th inst. – Dear Sir, I have no doubt you have seen, in the Leader of the 17th instant, a report of the paper Mr. David Junor, of Gisborne, read before the members of the West Bourke Agricultural Society, at Lancefield, on 30th September. Knowing that you take a great interest in Clydesdale horses, I thought I would write you my opinion of the paper Mr. Junor read; and likewise give you the undoubted origin of the Clydesdale horse. I think Mr. Junor’s description of what a pure Clydesdale horse should be is very correct in many points. He says the head should be wide, forehead full, a large eye, straight face, small lips, &c., Now if you will look at a number of our best imported entire horses, - Victor, for instance, who is standing at your own place,-- that is exactly what their heads are like. A pure Clydesdale is a big horse, on short legs. But what I principally wanted to write to you about was the origin of the Clydesdale horse, as there is no doubt Mr. Junor’s opinion on that point is quite erroneous. From what I have heard from my father, and other parties (but principally from my father) the first of the breed of the Clydesdale was brought to Scotland from Flanders by Andrew, the sixth Earl of Hyndford, whose estate and residence were in the county of Lanark, on the side of the famous river Clyde; hence he named the horses the Clydesdale breed. The Earl of Hyndford brought two mares, both grey, from Flanders about the year 1795. One of the mares was in foal, and luckily it was a horse foal and was kept for breeding purposes. One of the mares was larger than the other, but the progeny and descendants of the small one were all the best. After the breed had been established some short time, there was a great demand for them in England, particularly in Cumberland. There was an entire horse named ‘Sticker’, sold by James Muir, Bowhouse, Carmichael, Lanarkshire, my grandfather, and who was at that time a tenant of the above-named Earl of Hyndford to go to Cumberland, from which are descended the famous grey horses for which that county is celebrated. Some of them I might mention, Mr. Louden Clanston, of Abington, his grey horse, bred by Mr. Philips, of Crancomb, in Cumberland; likewise Phillips’ gray horse ‘Merry Tom’ —

horse which never was conquered in a show yard. After the death of the above named Earl of Hyndford, which took place in 1817 his horses, mares, and other effects were sold by auction. My father bought a mare at the sale, a foal of one of the mares brought from Flanders, from which he bred the famous mares known in Scotland as the Sornfallow grey mares. There are several gentlemen in this colony who know them very well, viz. William Carmichael, of Harton Hills, Hamilton; George Carmichael, Esq., of Retreat Station, and the Messrs. Dougall, of Ascot. Likewise I daresay you will have observed that most if not all of the good draught horses in this colony, if bay or black, have a white hair through them; also a good many white hairs in their manes and tails indeed the manes and tails of the well-bred ones are nearly grey. There is no doubt that this is traceable back to their grey origin, and as I heard you speak of going or sending to Scotland for some of the pure breed of Clydesdales, I can tell you who has the pure breed of those grey mares; likewise who has the large breed of them, and who has the small breed of them. But I beg of you not to think, when I mention the small breed, that they were small horses. Far from it; they were big strong horses, on strong short legs. I could write you far more about the Clydesdale horses, but I will give you more particulars when I see you. While I am, dear Sir, respectfully yours; JAMES MUIR. To Lawrence Dugdale, Springfield, Myrniong.

The Ballarat Star Thursday 7th September 1882. Courtesy Trove (NLA).

CRESWICK DISTRICT PLOUGHING MATCH.

Judges — Classes A, B, and C — Messrs J. Trewin, Troup, and J. McDowall. Classes D, E, and F - Messrs. Anderson, W. Dougall and T. Atkins.

Leader (Melbourne) Saturday 27th January 1883 Courtesy Trove (NLA).

THE SPRINGVALE HORSE SALE - CLYDESDALE MARES and FILLIES, Duchess, chestnut filly, 5 yrs., by Cox’s Prince of Wales (imp.), dam by Watson’s Prince — W. Dougall ……………41gns

Princess Royal, bay mare, 6yrs., by Cox’s Prince of Wales (imp.), dam Jess, by Blackleg (Imp.) W. Dougall …...... ….35gn Leader (Melbourne) Saturday 29th August 1891 Courtesy Trove (NLA).

THE CLYDESDALE HORSE By J. L. THOMPSON, Principal HAWKESBURY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

Clydesdales of the very highest quality have been imported into these colonies for many years. In the early days, Mr. David Nisbett, alias “ Scotch Jock”, who was quite a character in his way, brought out annually large numbers. Mr. J. C. Canpbell, the well-known and respected

auctioneer. Kirk’s Bazaar, informs me that the late George Carimichal, of the Retreat Station, Casterton, was the first in Victoria to import Clydesdales direct from Scotland. His first stallion, was named Farmers Favourite. The late Mr.Neil Black of Terang; Mr. George Russell, of the Leigh; and Mr. Dougall of Ascot, were all early importers;

The shaded area on the left is the Mount Franklin Estate, owned by William Dougall, with the darker area being the original site of the Aboriginal Protectorate. The shaded area on the right shows the farm site of James Albert Dougall (third son of William), below the northern slopes of Mt Franklin.

Below is an article from the Melbourne Leader, which gives a fairly detailed account of the location and size of the Mt Franklin Estate and of William’s farming practices.

The Melbourne Leader Saturday 15th August 1874. Courtesy Trove (NLA).

THE MOUNT FRANKLIN DISTRICT. From our travelling reporter.

