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Monaro Squatting Runs
John Lhotsky's Information 1834 | 1848 Gazette | Hancocks
Map 1848 | Hancocks List |
Monaro
Properties, Histories, Index
Sheep and Cattle Runs of the Monaro 1848
Prior to the year 1861 when what was, and still is, popularly known as
Sir John Robertson's Act was passed the large areas of lands over which the
flocks and herds of the pioneer settlers grazed were known as "runs."
They were acquired in the first instance by the seemingly simple process of
driving stock on to them, after a recognition of their suitability for pastoral
purposes. Later they were held under license, an approximation of area and
carrying capability only being given, and again later some definite and
coordinated attempt was made by the then administration to give both security of
tenure and definition of boundaries. Extension of settlement inevitably
progressed more rapidly than survey of the areas opened up, and it would appear
that until to the end of 1842, the survey of
Manaro or as the earlier records term it, Maneroo, had not bees completed beyond
the vicinity of the Bredbo River.
On the 24th November 1842, Mr. W. H. Wright, an assistant surveyor, reporting
from Coolringdon to Assistant Surveyor Townsend, says: -
"I beg to inform you that I have completed the survey of the Bredbo
River and on the 16th instant forwarded to the Surveyor General a plan of the
same."
He also adds that lack of equipment prevented him from carrying out certain
other instructions, and that he was about to proceed to Zazoak to complete the
Murrumbidgee.
Between November 1842, and November 1849 the increasing settlement on Maneroo
urgently demanded a demarcation of boundaries. Sheep and cattle were getting
mixed up, trespass actions had-been instituted in tile Supreme Court in Sydney,
and each holder was anxious to know the limits of his holding, whilst at the
same time seeking greater security of tenure.
Pursuant to an order in Council made on 9th March, 1847, it was notified in
Government Gazette No. 112, published on 30th September, 1848 that persons named
in the Gazette had demanded leases of the Runs of Crown Lands particularised in
correction with their respective names.
Caveats were called for, and it was intimated that in every case inquiry
would be made into the validity of the claims.
The Gazette indicates the claims as being for "Leases beyond the Settled
Districts in the Maneroo District."
In the publication under reference, 147 applicants are mentioned. They
comprise claimants
for lands, not only in Maneroo, but covered areas from Michelago to Delegate,
from beyond Adaminaby and over to the Coast, and over the Snowy River to
Victoria. After the gazettal of the claims and the issue of the leases, survey
was entered upon.
On 2nd November 1849, Sir Thomas L. Mitchell, the then Surveyor-General,
addressed a letter to Mr. Thomas S. Townsend, one of his surveyors, saying:-
"I approve of your applying for more as assistance; it is a proper
course provided the 200 cases are proceeded with. But it is understood here that
the squatters will not incur the expenses
"The copies of the Act of Council and Notices have been forwarded to you.
"I have requested His Excellency the Governor's sanction to the
employment Mr.
Musgrave as a disputed Boundary Surveyor.
"As Mr. Labart cannot he spared at present for Monaro, some other
arrangement must be made."
This letter clearly relates to arrangements made, or being made, for the
survey of squattings, and as the Gazette referred to, and a supplementary one
afterwards to be mentioned, dealt with 172 definite leases, it is more than
probable that the 200 cases were Monaro matters.
On 10th December 1850, Sir Thomas Mitchell again writes to Surveyor Townsend,
giving him instructions to make a map of the Maneroo Reserves,
Many of the words in the original letter have faded with the passage of time,
but filling in the gaps as well as possible from the context, it is evident that
on lst December, 1850, Surveyor Townsend forwarded to the Surveyor General a
plan showing the Reserves in the Squatting District of the Murrumbidgee. He was
then instructed that similar plans and descriptions of the Maneroo District,
which was then in his charge, were required. Expedition was requested, as it was
pointed out that his transmission to the Government of the Maneroo District
would complete the plans of the whole of the Southwest.
