From Baron to Battler
the story of Dr Christian Ulrich Deltef Schrader (1819-1892)
and his family, including the 1873 diary of Ludwig Schrader
By
Caroline Gaden
Copyright 2012 Caroline Gaden
ISBN 978-0-9872474-1-4
Smashwords Edition
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Discover a related title by Caroline Gaden at Smashwords.com:
The Schrader Letters (1871-1896)
< http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/109893>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The family in Schleswig-Holstein
The conflict in Schleswig-Holstein
Earlier generations for the Family Historians
"From Baron to Battler" is the story of Dr Christian Ulrich Detlef Schrader and his family, who arrived in Australia in 1853. It gives an insight into the family and their home in Europe; it looks at their days in Port Macquarie; it follows the family to Walcha and discovers what misfortunes befell the family members after they left Walcha.
Centrepiece to this story is the diary of second son Ludwig, written from 1873 to 1874. Ludwig's eloquent writings recount the battle to develop the farm, to build a stone house at "Holstein" and cope with life in the bush. In this section of the book Ludwig's sometimes unusual spellings have been retained, for example he uses "fowel" for fowl, "untill" and the dates are written as "Wednesday th 14". The original diary is now part of the collection at the Regional Archives and Heritage Centre, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia.
Incorporated into the story are some local histories of the places where family members lived, Walcha and Wallsend as well as the gold diggings at Glen Morrison, home of Augustus and Margaret and the search for "Montana", home of Constanza and Philipp.
Some research for the book was undertaken as part of a Graduate Diploma in Local and Applied History at the University of New England, Armidale, NSW, awarded to the author in 1996.
Also included is are family trees. Each person is automatically given an ID number when their name is added to the file. This appears after their name, eg Dr CUD Schrader is ID 317, his son Ludwig is ID 321, and so on. This is very useful when different family members have the same name; for example one of Augustus' sons is another Christian Ulrich Detlef Schrader (335), given the same name as his grandfather Dr Christian Ulrich Detlef Schrader (317). The author would like to keep the family tree as up-to-date and correct as possible, so if there are any incorrect or additional entries, please advise. For individual security reasons, more recent generations are not listed in this book
"From Baron to Battler" follows the fortunes of Dr Schrader and his children. To track the many grandchildren and great-grandchildren and what fate and destiny befell them is beyond the scope of this book. However information, if sent, could be incorporated into an additional or updated volume.
This book should be read in conjunction with "The Schrader Letters" also available from Smashwords at < http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/109893> . It contains almost a hundred letters written to each other by members of the family between 1871 and 1896. The letters were collected by Maria (Mollie), first of the Schrader children to be born in Australia, and originally put together by Christian Honeyman. If your branch of the family has any additional letters they can be incorporated in an updated version of "The Schrader Letters". The author has recently found more letters to add to this compilation when time permists
"From Baron to Battler" was originally published in November 1996 (ISBN 0 646 28937 3) but is no longer 'in print'. This updated ebook continues to be for descendents of the Schrader family, many of whom have contributed information which I trust is correct. The author apologises to anyone who feels they have been misrepresented or where the information is found to be incorrect. Please advise so mistakes can be rectified.
*****
The Family in Schleswig Holstein
Dr.Christian Ulrich Detlef Schrader was an educated young man, the son of academic and aristocratic parents in the Duchy of Schleswig in the area that borders Denmark and Germany. He was born in Haderslev on 6 February 1819. His father, Ludwig Friedrich Gabriel Schrader was an "Etatsraad", a titular councilor of state, an old honorary title used in Denmark in the nineteenth century which did not give nobility, nor was it hereditary, but it gave a very high honour and status. He was a lawyer from a long line of academics, he was in the Schleswig-Holstein Chancellery and the Mayor and city bailiff of Haderslev. Ludwig was also Chief Constable of Altona from 1844 to 1848 and became the senior civil servant in the Police Department, becoming Chief Constable of Schleswig in 1850.