The Mount Franklin district is situated on the northern fall of the dividing range, between Daylesford and Castlemaihe, and forms portions of the broken and mountainous locality known as the Jim Crow. It is reached most handily via Castlemaine, thence seven miles to Guildford on the Maryborough line. From Guildford a coach runs daily in connection with the train to and from Daylesford, sixteen miles, passing Mount Franklin half way. Between Guildford and Mount Franklin the road passes through the Yandoit district which consists of quartz ranges not so high or abrupt as those nearer the divide, covered with tolerable grass, and running in the numerous gullies into good-sized alluvial patches. This land has been chiefly taken up by selection, the ranges being utilized for grazing and the flats for cultivation, as the many healthy-looking plots of crops indicate. Occasionally also through breaks in the timber a well-kept garden and orchard may be seen in connection with the homestead, and not unfrequently a promising looking young vineyard. The settlers in this part comprise among their number a considerable proportion of Italians, who are spoken of by their English neighbors as being a class notable for their industry and for being well up generally in matters pertaining to the tillage of the soil. Passing the Yandoit public-house, which is the postal centre and stopping place for the coach, Franklinford is soon reached, containing the usual store,

public-house, blacksmith's shop, church, and school, that constitute so many of our country townships. Here, without any falling, off, but rather an increase in the broken and thickly timbered character of the surrounding country, the soil suddenly changes to a rich chocolate, thickly covered with loose basalt. The greater age of the settlement on this good land is also apparent by the tottering condition of the old post and rail fences, which are now in many cases being replaced by substantially and neatly built dry stone walls. Two miles further along from the township the road passes Mount Franklin, at the foot and extending partly up the side of which lies the property of Mr. William Dougall. This property will be better known to old colonists as having been formerly occupied by Mr. Parker, the blacks' protector. The mount was named by Sir John Franklin while the guest of Mr. Parker, before starting on his Arctic expedition. Previously the mount bore the native name of Llalgambook, or home of the emu. From the top of this extinct volcano, which is 4000 feet above the level of the sea, one of the finest views in the colony is obtained, and for this purpose it is a favorite resort of pleasure seekers from Castlemaine. A specialty of the mount is the variety of trees with which its sides and top are covered. The topmost peak is surmounted by one of the cairns of the geodetic survey, sheer down from the side of which the extinct crater falls, forming a vast basin thickly covered like the rest of the surrounding country with timber. Amongst the more notable peaks that stand out boldly in the view are the Blue Mountains, and Mounts Macedon, Alexander, and Glasgow, with Mounts Emu and Korong in the distance. One of the most interesting features in the view is the plain manner in which the flow of the lava (which is now the farming country) can be traced as it runs in all directions, filling up and converting into fertile flats what were previously gullies similar in ruggedness and barrenness to those in the vicinity. The volcanic soil, being red and devoid of trees, contrasts in a marked manner with the old formation, which crops up in places, dividing the farms from each other by slate-covered barren timbered ridges. A fine view of the various diggings is also obtained, and the manner in which they occupy the intervening ranges between the farming country from Creswick across the Smeaton and Daylesford districts to Castlemaine, while occasional shafts among the farms show where the leads have been sought for in their way across the auriferous country covered by the most recent volcanic formation. Mr. Dougall's farm is the largest in the district, comprising the pre-emptive sections of the blacks' station, and 298 acres in addition, or 938 acres in all. Of this, 400 acres are of the old formation, used as natural forest grazing land, and 538 are of the volcanic soil, which has all been broken up for cultivation, the most of it over twenty years ago. 784 acres of the property was purchased seven years ago for £4810, the remainder having been added since at a similar rate, and the proprietor is not unwilling that it should be stated that the purchase money has been earned by farming in Victoria. Mr. Dougall and his brother, while in partnership at Ascot, farmed extensively in the early times, and are among the earliest importers into the colony of first-class draught stud stock and breeders there from. This branch of farming they found very remunerative for a period, but eventually relinquished through heavy losses by deaths. The business carried on by Mr. Dougall at present is buying store cattle and fattening them for market, together with a small portion of agriculture. Last year he harvested 135 acres, previous to which he regularly farmed 200, but this season his arable operations have been reduced to 35 acres of wheat and 15 of oats. His reasons for this are, 1st. The extreme badness of the roads to market. 2nd. The fact that the present wet cycle which is so favorable to farming in the colony generally is unfavorable to Mount Franklin, which gives the best crops in a dry year ; 3rd. The difficulty of obtaining a supply of the proper kind of farming

labor, all the useful men having settled upon selections of their own under the new Land Act. In connection with this, Mr. Dougall refers to his earlier farming career, when he can recollect having amongst his hands four men, any of whom were competent, if required, to take the entire management of the farm. Now, he states it is difficult to obtain the services of a man that can be trusted with the working of an ordinary pair of farm-horses. 4th. The adaptability of the property for grazing, together with the remunerative nature of the industry without requiring much expenditure for labor. The district generally, by reason of its mountain and forest surroundings, is moist, having a large rainfall, while at the same time the soil is full of springs. These springs are most abundant on farms near the foot of Mount Franklin, or of the smaller hills which surround it; When Mr. Dougall took possession of the farm he found a small patch of rye-grass which had been in existence for many years (having been sown by Mr. Parker), and from this he has been propagating seed and annually sowing down a portion with it and cowgrass mixed. There are 355 acres thus sown, including the 60 acres sown with the crop, and the entire farm is at present carrying 200 head of full-grown beasts in various stages of condition from store to fat. The 135 acres which were in crop last year and sown down have not yet been opened to the stock, as it has been found profitable to give the sward a substantial start before letting heavy cattle upon it. This will be opened in the spring, when 50 head additional will then be brought on. Mr. Dougall's grazing transactions for the last twelve months show that, in round figures, £400 worth of stores have been purchased and sold off fat for £900, the working expenses being very light. These returns it is proposed to very considerably increase as the improvements being carried out approach completion. These embrace, drainage, more sowing down, and the further subdivision of the property, which is at present divided into fifteen fields, chiefly with posts and rails. All the new fences, and the old ones where they want renewing, are being constructed of dry stone walling, the gauge of which is 4 feet high, sloping from 3 feet wide at the base to 6 inches at the top, on which is then placed a layer of large stone overlapping and forming a 6 inch coping. This costs 12s.per chain for erection, exclusive of putting the stones on the line. On this sort of land the importance of draining as a reproductive improvement can hardly be over-estimated. What little has been done by Mr. Dougall exhibits an improvement as compared with the adjoining pasture equal to a carrying capability of at least double. The filling of the drains to within a foot or 18 inches of the surface with small stones is the method adopted, and the abundance of this kind of material in the district is highly favorable to the extensive carrying out of this valuable .means of increasing the productiveness and consequently the value of the land. Along with these improvements Mr. Dougall contemplates the purchase of some first-class shorthorn stud cattle, and the conversion of the farm into a breeding establishment as the risk of buying cattle with contagious diseases is, under the present system, too great.