That there was some delay in connection with both boundaries and
squattings is indicated by a letter written by Richard Brooks, from Maneroo, on
24th March, 1853, to Mr. G. R. Nicholls, a solicitor, in Sydney. In the list of
claimants for leases in 1848 Mr Brooks' name appears in respect Of Runs Nos. 6
and 7, Gejizrick and Jindabyne respectively.
Mr. Brooks was seeking advice concerning trespass by his neighbour's
stock, and said:
"At the present time we have surveyors measuring the boundaries between
the different Runs in the District…"
Later he writes: -
"He's one of those contract surveyors paid by the Government at 10/- per
mile…"
And again: --
"l notice by a late Act of Council the Surveyor is the person to settle
disputed Runs."
The extracts quoted from Mr. Brooks' letter are consistent with the position
set out in the letter of the Surveyor-General of 2nd November 1849.
The names of the applicants of interest to Maneroo, with the title of the run
applied for, and its then reputed carrying capacity, are set out in the Gazette
as follows: -
(Government Gazette No. 112, published on 30th September, 1848)
Applicant
No Name of
Run
Area Cattle
Sheep Horses
Antill, H. Colden
1 Tindreys
15360
500 4000
Beard & Rolfe
2 Iron Mungy
84000 1000
Beard & Rolfe
3 Dog
Kennel
12800 400
Barrett, William
5 Bollera
6400 725
Brooks, Richard
6 Gejizrick
38400
640 10000
Brooks, Richard
7
Jindabyne
22400 1000
Blomfield, Thomas
Valentine
8 Collamatong
35000
10000
Bell,
David
11 Spring
Flat
10240 480
Binnie, James
22 Burrangandra
4 sq.m.
189
2400 8
Burcher, Stephen 24
Bridbow
15360
500
Bradley, Wm.
25 Dangelong
15000
4000
Bradley, Wm.
26 Cooma
Creek.
19000
640 4000
(Mittagong or Bridgery was a detached portion of this run.)
Bradley, William 27
Myalla
42000
10000
Bradley, William 28
U. Rock
Flat.
25000
4000
Bradley, William
29 L. Rock
Flat.
2200
400
Brierly, Abram
30
Arable
30000
1000 8000
Brierly, Abram
31 Murranumbla.
30000 1500
Brierly, Abram
32 Woolway
12000
300 3000
Brown. George
33 Kydra (Green Gully)
26880
700
Bull,
Joseph
34 Anembo
5000
200 5000
(Upper Jingeree)
Bowman, Win.
35 Mowhawk
4000
400 2000
Campbell, Robt.
36 Mount
Cooper
21000
7000
(Est. of A. Jeffrey)
Crisp, Amos, jnr. 38
Jimen Buen
30720 1500
Clifford, Patrick
39 Nudrum Nadran
20000
800 5000
(or Rose Valley)
Clifford, Patrick
40
Greenland
15000
600
Cosgrove, John
44 Queeingallery
25600
5000
Cassells, David
45 Island
Lake
9000
2000
Cassells, David
46 Carrott
16000
4000
Cosgrove & York 47
Billy Lingera
16640
4000
Cosgrove & York 48
Adamindumee
16000
640
Curtis, Peter
49 Rock
Forest
5500
400
Davison, Simpson 50 Goodgood
15000
4000
Driscoll, Daniel
51 Ucumbean
2840 500
Dawson,
Robert, Junr.
52 Gellimatong
16000
900
Eccleston, John
53
Doodle
10240
710
Eccles, Thomas
54 Bulgar
Creek
10000
500
Frederichs,
Burchard
55 Wambrook
15000
320 2000
Flinn. Jeremiah
56
Numeralla
2140
163.
(afterwards J. Kirwan)
Flinn, Jeremiah
57 Countigany
3200
167 709
Garnock, George 58 Mt.
Pleasant
6500
600 4000
Gore,
John
59 Geekle
5120 300
Cordon, Hugh
61 Wambaguga
20000
640
Goodwin, Wm. 62
Windy
Corner
6000 400
Harnett, Park
63
Bredbo
30720
250 7500
(Estate of)
Harnett Laur'ce 64
Rosebrook
15360
150 4500
Haslington, Ed. 68
Big
Badger
16000 600
Holland, Wm.