Dr Schrader's mother was Baroness Sophie Adeline von Eggers and his great grandmother was Chief Lady in Waiting to the Queen of Denmark. His great grandfather was Political Chaplain to the King.
The von Eggers were aristocrats who can trace their ancestors back to 1286 and this is detailed in the family trees at the end of the book
Baroness Sophia Adelina von Eggers (1794-1850) became wife of Polizeimeister Ludwig FG Schrader and mother of CUD Schrader, our ancestor.
Dr Christian Ulrich Detlef Schrader studied at the University of Kiel as well as Paris, Copenhagen and Goetnigen Universities. He graduated in medicine and became assistant to Professor Baron von Langenbeck, the Professor of Clinical Surgery at Kiel University. Dr Schrader was a member of the Foreign Society of Physicians of Paris and had a private practice near Hamburg.
He was a fine looking man and whilst a student his arm was used as a model of strength by the sculptor Thorvolson. He was a noted amateur wrestler who walked to Rome to meet an Italian wrestler who failed to meet the challenge, so Dr Schrader walked all the way back to Berlin.
He married Caroline Christina Johanna Vollstedt at Neumuhlen on 5 May 1845. The family letters reveal that they met in a field of cowslips and it was love at first sight. With disarming candour she admitted to being not of the high-born class of the Schraders. She had lovely blue eyes and golden hair (although the photograph we think is her from the family album shows darker hair). She was a born letter writer, keeping in contact with her Australian family as they grew and spread. It must have been a great sadness that there was little contact with her beloved homeland. In a letter written on 14 October 1884 she recalls the birth thirty eight years before, of her firstborn child, Augustus. She writes How bright this world seemed to me, when I was over all; my beloved Mother was one with me, fondled us both; and Papa's joy was indescribable.
It can be seen that Dr Christian Ulrich Detlef Schrader had a very aristocratic family and was one of the upper class in Denmark. Why then did he leave the high born life of his Danish upbringing and migrate to Australia in 1853? To gain some understanding of this we must look at the conflict in Europe at this time.
*****
The conflict in Schleswig Holstein
Dr Schrader was a student at Kiel and Copenhagen Universities, seats of political conflict in the 1840s. Revolution was sweeping Europe at this time and the great proponents of middle-class nationalism were the professionals and intellectuals. The schools and universities became the most conscious champions of this nationalist movement.
The area between Germany and Denmark was ripe for revolution. From the twelfth century the Duchy of Schleswig was a hereditary fief of the Kings of Denmark. The neighbouring Duchy of Holstein was part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation. From 1386 to 1460 the two were united, and both were ruled by Denmark from 1474. There were many strong ties between the two, landowners and gentry had become 'Germanised' and the urban middle class also spoke German but the 'peasant' population tended to continue to speak Danish.
The many rulers of Austria, Prussia, the principalities, dukedoms and free towns had all been linked into the Holy Roman Empire which was abolished by Napoleon in 1806. The various rulers all tried to copy King Louis of France, the Sun King, and they had lived a life of luxury at the expense of the the people. These rulers were not seriously interested in solving the pressing problems of the age. Thus the ground in Europe was fertile for revolution.
In 1815 the new Confederation of German States replaced the former amalgamations and changed the face of Germany. The new confederation had 39 states, with Prussia and Austria as the largest. It included non-German minorities like the Italians of South Tyrol, but excluded considerable German minorities such as those in Schleswig. The King of Denmark remained Duke of Holstein.
Under the French, the middle classes had experienced their first taste of freedom; social privilege had been abolished, and all citizens had become equal before the law. People resented it when the old social order was restored under the German Confederation. Liberalism and nationalism were emerging, especially in places such as Schleswig and Holstein with their German populations. Poor harvests and economic crises combined to fuel an increasing level of dissent, the upheavals originating in the cities with the newly emerged middle class.
There were disputes between Denmark and Germany over the two states of Schleswig and Holstein and hostilities developed into war from 1848 to 1850; Schleswig tended to remain loyal to Denmark, many in Holstein wanted to be part of Germany. A Prussian inspired revolt in Schleswig-Holstein, triggered by the death of the Danish King Christian VIII, ended with failure, the Duchies remaining with the Danes.