The above article mentions that the Mount Franklin Estate was previously owned by Edward Stone Parker, who operated the property as the local Aboriginal Protectorate, for the Dja Dja Wurrung people. Below is an interesting account of a corroboree held at the property during the time of Mr. Parker, some twenty years before William’s occupation.

Mount Alexander Mail Thursday 23rd August 1883. Courtesy Trove (NLA). AN ABORIGINAL CORROBOREE AT FRANKLINFORD. (BY AN OLD IDENTITY.)

It was in the month of November, 1843, that I first had the pleasure of witnessing an aboriginal corroboree, held on a large scale, in what is called now the township of Franklinford. I have witnessed corroborees in Sydney, Adelaide, and Queensland, and I can safely say that it equalled anything that ever I saw. Franklinford was but an insignificant place then as far as houses and the European population were concerned. There were the black protector's station, the residence of Mr. Parker and his family, outhouse built of slab and bark for the men, shepherd's huts, a blacksmith, wheelwright, and saddler's shop, a school for which there was a teacher to instruct the blacks, and a church in which we had divine service twice a day on Sundays. The church was so small that half the blacks could not get inside, and Mr. Parker frequently had to mount a stump outside, and address his "congregation." He possessed the most consummate skill in the art of persuasion, and with one look or wave of the hand the blacks would submit to him, although sometimes they were very treacherous. It was laughable to see the muster every Sunday morning of 50 or 60 blacks rolled up in blankets, marching off to church. Church being over, Jumbuck, "the King," would receive instructions what to do, and the crowd would disperse. At this time they used to grow wheat in what they call the "swamp paddock;" and they ground it somewhere close by. The land was in its virgin state and yielded from 70 to 100 bushels per acre. The natives were always kept at work, and at times Mr. Parker had great difficulty in keeping them to their work. One Sunday afternoon he and his family were taken by surprise, and had just time to run upstairs and fire out of the loop-holes, they had expressly made, on 50 or 60 blacks. A few spears came in return, but fell harmlessly. Eventually the blacks were dispersed, and ever after that they never attempted to storm the station. Governor Latrobe was up just then and King Jumbuck was dressed up in black clothes and high hat. He boldly came forward and shook hands with his Excellency, remarking that he was "All'ee same brother King." He was, he said, 100 years old, and stated that when his father was a young man, he saw smoke issuing from the summit of Mount Franklin, and that it was on fire—which was a black lie. The Governor was heartily pleased with the old man, and allowed him a small pension as long as he lived. It was not very long afterwards when he died, and was buried in his blanket and a rough made box, somewhere down the swamp, and a young gum tree was planted over the grave as a mark of respect for the deceased king. Blacks came from all quarters so as to make the corroboree more imposing. Making our way to the camp, which was close to the station, we were attracted by the lights and the barking of dogs of which there were about three hundred. On nearing the camp, we found it pitched in a circle of about 70 yards circumference, a large and very good likeness of a "sea serpent," about 20 feet long, made of bark, so as to resemble one in every degree, near to one side of the circle. Having arrived some minutes before the corroboree commenced, we could see dark forms flitting about, some with fire sticks and spears, flashing them before the serpent with the velocity of lightning, while further in the background, in the dark, a wild unearthly, concentrated scream of about a hundred voices would make your blood curdle, and the scream would be answered immediately in an opposite direction by a similar series of yells. The beating of nullah nullahs, and boomerangs as an accompaniment, formed the orchestra, while the lighting of a large fire near the serpent served for the rising of the curtain. When the fire burned up brightly enough, we could see in the distance a row of the most hideous looking women and girls that you could gaze on. They were painted in the most grotesque and ridiculous manner, and were sitting on a long pole, which was held up with long forked sticks. After a while the females, old and young, in alternate rows sidled over to where the musicians were, and sat down, and all raised their voices in the chorus. At this time the fire was burning fiercely, and peering away in the darkness we saw, emerging from the trees, a procession of painted savages in single file, each

armed with a spear. About every ten yards they all gave a yell similar to that at the commencement. This continued until the whole of them were in view in a sort of half circle, but keeping clear of the serpent. The shouting and beating of nullah nullahs, and the gins, young and old, keeping up the chant, and beating time on their old blankets, made a regular pandemonium. This was the best view we had of the performers, in their paint and feathers. Many of them had their hair all stuck with parrots' and cockatoos' feathers. No two of them were painted exactly alike, and in some instances they were most artistically done up. In their mouths they had pieces of white or red stuff to resemble flowers. In this manner they all proceeded round to where there was a sapling laid across two sticks, and against this were laid up two long poles, on which the foremost began to ascend coming down the nearest side on his back, the whole of the procession following suit, to the most excruciating screams. This ended act the first, and on again coming into the light the performers had an entirely new step, which chiefly consisted in stamping as if to discover how far they could put their feet through the earth. They kept excellent time. On nearing the serpent this time they, for the first time, appeared to be aware of its presence, and pretended to be awfully frightend, running backwards and forwards, but growing bolder each time, until at last they touched it, when an unearthly scream from the whole lot burst into the midnight air. Then followed such feats of agility and somersaults backwards, as I seldom or never saw equalled. This continued for some time, until at last one more daring than the rest got astride the serpent and another put his hand in its mouth, and. then everyone in the crowd ventured to touch it. Just as the moon appeared in the eastern horizon she shed a glow of bright light on the serpent, when all at once you could see the dark form of a savage coming out from underneath. At this sudden apparition the whole lot bounded away, but before they got five yards, a loud noise was heard like the shot of a gun, and you could see a shoot of clear, red fire leaping upwards in heavy coils from the serpent. An immense fountain of sparks was hurled up, which filled the air with spangles,that floated gently away upon the smoke, and in a short time the whole of the serpent was consumed. We shall never again see such a sight as that, I and a few others, still alive, witnessed in 1843, at Franklin.