70 Mowenbah
16000
500 2000
Hosking, John
71
Glen-bog
32000 800
Kirwan, James 77
Cooma
30000
500 4000
Kirwan, James 78
Countigeny
20000
4000
Keirle, James
80 Boloco
Creek
13000 700
Kelly, Thomas
81 Coura
13000
300 700
Kennedy, Wm.
Francis
82 Biggam
14500
600 5000
Lucy, Daniel
85 Umeralla
8000
300 600
Lunn, Daniel
87 Pawpang
11000 500
Moore, Josh. J. 88 Numarella
18000
5000
Malady, Patrick 90 Peak
Station
10240 900
Mowart, Francis 91
Bolero
28800
10000
McEvoy, James 93 Woolindibby
11520 640
McGuiggan, I’n 95 Boloka
Creek
8000 500
McCuiggan, Pk. 96 Stockyard
Flat
7000 600
McDonald, Dug 99
Nimitybelle
8000 700
O'Hara, Hugh 104
Nimitybelle
8000 640
Pendergrass, J. 105 Homeo
25000 850
Pendergrass, J 106 Cottage
Creek
15000 700 4000
Pendergrass, J. 107 Moonbar
24000 1000
Peters, Joseph 108
Bungarby
36000 1000 8000
Robarts. Thos. I I I Curry
Flat
16000 640 8000
Robinson,
Thos.L&C.G. 112
Hugandree .
.
I3000 340
Rossi, F. N.
113 Micilago
35000
9000
Throsby, Chas. 115 Kybean
20000 1000
Rootsay, Chas, 116 Mt.
Pleasant
5000 600
Ryrie, Stewart Jr. l18 Cootalandra
7680 330
2200
Ryrie, Stewart jr. 119 Jindabine
3000 600
4000
Rankin,
D.
120 Native Dog
Flat
12000
4000
Scott,
Wm.
12 I Nimity
Bell
36 sq, m. 600
Stanton, Wm. 124
Nimithybale
4000 1500
Stanton & O'Hare 125 Corrowang
53760
2000
Stanley, James 126 Caddygat
Ck.
12800
4700
Sherlock Jas.
127 Gingary
9000 400
Thomson, Joseph
George
128 Bullumbullong
14000 1000
Turner, Walter 131 Cooma
Creek
5000 300
2000
(After W. Bradley)
Thompson,W I32
Biggam
25000
640 3000
Thornton, Morgan 135 Square
Range
10240 300
Warren, Gilb't 137
Greenland
6400 400
Wright, Chas. 138
Bobundra
10000
400 2000
Williams, John 139 Head of
Curry
Flat
10240 840
Waite,
John 140
Warren's
Corner
7000 2000
(After J J Moore)
Wallace & Ryrie 147
Coolringdon
26000 1500 6000
A Supplementary list of Claims was issued in Gazette No. 45 dated 6th April
1850, and the claimants were: -
Bridle, William
149 Island
Lake
12000
4000
(After Wallace & Ryrie)
Brooks, Rich.
150
Willis
11520 500
(After Edward Weston)
Cooper, Wm.
152 Gingerra (Willeroo)
13440 500
Cutmore. John 156
Gerangle
17920 4000
Fraser, John
158 Fryingpan
Ck
4 m.x 2 500
Grahame, Wm. 159 Dry
Plains
16000 200 4000
Grahame Wm. 160
Frying-pan
Ck.
9600
300 2000
Gorman, Jas O. 161 Numbla
10000 600
Lambie, John
164
Cooma
1280 50
Mahoney, Ter.
166 Boggy
Plain
10000 300
Maley, Austin
167 Nimmo
7500 300
Neele,
Wm.
168 Kalkite
20000 700
Neale, J. Thos. 169
Middling
Bank
26000 1200
Tooth,
John
171 Nimity
Bell.
18000 1000 6000
(After Bruce Reid)
Woodhouse, E. 172 Inchbyra
16000 640
In all cases the gazette spelling, both of persons and places, has been
given, and it is not very difficult to recognise the old runs and their holders
in the present-day names. The Gazettes give the boundaries not by metes and
bounds. But by reference to prominent natural features, such as rocks, rivers,
mountains or creeks, The leases are also described with reference to the
adjoining runs and run-holders, but want of space would,' in any event preclude
these being set out in detail.