During these hostilities Dr Christian Schrader was appointed Assistant Surgeon First Class in the Schleswig-Holstein Corps de Chasseurs, becoming Staff Surgeon in 1850. At the end of fighting he was awarded the Iron Cross by the Prussian authorities, and a pension from the Army.
It appears that Dr Schrader was fighting for freedom from Denmark and his Father stayed loyal to the Danish Court. He probably thought of himself as a freedom fighter, his father thought he was a rebel. No doubt such a rift would be hard to heal, especially in such a high profile family, the wound was likely to have been too great.
Why did the family come to Australia rather than stay in Europe? Perhaps like several "Forty-Eighters" the need for distance; perhaps the death of his Mother in 1850 meant the ties were more easily severed; perhaps the need for a fresh start; perhaps the pioneering opportunities in a new land where gold had been discovered. We know from subsequent letters that he was always a 'restless spirit' wanting 'fresh scenes' even when he was well into his seventies and he still had schemes in his final months of life.
We may never know the real reason for their migration, but in 1853 the young doctor with his wife and four small children left Schleswig- Holstein for ever to start a new life on the other side of the world.
*****
Dr and Mrs Schrader and their four children, Augustus, Sophia, Ludwig and Constanza travelled to Australia on board the "Alster" , a vessel of 370 tons registered in Hamburg. The only passengers listed were Mr and Mrs Schrader, 2 boys and 2 girls. He was 34 years old, his wife Carolina Christina was 26 years old.
The main loading of the ship was merchandise. As the only listed passengers, their life on the ship would have been somewhat different from that of most migrants to Australia, not least of which would have been the lack of company, particularly female company, for Mrs Schrader. It may be that there were steerage passengers who they would meet on the deck, but not for meals. The Schraders would have been more likely to eat at the Captain's table.
The vessel left Hamburg on 14th March and was listed in Hobson's Bay, Victoria by 7 August. The family had landed in Sydney by 20th September 1853.
Port Macquarie
We have no record of the family's movements during their first years in Australia, and we do not know why they went to Port Macquarie. We know Dr Schrader applied for naturalisation, dated 1st February 1856, and he gave his place of residence as Port Macquarie. He was recommended for naturalisation by Edward D Day, Police Magistrate, and R J Johnston JP who stated they had known him for three years. ED Day was Police Magistrate in Port Macquarie from 1853 to 1857, later he moved to "Muscle Brook" (now Muswellbrook) and Maitland. He was the police officer who arrested the culprits of the Myall Creek massacre and the Jew Boy Davis bushrangers. The Days remained good friends with the Schraders throughout their lives, often visiting each other, and it was expected by the family that Ludwig Schrader would marry Phoebe (Missie) Day.
The naturalisation certificate was duly issued, Number 702 of 25th February 1856, and stated Dr Schrader was a native of the Duchy of Schleswig, was then 37 years of age and was residing at Port Macquarie.
Later that year the New South Wales Medical Board met in Sydney and issued the following notice:- New South Wales Medical Board Sydney, 1st April, 1856.
We the undersigned, the President and Members of the New South Wales Medical Board, appointed by His Excellency the Governor, under the Act 2nd Victoria, cap. 22, intituled "An Act to define the qualifications of Medical Witnesses at Coroners Inquest and Inquiries held before Justices of the Peace in the Colony of New South Wales, do hereby certify that the undermentioned persons have submitted to this Board the necessary testimonials of qualifications, viz.:- Sachse Fredk. Otto M.D., Berlin, Schrader Christian Ulrich Detlif, M.D.,Kiel, Chopin Charles Michal, M.D., Paris . And we do hereby declare that the several persons whose names are herein mentioned' are entitled to be deemed legally qualified Medical Practitioners, in terms of, and in accordance with the provisions of the aforesaid Act.