Group of Dja Dja Wurrung aborigines at the Mt Franklin Estate when Edward Stone Parker was Protector of Aborigines

William offered valued advice and financial assistance to his brother Thomas, who had left “Kerse”, the Ascot property in 1864, when he purchased his own property “Springvale” (previously named Walnaring), from James and Mary Quinn, (grandparents of the infamous bushranger, Ned Kelly), at Wallan Wallan.

Mount Franklin Estate March 17th 1873

Dear Thomas

Yours of the 18th Feb to hand in due course If your land is laying well in my opinion the Grubber will give you as good a bed for Grass seed and Clover as the plough. I would recommend you to try some clover grass as a pasture it is not to be surpassed I am still of the opinion that the Edwards Grubber is the best that I have seen or used My crop was middling this year it will go about 18 bushels per acre. Since Feb 27th I have sold cattle off this place to the settlement of £433 I have got about 120 head on the place yet besides working Bullocks I sold one pair working bullocks at £25 without gear. I broke in 7 of the same lot 2 year ago and paid £26 for the lot that will pay. I sold another pair at £22 that stood me £10 5s.when I bought them. I had a letter from Adam this mail which I send you likewise John had one from Wm Hamilton which I send you. John has bought that grass paddock opposite their old place 266 acres £1000 I expect him and the wife and family over tomorrow for Daylesford Show likewise Wm Anderson and wife and some of their family so we are going to have great doings.

Yours truly, William Dougall

William was also appointed a Justice of the Peace, and acted in this capacity for several years. At that time, JP’s sat as Magistrates and made rulings on some very serious matters, including murders, suicides, assaults, drunkenness and theft, to name a few. The population of Franklinford was quite small, but the surrounding district and his jurisdiction was more heavily populated. It was still, in the 1870’s and 1880’s, a pretty rough and ready environment, with itinerant miners and drifters, prostitutes and con artists etc. There were many different nationalities represented on the goldfields also, and I can imagine that William was faced with some fairly traumatic (sometimes humorous) cases. As an example, I’ve included the following details of a suicide case over which he presided.

Mount Alexander Mail Wednesday 22nd November 1882 Courtesy Trove (NLA). SUICIDE AT FRANKLINFORD

The, vicinity of Franklinford was thrown into, consternation on Saturday last, when it was brought forth that Martin Minogue, an elderly man, following the a vocation of coach proprietor, and also, driving the coach between Daylesford and Guildford, had brought his .life to an untimely end by means of strychnine. The report proved only too true, and from the facts collated, the circumstances of the case would appear to be as follow: Some few days ago the deceased called upon Mr..Bewley of the Daylesford Dispensary, and after making some small, purchases asked for a little strychnine, wherewith to poison a dog, which he remarked was getting too old to live. A conversation ensued, in the course of which Minogue forgot his request and went away. On Friday last, however, he again called upon Mr. Bewley, who, on Minogue repeating his request, gave him about two grains of strychnine. On this occasion the deceased

was very particular about the manner in which the poison was wrapped and accordingly Mr. Bewley put an extra wrapper around it. Minogue then went away. On Saturday morning, Minogue appears to have paid a visit to Mr. Colquhoun's Hotel, at Franklinford, and obtained first some brandy and then some beer, which latter he took home with him. At about eleven o'clock, when Minogue was in the kitchen, he suddenly called out to his daughter, and on her coming told her that he had taken poison, pointing to the glass of beer which still contained some of the liquor. The girl considerably frightened, summoned her brother-in-law who, in his turn, ran to fetch Mr. Colquhoun. On that gentleman's arrival, the poison had already begun to work, but he nevertheless attempted to arrest its progress by mean of a mustard emetic. In this, however, he was unsuccessful, the unfortunate and rash man expiring in great pain within half an hour of when he revealed the dreadful news to his daughter. Before he died, the foolish man confessed to Mr. Colquhoun that he had taken poison purposely, adding in extenuation that he was tired of life, that the mail was not paying, and that his crops and land had all gone wrong. The matter was duly reported to Mounted Constable Ryan at Yandoit, and a magisterial enquiry was held on Sunday morning, before Mr. W. Dougall JP. Miss Minogue gave evidence as to her father telling her that he had taken, poison, and Mr. Colquhoun, to finding the rash man in convulsions. Mr. Bewley deposed to the poison having been obtained at his establishment. Dr. Macgregor, who was also present, deposed that having made a post-mortem examination he found the lungs healthy, but the heart was weak and flabby. The liver was much diseased, whilst there was a little food in the stomach. In his opinion death was caused by strychnine poisoning. His worship considering the evidence sufficient, returned a decision of death from strychnine poisoning, whilst in a state of temporary insanity.

William’s first wife Caroline, died on 21st November 1878, leaving him to care for their four surviving children. Jessie aged eight. Thomas aged six. Frank aged four and Carrie just 15 months old. He married again, to Agnes Scott Tait on 20th July 1880. A daunting task for Agnes, a previously single woman, thirty seven years of age, taking on the role of mother to four such young children. It may have been only three, as it seems probable that Jessie had already moved, or was soon to move, to South Australia in the care of her Auntie (Caroline’s sister) and namesake, Jessie Brown.

