Extracted from one of our Publications:
"Grafton
and the Early Days on the Clarence"
- see Publications Page.
RAMORNIE STATION
(Bawden Lecture No.1)
Dr. Dobie was a member of the Australian Club Circle which
also included the Mylne Bros., J. H. Grose and the Ogilvie
Bros.
After hearing of the
opening of the big river and it’s
cedar, great interest was roused as the colony at that time
was experiencing a depression after a severe drought, and there
was a strong desire to push out into new country and the comparative
freedom of the then squatting life.
So in August 1839 the
steamship “King William” and
a party with Captain Perry, Deputy Surveyor General at its
head left for this comparatively unknown land and water. Thomas
Bawden’s father was the engineer on this ship. Mr Grose,
a man largely interested in shipping and pastoral interests,
took a leading part in the organisation of the trip.
When they arrived, Waterview Station just above South Grafton
had already been taken up by Williams for Mr.Girard - this
was the first holding.
Mr Grose took up Copmanhurst,
Dr. Dobie took up Ramornie and the Mylne Brothers, Eatonswill.
William Bawden obtained occupational licence for that land
except 5 acres occupied by Surveyor Burrows, between Alumny
Creek and the River for ten pounds per annum, and called
the place Penberthy. Unfortunately William Bawden drowned
in 1841 while rowing across the river to get his wife who
had been helping a sick woman. Mrs Bawden’s interest
in Penberthy was then sold to Dr. Rowland Traill - later of
Tenterfield and Cassilis. Dr. Traill sold to Joseph Sharp who
had arrived in August 1841 and opened his stock of store goods
in a sawyers hut on the river bank at the junction of Through
and Skinner Streets. After buying Dr. Traill’s interest
he built a store a few hundred yards from the bottom of Prince
Street. He subsequently built close to it a hotel where the
present Crown Hotel stands. He never kept it himself, it being
at different times in charge of persons in his employ.
On the return of the “King
William” to Sydney
the reports created immense interest in the Big River and its
suitability for pastoral purposes. Dr .Dobie sent up three
men to erect huts on the Ramornie Run. His intention was to
remove his sheep from Cassilis. One portion of his party left
Maitland on 5th January,1840, the other section was to meet
up at the Peel (now Tamworth). They were stuck up by the “Jews
Boys”, a gang of bushrangers. However, the combined party
pushed on up the New England coming to one house (now
Armidale)
that of Commissioner “Humpy” McDonald. These Commissioners
had wide powers and his district extended from the Peel to
Moreton Bay settlement.
The party proceeded to Falconer Plains where they rested
for a few weeks - one to spell the stock and secondly to
await the arrival of Richard Craig who had undertaken to
guide them through the wild unknown country to the Clarence.
Craig was coming across from the Macleay with sheep from
Grose and cattle for the Mylnes. Dr. Dobie had thoughts of
going off further north (later the
Darling Downs) with some
others - however he decided to return and come down with
the others - they came down the route known as Craig’s
Line - one of the worst pieces of country for man to attempt
to travel with vehicles - one range was so steep that a pair
of bullocks yoked together could not ascend it. The drays
and their loading were hauled up by block and tackle from
tree to tree.
The Clarence was reached at length and the party reached Ramornie
on the 16th June 1840, the journey including stoppages occupied
5 months and 11 days - the first overland party from Maitland.
Thomas Bawden came on this expedition and was 9 years of age.
Mr S. Weatherstone, whose descendants still live in this district
was also one of the party - he settled in South Grafton.
Dr Dobie retained possession of Ramornie until 1845.
Craig had previously brought the first flock of 8,000 sheep
from the Macleay from Grose taking three months to get through
the heads of the Bellinger and Nymboida to Copmanhurst. These
were the sheep rafted across the River above Grafton on 1st
January 1840.