B. O'BRIEN, M.D. , R. GREENUP, M.D. , DONALD M McEWAN, M.D, J. MACFARLANE,M.D., HAYNES GIBBES ALLEYNE, M.D.
The New South Wales Government Gazette of 4th April 1856 published a notice dated 1st April, inserted by the NSW Medical Board, which stated that "We certify that the undermentioned persons have submitted to this Board the necessary testimonials of qualification - Schrader, C U D, M D Kiel." Was Dr Schrader allowed to practice medicine before his qualifications were approved. If not, how did he and the family survive financially for the three years between arrival and approval?
A newspaper obituary for Mrs Samuel Brazel of Walcha reported that The deceased lady who was a native of Bathurst, came to Walcha district 66 years ago with Dr Schrader and his family, and she was 74 years at the time of her death. Mrs Brazel was Mary Amelia Hoscroft, born on 13 Dec 1847 and married 16 Nov 1867 at "Ohio", Walcha (NSW registation 1425/1867). She died in April 1921(NSW registation 5952/1921 where her mother's name was listed as Mary and her father just as Hoscroft). So Mary Amelia was just 8 years old in 1855 when she and the Schrader family supposedly went to Walcha. Where did they meet her, did the Schrader family originally visit Bathurst or was it in Port Macquarie? Why did they take her into the family?
On 23 January 1857 the NSW Government Gazette placed a notice dated 9th January 1857, stating that Dr Schrader had been appointed as Coroner for the District of Port Macquarie. He held the position until 1862. He was also Physician for the local hospital, as listed in the 1860 "Medical Directory of NSW and Queensland. "
Several more children were born to Dr and Mrs Schrader after the family's arrival in Australia: Maria (Mollie) 1854, Carolina (Keena) 1856, Alphrasia (Affie) 1858, twins Edward and Margaret (Mardi) 1861, Louise 1863, Charles 1864, Sydney 1866 and Douglas 1868, to make thirteen in all.
Descendency Chart
Generation 1
Christian Ulrich Detlef SCHRADER Doctor (1819-1892) sp-Caroline Christina Johanna VOLLSTEDT (1826-1895)
Generation 2
Augustus Carl Christian SCHRADER (1846-1896) sp-Margaret MARTIN (1846-1920)
Sophie SCHRADER (1848-1870)
Ludwig Justice Constance SCHRADER (1850-1877) He had two children 'out of wedlock' with Anna Margrethea Dorothea HINZ (1860)
Constanza Luise Justine SCHRADER (1852-1909) sp-Claus Philipp Petersen SCHRADER (1849-1931)
Maria Caroline SCHRADER (1854-1927) sp-William Napier Reeve WAUGH (1852-1945)
Carolina Christina SCHRADER (1856-1935) sp-Arthur James Elliott GODDARD (1855-)
Alphrasia Charlotte SCHRADER (1856-1888) sp-Charles CHATFIELD (1855-)
Christina Margaret SCHRADER (1860-1888)
Christian Edward SCHRADER (1860-1913)
Louise Justine Agnes SCHRADER (1862-1897) sp-John Neill Jamieson WAUGH (1859-1944)
Charles William SCHRADER (1864-1929) sp-Hetty Mary FORBES (1875-1951)
Sydney Henry SCHRADER (1866-1902) sp-Maude Ethel MAYO (1871-1957)
Willoughby Douglas SCHRADER (1868-1957) sp-Minnie Violet SAYERS (1876-)
Waugh connections
It was in Port Macquarie that the Schraders met the Waugh family, a meeting of significance as, a number of years later, two of Dr Schrader's daughters married two of Mr Waugh's sons.
Alexander Waugh and his family had arrived in Australia on board "Woolner Castle" on 28 October 1848. He was appointed superintendent of Mr Eales' Berry Estate on the Hunter. After a time he turned his attention to teaching and became teacher at the Church of England School, arriving in Port Macquarie in 1849.
He subsequently opened a private academy and set up his boarding school in Beach House, facing the harbour. The following advertisement was listed in the Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser of 15 November 1854.