William with Thomas, Caroline and Frank

Agnes Scott Tait was born 16th May 1843 and married William Dougall on the 20th July 1880 at the home of her mother, Elizabeth Bell Tait in Emerald Hill (modern day South Melbourne). The Australasian (Melbourne) Saturday 24th July 1880. Courtesy Trove (NLA) DOUGALL – TAIT – On the 20th inst., at the residence of the bride's mother, 65 Cecil-street, Emerald Hill, by the Rev. Chas. Bell, William Dougall of Mount Franklin Estate, to Agnes Scott, eldest surviving daughter of the late Peter Tait, Esq., ex-convener (of Trades) of the city of Perth, Scotland.

Agnes Scott Tait William Dougall They had four children together, twin sons Adam and John were born in 1881. Adam died at one day old and John at 11 months. James Albert was born in 1883 and Cyril Ernest in 1887. Agnes was a music teacher before she was married. She migrated to Australia, with her parents, Peter and Elizabeth Tait, in 1860. Her brother Alexander Tait was a prominent Melbourne identity and operated a successful mail order business in Elizabeth Street Melbourne, for fifty seven years, and another in Flinders Street, under the name of Alexander Tait & Sons. He was also a Melbourne City Councillor for 10 years, and a member of the Flagstaff Gardens and Princes Park Bowling Clubs.

Weekly Times (Melbourne) Saturday 18th August 1928 Courtesy Trove (NLA).

Alex Tait

Alexander Tait, who has been playing bowls for over 40 years, celebrated his 82nd birthday last Tuesday. For many years he was a member of the City Club (Flagstaff Gardens), but now belongs to the Princes Park Club. Although Tait never entered for early championship events he has been successful in the minor tourneys, and has won 14 trophies. Two of these were for veteran bowlers. The second one offered by the Auburn Heights Club and one offered by the City Club. For some years Tait did not enter the pennant campaign, but having submitted to pressure by his club, will be playing again in the coming season. Regarding the controversy on the bias of the howls he has strong opinions against any alteration, and thinks any change quite unnecessary. He is also of opinion that bowls tends to longevity, and his present condition of health supports that view. Besides his business activities, Tait has had time for civic life, and for 10 years was a member of the Melbourne City Council. He arrived in Victoria in 1866, from Scotland, and only wishes that he had joined the recent delegation, as he would have told the young men across the sea that with sound principles, ambition and application, they would, be bound to succeed in Australia. He has been in business in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, for 57 years and has a second establishment in Flinders Street.

In 1884,William and Agnes were going through a tumultuous time, Agnes having returned to Melbourne with her brother in March 1884, following domestic issues with William.

1884 - Dougall Family & Carriage in the Driveway of their Home, Mount Franklin, This photo is held at Museum Victoria, and although it offers a glimpse of the façade of the Mt Franklin Estate homestead, I believe the family pictured, to be the Thomas Dougall’s of Wallan Wallan. Daughter Jane and Thomas Snr., riding in the carriage, Mary standing and either Thomas Jnr., Hugh or John driving. (Probably Thomas Jnr.) The photo is dated 1884. After five years of marriage, Agnes applied to the court for a divorce in March 1885, and below is a rather lengthy account of the proceedings as reported in the press of the time. Mount Alexander Mail Tuesday 17 March 1885 Courtesy Trove (NLA).

DOUGALL V DOUGALL In the Melbourne Divorce Court yesterday, before His Honour Judge Higinbotham, a petition by Agnes Scott Dougall, for judicial separation from William Dougall and for the custody of children, was heard. Dr. Madden and Mr. Neighbour appeared for the petitioner, instructed by Messrs. Gillott and Snowden. Mr. Purves and Mr.Topp instructed by Mr. Geake, were for the respondent. Agnes Scott Dougall the petitioner, said- I was married to the respondent; William Dougall on 20th July 1880, at Cecil Street Emerald Hill, by the Rev; Charles Bell, Presbyterian minister. He is a farmer, having a farm at Mount Franklinford, near Daylesford. The respondent was a widower, and has four children by his former marriage. Shortly after the marriage, we went home to Franklinford and lived happy together for a few months, when differences arose about his children. In July 1881, twins were born, and from that time the respondent was continually grumbling and growling. It was in March 1882, that the first act of violence took place. The respondent interfered with the children, and thrust her violently out of the room. On the following Easter Monday, when I was putting the baby to bed the respondent said another child, Carrie,(daughter of his first wife who was about six years old), wanted to go to bed. I said the baby must go to bed first. He jumped up, seized me by the throat, and pushed me out of the room, hurting me considerably, and causing me to scream. His two boys came in, saw us struggling in the passage, and ran out again. In August 1882, the respondent pushed the baby out of bed. I told him to get up. He said — "What did you say", and, rushing at me, gave me two or three blows with his fist, on the head. In October 1882, I came to Melbourne with one of my children who was sick and died. I returned on 17th November. On Christmas morning after breakfast, the respondent looked at me in a jeering manner, and said, “I wish you a merry Christmas mother", I replied that it was not a very merry Christmas to me. He said, with a jeering observation, " Ho, Ho, Ho". About a week after the respondent ordered me to pack up to go to Melbourne. I told him that there was plenty of time and next month, would do. He said, "Be off. I don't want you here”. She went to Melbourne, and in March a child was born. During my absence, letters , passed between us. I went home in April 1883, and. was very coolly received by my husband, who did not kiss me, or even shake hands with me. After this, his manner was indifferent, and. his language cross. In August 1883, one evening after tea, we were talking of an election. I told him I had heard that he would.be defeated, and that if I were he, I would let his opponent get in. He swore at me, and said he would run me to glory if he got in. He then drew back his hand as if to strike me. The servant, Emily Basset, ran in, and he ordered her out. In February 1884, the respondent rushed at me, and pushed me out of the room with the baby in my arms, ordering me into my room. He dragged me very roughly about the passage, and in dragging me about, the baby's head got knocked against the wall. Then he knocked us both down. He put the baby in a cot as it was screaming, and upon the servant girl coming in, he ordered her out. He then dragged me into my own bedroom, threw me on the bed, knelt on me, and gave me several blows. I was black behind the ear, and there were bruises, on my arms and neck. I rushed.at the door to get out. He came after me, and was dragging me into the room again. I tried to get away, and he tripped me with his foot. I fell, with him on top of me. Then he caught me by the feet and dragged me by them into the passage and back into the bedroom. I was screaming all the time. I struggled to get away, and did succeed at last. The last assault took place on the 26th March 1884. She had slightly slapped Carrie, one of the children, for allowing the baby to get its fingers jammed in the door. The respondent just then came in and asked Carrie what was the matter. She said that the petitioner had slapped her for not minding the child. The respondent then rushed at her, and struck her