Lease No. 29, granted to William Bradley for Lower Rock Flat, is interesting
by reason of the fact that the Gazette description has appended to it--
"N.B. This was originally sold for the use of an Inn; the Inn is now
down, and the land again added to the Rock Flat Run to which it originally
belonged."
This is definite evidence that at some period in its history, probably some
years prior to 1848, Rock Flat, an intermediate point between Cooma and
Nimmitabel, boasted an establishment where at accommodation could he obtained.
A deduction to he made from the details given is, that even at that very
early stage in its history, a fair proportion of the settlers of Maneroo either
were actually engaged in sheep farming, or were taking up land with that
purpose.
A name around which much romance clings is that of Ben Boyd, a man who,
looking into the future with eyes that saw and a mind that grasped the infinite
possibilities of a young country, had the courage to dare greatly in an attempt
to promote settlement. Establishing himself at Twofold Bay, and giving the
settlement its name of Boyd Town, he invested much of the money he brought with
him in Manaro properties. Though Ben Boyd can, perhaps, hardly be called a
settler in Maneroo, in view of the fact that he did not live there, it is
indisputable that he must be regarded as one of its effective pioneers.
In the Government Gazette firstly referred to, Ben Boyd is shown as the
prospective Lessee of the following runs: -
Name.
Area.
Cattle, Sheep.
Mowera and Batangaby
200,000 600
Cudgee
50,000 600
Mafra
25.000
5,000
Moyallan Downs on
Mamjellack
20,000 1,200
Bibbenluke
76,000 2,000
Wog
Wog
20,000 600
Boco
Rock
25,000 800
Cambalong
60,000 1,200
Genwong
20.000
4,000
Matong
32,000
5,000
Bondi
50.000
6,000
A total of eleven runs - aggregating 278,000 acres carrying 7,000 cattle and
20,000 sheep.
Early Selections
On the lst January 1862, the Crown Lands Act passed in 'the previous
year, came into force, Under it selection without survey was permitted of areas
varying from 40 to 320 acres. This legislation inevitably meant the breaking up
of the large runs held and controlled by men like Mr William Bradley, who in the
early days owned most of the best land in the Manaro. It has often been said
that one could start from near Bredbo and travel to within eight miles of
Bombala without going off Mr Bradley’s Run. It was some time before the
provisions of the Act now under discussion were thoroughly grasped, but it is
certain that it opened up opportunities to acquire and which at first were not
fully availed of, though afterwards they were utilised to their fullest extent.
It is not practicable, to trace the first selectors of those lands which were
the beginnings of large stations, but the names of those who earliest availed
themselves of the privileges conferred by the Act may be of interest.
On 7th January, 1862, application was made 'by
No. 1 - Daniel Moore, of Boloco,
for 100 acres near Boloco Creek
No. 2 - William Keigh, of Coolringdon, for 160 acres
near Slack's Creek.
No. 3 - Robert Mason, of Gungoandra, for 40 acres
on Gungoandra Creek.
No. 4 - Charles Fergus, of Wangrah,
for 40 acres on Strike-a-light Creek.
No. 5 - Thomas Brogan, of Billylingra, for 100
acres near Little Plain.
On 14th January -
No. 7 - James Devereux - 320 acres at Spring Flat Creek, part of Dangelong Run.
On 21 St January-
No. 9 - William Goodwin, of Cowra, for 100 acres at Cranky Dan's Flat.
No. 13 - Robert Goodwin.
No. 14 - George Goodwin.
28th January-
No. 15 - James Hain, for 320 acres at Dairyman’s Plains.
No. 16 - George Hain, for 320 acres at Dairyman’s Plains.
8th April-
No. 44 - James Litchfield of Mialla, for 320 on Jillamatong Creek.
This material was transcribed from the 'Back to Cooma' Celebrations Book pp28-31-
Pattrick Mould 2002
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Monaro
Pioneers