Beach House Port Macquarie. MR. AND MRS. WAUGH beg to return their sincere thanks to those friends who have patronized their EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENT for Young Gentlemen, and to announce to the public generally their desire to fill up the two or three vacancies for Boarders. Parents may rest assured that their children will here have a cheerful, comfortable home ; the small number to which the School is limited enabling Mr. and Mrs. Waugh to give it quite the character of a domestic circle. The education imparted comprises History, Geography, Grammar, Composition, and Arithmetic, with Writing, Astronomy, General Scientific Knowledge, Mental Arithmetic, and Book- keeping. TERMS FOR THE ABOVE : Under Twelve Years 30 guineas per annum. Above Twelve Years 35 guineas per annum. French, Italian, Music, Drawing, and Dancing, on the usual terms. Washing, five guineas per annum. A quarter's notice required previous to removal of a pupil. No extra charge for residence during vacations.-A quarter's payment in advance.
REFERENCES:-E. D. Day, Esq Police Magistrate, Port Macquarie ; Col. Gray, Pol. Magistrate, Moreton Bay ; A. E. Halloran, Esq., J.P., Commissioner Crown Lands, Wide Bay ; Horatio Tozer, Esq., Port Macquarie. The above gentlemen are amongst those who have entrusted their children to Mr. and Mrs. Waugh's charge.
It is more than likely that the Schrader children attended the Waugh's school; in his diary Ludwig refers to a former school mate from Port Macquarie days.
*****
From Coast to Country - Walcha
The Waugh and Schrader families turned their attention from the coast to the inland farming country of the New England, part of the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. They looked to buy land in the Walcha district. This area was originally inhabited by Aboriginal people, according to Tindale the Dainggati were residents from Point Lookout south to the Macleay River headwaters and about Mount Royal Range inland to the Dividing Range and Walcha, (the Anaiwan people were in the Armidale area). Macpherson claimed the 'Himber'rong horde' occupied the South West area around Walcha and Ingleba, but Radcliffe-Brown considered this group to be the Amberu, a separate tribe of Aborigines.
They named the place Hol'kai in their language and it sounded like Wolka to European ears. It possibly means "sun" but that may be the meaning in a different aboriginal language. As there is controversy in the tribal names at the time of white settlement, so there is controversy as to the language, with Crowley suggesting that Djangadi was spoken in the area bounded by Tamworth, Kempsey and Armidale, whist Holmer suggested it was Thangatti .
The New England plateau was first discovered by Europeans in September 1818 when Surveyor-General John Oxley led an expedition to follow the Macquarie River to its source, then he turned east and made his way over a river he called the Castlereagh and on September 8th through an area of finest open country, or rather park, imaginable. We halted in a fine spacious valley watered by a fine Brook. This was the Apsley River and the camp-site of Oxley and his party is where the town of Walcha now stands
Surveyor Oxley then descended to the coast from Seaview Mountain into the Hastings River Valley. He found red cedar in the valley, with a site suitable for a port and he named it Port Macquarie. Soon after, a penal station was established there, but it was closed down in 1831, thus allowing the Port Macquarie area to be opened up for free settlers. However the valleys were heavily timbered and there was little land suitable for farming, so people's interest turned north, to more suitable agricultural land.
About this time the Australian Agricultural Company used their political influence to obtain an alternate land grant in the Liverpool Plains. This also forced north the many illegal squatters farming in the Peel Valley, and they moved into the New England region. These first European settlers were the pastoralists who had established sheep runs in 1832 when the first white settler Hamilton Collins Sempill arrived and set up the "Wolka Run." Sempill travelled via Hanging Rock to the head of the Apsley Valley and through Niangala and Muluerindi. He possibly was given information about the area by another explorer of the time Sir Edward Parry. (Three years later there were about fifteen runs extending as far north as what is now Armidale and by 1843 there were seventy two sheep runs established by these squatters).Wolka was originally an out-station of the Sedgenhoe Run
In 1838 the Port Macquarie traders had begun to agitate for a road to the New England region. The Northern Tablelands farmers also wanted to improve the route for wool and cattle to market.