several times with his closed fist. This caused her head to swell, and she had since been dull of hearing. She sought refuge, first at the dairy, and then at an hotel, from whence she telegraphed to her brother. After remaining at the hotel all night she went home to prevent a scandal, but found the doors locked against her. After a delay, however, the respondent admitted her. The next morning she, at his request, cleaned his boots, and he left to sit on the bench of magistrates at Yandoit. That day her brother came up and she went back with him. When the assault was committed, she was in a delicate state of health, and a child had since been born. She bad never struck her husband, nor was she aware of having broken his spectacle., Nor did she try to. She never either kicked the respondent or tried to do so on the occasion of the cruelty in March 1882. Her husband was dressing a wound in his little boy’s leg, caused by having staked himself. She subsequently ordered her husband and the boy out of the room. Mr. Purves:- Do you think you had a right to do this? The Petitioner:- Yes. Mr. Purves:- Did you start married life on the principle that you had a right to order your husband out of his own room. The Petitioner:- Yes, under the circumstances . Mr Purves:- What were the circumstances? The Petitioner:- I wanted to do the room up. Mr. Purves:- Well had not he had a right to do his own child's hair up? Mr. Purves:- Did your husband drink ? The Petitioner:- I believe he did. Mr. Purves:- Did you drink? The Petitioner:- I may have done so. Mr. Purves:- What did you drink? The Petitioner:- Milk very often. (Laughter). Mr. Purves:- Oh, Mrs. Dougall, that won't do. I see you see the joke yourself. You are laughing all over your face. The petitioner said she had drunk ale and wine sometimes. Mr. Purves:- I have a list of the things supplied. His Honour:- Were either of you, at the time of the alleged assaults, under the influence of drink? The Petitioner:- No. Mr. Purves:- When your husband dragged you by the hair of the head, did it come out. In these cases there is generally a lot produced. Enough, to stuff a mattress with. The Petitioner:- I don't think any came out. Mr Purves:- How far did he pull you? The Petitioner:- Three or four yards. She believed that the respondent wilfully pushed the child out of bed. She did not think her husband was asleep at the time, though his eyes were closed, as the child was laughing beside him. Before writing to her husband she copied the letters she sent, but she could not say what for. She never saw the letters she wrote to her husband in his possession. Mr. Purves cross examined the petitioner at some length. Coming to her observation to her husband about his probable unsuccess at his election, he said:- " I suppose that roused his Scotch blood”? The Petitioner:- Yes Mr. Purves. Well, I believe politics do affect the mildest constitutions. The cross examination of the petitioner had not concluded when the Court adjourned until today.

Mount Alexander Mail Wednesday 18 March 1885.Courtesy Trove (NLA). DOUGALL V DOUGALL.

In the Divorce Court Melbourne yesterday, the hearing of this suit was resumed by the cross examination of Mrs. Dougall. She had a sister staying with her at Mount Franklin. This was not against her husband's desire. She did not consider her husband treated anyone properly. She had stopped at Gartmere Cottage, Havelock Street St, Kilda. There was a Miss

White there. She did not tell Miss White to write to Mr. Dougall, and say that the petitioner would be glad to see Mr. Dougall at St. Kilda. If such a message was sent, it was without her knowledge. Re-examined by Mr. Madden: She was never drunk. Her husband never suggested that| she was and never complained of liquor being brought into the house. She had been employed by the late Mrs. Lawes as governess to her children, and had received testimonial of good character. His Honour decided that the document was not admissible in evidence. Dr. Durst said he attended the petitioner in March 1884 at her mother’s residence. She had black eyes, cut nose and injured finger, and bruised lips, caused apparently by twisting. The hearing of the left ear was also much duller than the right one. The injuries appeared to be the results of blows on the head. William Williamson, licensee of the Mount Franklin Hotel, said that on the 26th March 1884, Mrs Dougall came to his house. She had a black eye, and there was blood on her face and clothes and on her baby's clothes. Alexander Tait, an outfitter, brother of the petitioner, having given evidence, closed .the petitioner's case. Mr. Purves applied to His Honour, to non-suit the petitioner, on the ground that the evidence did not bear out the prayer of the petition. His Honour ruled that the objection must be taken when the evidence had closed. Respondent said that he first met the petitioner at the Spencer Street railway station, Melbourne, under the clock. That was in consequence of an appointment, being made between them to meet there. In July 1880, about three months after that meeting, they were married. He had not seen much of his wife before marriage. After marriage, he took her to Mount Franklin, and they lived there until March 1884, when they separated. At first after marriage, they lived happily together. In 1881, after their first child was born, he noticed a change in his wife's demeanour towards him. His wife was at times distant with him from three months after their marriage. After the birth of their first child he noticed that the petitioner was unkind to his children by his first wife, and remonstrated with her on the subject. In February or March 1881, when his child Carrie was ill, the respondent neglected her, and did not attend to her in a motherly way, but sent the servant to look after her. He had. to call in a doctor and nurse, and they said that the child was suffering from insufficient nourishment. In March 1884, he had a dispute with his wife. He had taken his son Tom, a child from his first wife, into his bedroom to dress a wound the boy had sustained at play. His wife came in and told him to leave the room. He said he would not go. She insisted on his leaving the room and he asked her, ''How can you be so unkind a mother?’ And told her to go out, motioning with his hand towards the door. She left the room and he finished dressing the boy's wound. It was untrue that, on that occasion he seized her by the back of the hair, and dragged her out of the room. He might have touched her with his hands, without any force, when motioning her towards the door. On Easter Monday 1882, the respondent refused to put his child Carrie to bed, before putting her own baby to sleep. He put his two hands on her shoulders and pushed her into a bedroom, and there again, asked her to put Carrie to bed. He did not catch her by the throat and drag her into the passage. She made a noise, a bit of a scream, but did not cry, "Murder". At this stage the further hearing of the case was adjourned until today.

