WILLIAM ADAMS BRODRIBB was born in London on the 27th May, 1809, and was the eldest son of an English solicitor who arrived in Hobart Town in 1816, where he held the office of judge Advocate, and subsequently that of Under Sheriff. The subject of this sketch came over to New South Wales in 1836, and formed a cattle station in the Maneroo District, though he sold this about two years later. At the same time he established a sheep station near Gundagai. He then acquired an interest in a large pastoral property near Goulburn, in conjunction with William Lithgow, Auditor General, and this property be managed. About 1842, he relinquished this employment, and took charge of Mr. William Bradley's extensive properties on Maneroo. Of these he retained the management for upwards of twelve years. He left Mr. Bradley's employ in 1855, and crossed the Australian Alps with a herd of cattle, sheep and horses, and after four months' travelling, reached Wanganella on the Billabong, Where he settled on the Wanganella Run which he purchased. From his reminiscences, which he published in 1883, the following information is obtained, in addition to what has already been set out. In 1843 he assumed the management of Mr. Bradley's stations- Myalla, Cooma and Bullanaming (at the latter of which he lived). Later, Mr. Bradley, who lived in Goulburn, bought a sheep station called "Coolringdon," with 8,000 sheep, from Dr. Wallace, of Sydney. This place Mr. Brodribb also managed. On 28th February. 1849, his eldest daughter died, and he writes: "I had to send a distance of 25 miles for a coffin and to take my poor child the same distance to the churchyard to be buried. Our second daughter died eight clays after and was buried with her sister. The burial place was the cemetery attached to the Anglican Church on the Myalla Road, where the headstone still stands to-day. In 1865 Mr. Brodribb returned to Coolringdon and contested the Parliamentary Election with Mr. (afterwards Sir) James Martin, by whom he was defeated.

"BACK TO COOMA" Felix Mitchell 1926 Page 74 - Transcribed by Pattrick Mould 2002