Major Archibald Innes had arrived in Sydney as guard captain of a convict transport in 1822. He served as commandant and police magistrate in Port Macquarie and acquired pastoral and commercial interests in the New England region. It was under his influence that the road to the Tablelands was started in 1840, by convicts, along "The Major's line". In 1840 Major Innes brought wool down to the Port in a sledge. It was a very precipitous road!
The Sydney Herald of 10 June 1840 reported. We learn that the new road from Port Macquarie to New England is now open for horsemen and travelers can proceed from the town of (Port) Macquarie to the station of Mr R Mackenzie (Salisbury) on Beardie Plains with ease. A year later the same newspaper reported The new road from New England to Port Macquarie is in such a state of forwardness that several teams of wool belonging to Major Innes have already travelled the road. In 1843 twelve drays successfully negotiated the route. In 1844 Sempill sold "Wolka" to David William Jamieson who resided at Walcha and can be thought of as the founder of the village. In 1847 Patrick Haynes, a blacksmith settled there.
During this pioneering time, settlement relied on good roads for communication, or coastal areas used the sea for communication with Sydney and Newcastle. However the roads were not very good and it was often quicker to go by horseback rather than use the uncomfortable coaches. Major Innes fostered coastal shipping, but the port of Port Macquarie itself was of little use because of a large sandbar, consequently the Walcha to Port Macquarie road was allowed to remain in a very poor state .
By 1847 Colonel Mundey found it took ten days for laden drays to cover just 20 miles on the road. Such a slow pace was not acceptable, the road was no longer used and fell into disrepair.
In 1849 Jamieson built the Apsley Arms Inn. A visitor to Walcha in 1849 was not too impressed with the township and reported in the paper Walcha consists of the said Inn and blacksmith's shop (better known as Paddy's).
In 1850 the Australian Agricultural Company reused the old 1836 route of Telfer and made a road from the Peel River via Nundle and Gloucester to Port Stephens, 160 km north of Sydney. (Port Macquarie was 390 km north of Sydney). The Company tried to induce settlers from the Tablelands to bring their produce to this more distant port by offering a bonus for every dray bringing goods, with free storage of wool prior to shipment.
In September 1852 the township of Walcha was gazetted and Surveyor J J Galloway laid out the plans for its development. In 1853 the first land was sold. By 1859 Walcha boasted an inn, steam-flour mill, two stores and a National School. Jamieson was behind several businesses such as the flour mill, blacksmiths shop and store and he was a founding father of the Presbyterian Church, donating the land for the original building. In 1858 he made a gift of land for the Anglican Church which was built from local stone in 1862.
In 1858 it was possible to travel by coach from Maitland to Armidale, but at £8 per trip it was expensive. In June 1858 the Main Roads Management described the Great Northern Road as proceeding from Morpeth via Maitland, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Scone, Murrurundi and Tamworth to Armidale, a distance of 236 miles. The coach line ran from Armidale to Tamworth via Bendemeer where it was possible for Walcha people to board. By 1873 the "Tally Ho" line of coaches covered the 40 miles from Walcha to Armidale, taking 7 hours.
The visitor of 1849, on a return visit in 1859 described the town in an article in the Armidale Express of Saturday 28th May 1859: We are approaching Walcha by the same old road, but what a change. From the top of the hill we catch glimpses of the Apsley River, but not clear, silent and deserted as in former days. All is life and bustle - fences stretch in all directions; neat cottages and homesteads peer through the green branches, a hundred smokes point out the whereabouts of homesteads that cannot be seen. Why, here is a neat Christian looking Church; well and neatly finished, and on a very suitable site, overlooking the township; here is an exemplification of the saying 'The nearer to church the farther from God'. Divided only by a street is a public house. Let us look down on the town; what a pretty bird's-eye view! The large weatherboard building in the centre is evidently an inn also - there is a sign and the lamp. That brick building is evidently a store where all the horses are being held. There is a carriage and four going out and two others coming in - one on the Bergen-Op-Zoom Road, another from Winterbourne.That new building is the National School House. The butcher's shop is known by sheep skins hanging over the fence. 'Paddy's' old shop has disappeared and a steam flour mill is puffing away near its site. Our old friend Paddy has built another forge and a fine new house which is also a store, on the Ohio Road. There is also Mr Danial's excellent store, near the old inn, and lots of huts all scattered about, with their neat little gardens. Walcha is not the Walcha of old times. Its inhabitants have altogether an independent, well to do air about them. One thing they lack - a Court House - and still more, a lock-up.