The Argus (Melbourne) Wednesday 18 March 1885 Courtesy Trove (NLA). HAPPILY SETTLED - The statement in the case of Dougall v.Dougall in the Divorce Court on Wednesday, where the wife sought to obtain a judicial separation from the husband on the ground of cruelty, was (says the Herald) brought about in a very accidental way, and through

the unconscious instrumentality of an attorney not interested in the case. The petitioner and the respondent were seated at the bar table opposite to their respective counsel, but separated by three or four feet. No one was sitting between them. While the case was proceeding an attorney entered the court on business of his own, and took a seat at the table on the attorney's bench. Room was courteously made for him, and the result was that Mr., and Mrs, Dougall wore forced side by side with one another. It is said that telegraphic signals, unobserved by anyone but themselves, passed between them, and when the adjournment for lunch took place the pair made up all their differences. A deal was drawn up, in which the parties agreed to live together again. Why a deed should be necessary it would puzzle anyone but a lawyer to tell. Why not have a clergyman and a new marriage. Judge Higinbotham expressed his pleasure at hearing that the parties had settled their differences.

If the story is to be believed, we must accept that it discloses one side of the story only. William was not questioned, so his side is not known. I don’t intend to defend him, but it appears he told Agnes to go away and don’t come back, and her response was to ask for a divorce, intimating she was happy with that arrangement. Other reports hint that Agnes gave as much as she received and that she was physically violent towards William. Who knows? It may be presumed that they had a tempestuous relationship, but that love prevailed. They did live together for a further 20 years, following the court case. Agnes was asked if she drank. Her first reply was – milk. She obviously had a sense of humour. Her second response was yes to alcohol. Maybe they both had a problem with alcohol. I don’t condone violence in any circumstance, to anybody, but it’s strange how we accept and forgive certain behaviour from our partners. Sometimes our heart dominates our brain. In today’s society (2018), we accept that Post Traumatic Syndrome Disorder is responsible for certain behaviour, and maybe William was a victim. He had been under threat from natives throwing spears at him, he found the mutilated body of a colleague, he suffered the deprivation of camping in a hostile wilderness, the climate of the tropics, the disharmony of the members of the Northern Expedition. There was no recognition, sympathy or assistance back then. Having reunited, Agnes and William apparently resided together harmoniously, until William’s death in 1903. At least, there appears to be no more sensational newspaper articles to the contrary, although Agnes did challenge William’s will.

The Argus (Melbourne) Saturday 4th July 1903. Courtesy Trove (NLA).

Early on Tuesday morning Mr. William Dougall, the proprietor of the Mount Franklin Estate, Franklinford, and a local justice of the peace, died after but a few hours illness. On Tuesday he was in his usual health. Deceased was a native of Hamilton, Scotland, and has been residing in the district for very many years. He has a brother residing at Ascot. Mr. Dougall leaves a widow and grown-up family. His son, Mr. W. F. Dougall, is a member of the Mount Franklin Shire Council.

The Age (Melbourne) Saturday 11th July 1903. Courtesy Trove (NLA).

MRS. W. DOUGALL and FAMILY desire to express their sincere thanks to their numerous friends for their kind expressions of .sympathy, telegrams, cards and letters of condolence during

their recent sudden bereavement. Also to Dr. Adam and the Rev. J. A. Millar Smith for their kindness and unremitting attention during Mr. Dougall’s last illness. “The Willows”, Mount Franklin Estate, Franklinford.

The Argus (Melbourne) Saturday 2nd July 1904. Courtesy Trove (NLA).

DOUGALL—In loving memory of our dear father, who died at Mount Franklin Estate July 3, 1903. (Inserted by his loving children, T. W., W. F., and C. Dougall).

The comment below is from Dick Dougall’s web-site ‘Dougall Family History’. – Introduction.

“Harold Bruce (also known as Peter) told me his grandfather, William, had a long beard and that is what identifies him in the photos we have. He said his grandfather died of hi-coughs brought on by imbibing”. Harold Bruce (Peter) Dougall is the son of Cyril Ernest Dougall, who was the youngest child of William and Agnes Dougall. An interesting observation!

William died on the 3rd July 1903, and at that time, Agnes lived at the Mount Franklin Estate, Franklinford with Caroline Mary Paterson Dougall (daughter of Willian and Caroline), William Franklin Dougall, (son of William and Caroline) and his wife, Wilhelmina. Their daughter Helene (Nell) Caroline was one year old, and James Albert and Cyril Ernest, sons of Agnes and William, were probably there also. They would have been aged 20 and 16 years respectively. Agnes obviously felt hard done by with the terms of settlement in William’s will and subsequently lodged a legal challenge, the consequence of which, I’m not privy. So perhaps some animosity did remain. Mount Alexander Mail Friday 7th August 1903. Courtesy Trove (NLA). The Late William Dougall - HIS WILL CHALLENGED. Melbourne. Thursday. Mr. William Dougall of Mount Franklin, farmer and grazier, who died on the 3rd inst., left Estate valued at 17, 788 pounds, and a will disposing of same, dated January 11th, 1902. By the will testator left his wife, Agnes, an annuity of 80 pounds during her widowhood, and an annuity of 40 pounds should she re marry. Bequests of I000 pounds to testator's sons, J. A. Dougall and C. E. Dougall, on their attaining the age of 25 years, are provided for; and the executors are directed to invest I500 pounds for testator's daughter, Caroline. The balance of the estate is to be divided between T. W. Dougall and W. F. Dougall sons of testator and executors of his will. Today a caveat was lodged against the will on behalf of Agnes Dougall by Messrs Lynch and McDonald, solicitors.

The inscription reads:- Erected by William Dougall of Mt Franklin Estate In affectionate remembrance of His beloved wife Caroline Died 21st Nov 1878 aged 35 years

And also the above William Dougall died at Mt Franklin Estate July 3rd 1903 aged 72 A colonist of 51 years

I first saw this headstone in the Franklinford cemetery in 2006. Until then, I was unaware of, William, let alone that he had married twice. Caroline was his first wife and mother to Jessie Brown Dougall, Thomas Waddell Dougall, William Franklin Dougall and Caroline Mary Paterson Dougall. (Caroline Mary Paterson Dougall’s ashes were scattered on this grave). William Franklin Dougall’s ashes were scattered somewhere at Franklinford, and the ashes of two of William’s grandsons from his marriage to Agnes Scott Tait Dougall, that is, Cyril John Dougall and Robert Bruce Dougall, were scattered on the nearby summit of Mount Franklin.

R.I.P. William Dougall

Agnes was residing with her brother, Alexander when she died in 1924.

The Argus (Melbourne) Monday 25th August 1924 Courtesy Trove (NLA).

DOUGALL. –On the 22nd August, 1924, at her brother's residence, No. 171 Royal parade, Parkville, Agnes Scott, relict of the late William Dougall, of Mt. Franklin Estate, Daylesford, loving mother of James and Cyril, loving sister of Alexander and Janet Fraser Tait, aged 81 years. (Privately interred Melbourne Cemetery on the 23rd inst.)

ADDENDUM A day in the life of:-William Dougall – (August 1865) It’s been another long, hard day in the saddle. We must have travelled about 20 miles or so today. The terrain has been fairly hilly for the last 7 to 8 miles, and about midday, we had to traverse a fairly wide creek or river, bordered by dense scrub with tall palms, eucalypts and bamboo. Not much water running at this time of year, but the banks were quite steep and hint of a much higher water level at other times. Because of the steep banks, it took us a couple of hours to finally get all the horses and equipment across. We’ve reached a reasonably flat, well grassed area. Quite a contrast to the generally rough, rocky and sparsely vegetated ground of the last few days. Its late afternoon and we’ve decided to camp for the night. The weather has been hot and humid for weeks, and it’s no

different today, although there is the hint of a change. Some fluffy, grey clouds are starting to build up in the west and a light, choppy breeze is blowing. We’ve unsaddled the horses, unloaded the pack horses and set them loose to graze untethered. Two of the party re shod a couple of the animals while the rest went down to a nearby creek for water, returned to the camp site, built a fire and prepared damper, dried meat and billy tea for dinner. Afterwards, with the conversation waning and the light beginning to fade, I rolled out my swag beside a gum tree and rummaged in my saddle bag for the letter I had started to pen to brother John. I found the stub of pencil in my bag and sharpened it with the hunting knife I carry at my waist, and settled down to write a few more lines, recounting the adventures of the past few days. I rested the paper on my saddle bag for support, but with the wind rising and only the light from the flickering fire left for illumination, I finished up quickly and packed the letter and pencil away, for another time. I stood and wandered out between the trees to relieve myself before turning in for the night. It’s not my turn to stand watch until later in the night. The clouds have passed and the sky is clear as crystal, as is common up here in the far north outback country. I stared up at the stars. There’s so many up here. And so bright. It’s balmy, quiet and so peaceful. I stretch and sigh. I feel contentment. Ah! I wouldn’t be dead for quids. A day in the life of:-John Dougall – (August 2015) Another long day at the office. And to top it off, the traffic has been heavier than usual. It’s been quite cold today and the sky has darkened considerably in the last half hour or so. Rain is forecast, and in fact a few drops of rain have been falling, so I’ve just put on the headlights and windscreen wipers. It might be a wild night if the wind picks up, as forecast. Fortunately, I’ve just pulled into the driveway at home and have activated the garage door by remote control, so I shouldn’t get wet. I entered the garage, killed the car lights, wipers and engine, closed the garage door and entered the house through the connecting door, to the kitchen. I’ve switched on the house lights and pushed the button to start the central heating so the house should warm up fairly quickly. I amble into my bedroom, slip off my work clothes and don something more comfortable. The weather has really picked up now, and the storm is closing in. The wind is starting to howl around the outside of the building, and there are odd flashes of lightening through the lounge room windows. I make my way into the lounge and turn on the television, so I can catch up on the daily news events from around the world. I can hear the TV from the kitchen, so I go to the refrigerator, take out a cold stubby of beer, and also a TV dinner from the freezer. Something quick and easy tonight, as I think I won’t be long out of bed. It’s been a tiring day. I pop the dinner in the microwave oven – three minutes on high should do and it’ll be ready. The microwave does its thing, I get a stable table and a fork, sit down in front of the TV and watch the news. The news is over, so I turn off the telly, put my fork in the sink, (I’ll wash it in the morning), put my stable table away and my rubbish in the waste bin. I return to the lounge and

my desk, and put on my lap top. I have work to do, but I’m tired and it can wait ‘til to tomorrow also. I decide to check my emails only, and reply to any, if necessary. That done, I can hear the thunder, wind and rain has intensified, and the lightening is flashing more often and much brighter. The rain is drumming on the verandah roof outside. A good time to go to bed, but firstly the toilet and bathroom. I turn off the lights. The thermostat will look after the central heating. I go into the bedroom, turn on the bedside light and radio, strip off my clothes, pull back the doona, and into bed. Off with the lights, I pull the doona up around my ears, but can still hear the storm raging. I stretch and sigh. I feel contentment. Ah! I wouldn’t be dead for quids.