The state of the road between Port Macquarie and Armidale, via Walcha, continued to be a cause of concern to people in the area, as shown by the following letter to the Armidale Express of 21st April 1860:
The Port Macquarie Road
To the Editor of The Armidale Express
GENTLEMEN I have been much surprised to witness the indifference manifested by the storekeepers and others in Armidale, and the squatters around Walcha in reference to the opening of what is called the "Grasstree Hill" line of road to Port Macquarie. One would have thought that self interest alone would have induced them ere this to have taken more active
steps in securing an object which would ensure cheap and speedy communication with Sydney. Having recently travelled over this country, allow me through your columns to give the people of New England a brief description of it.
Leaving Yarrows, from which there is a good dray road to Port Macquarie, we cantered over some 12 or 14 miles of excellent land, fit for farms and ready for plough, the sale of which would more than reimburse the Government for making the road. It is very like the Table land for
its undulating character. Having got over these flats we struck upon the Grasstree Hill, which is about five or six miles in distance. It is here that the greater part of the work requires to be done, but all through there is an abundant supply of grass and water, which is not to be found on the old line.
Mr Browning, who has inspected the worst parts of this hill, and is at present engaged in repairing the old road, declares that an able-bodied labourer receiving one pound per week, and his rations, would make a rod of that cutting weekly. Taking his calculations as a basis, it is evident to all unprejudiced parties, that a sound, substantial - I had almost said an everlasting- highway could be constructed for about £2500. Now, as the Government scarcely knows what to do with their prisoners, not having proper room for classification, and as his Honor Judge Owen has intimated, it was likely that a few hundreds of them would in all probability be sent to Port Macquarie, where there is excellent accommodation for them, I am confident that fifty men in one year, if well looked after, would do all that is required to make that a capital line for any amount of traffic.
I would therefore urge upon all interested to request the Government to send up a CIVIL ENGINEER free from all local feeling and party prejudices, to give the locality a THOROUGH examination; and should his report be satisfactory- of which I entertain no doubt- to forward a gang of prisoners thereto, and thus by their labour refund to the public a portion of the expense
necessitated by their crimes.
From "Cower", where the cutting would terminate, the difficulties to Walcha or Armidale are trifling. There is only one hill to be ascended which cannot be very bad when I tell you that I rode up the greater part of it on horseback. Indeed the bullock drivers who have visited it declare they would take their teams over it even in its present natural state were the other parts already referred to made available.
There cannot be a better time than the present for making a strong, united and determined effort, and sure I am that success will follow persevering action -
I am, gentlemen, yours &c;
PROSPERITY
Armidale, April 16th, 1860
The Armidale Express of December 8th 1860 also reported that The line of road from Port Macquarie to New England via Walcha is still under repair. Mr Browning the superintendant will no doubt do justice to their important work. A good line of road for traveller's teams and drays between this and Armidale is much needed and when the work is completed (ie if the Government will keep up the grant of £ 910 annually for the next three years) we may expect many advantages therefrom which we now so much stand in need of. The wages for road workers was 30/- per week for labourers.
By May 4th 1861 the Express was reporting The repairs on the road from Port Macquarie to Armidale via Walcha are steadily progressing under the able superintendence of Mr Thomas Browning who has some fourteen men placed under him. The new bridge at King's River Scrub is a substantial edifice and it is to be hoped that ere another six months elapse the wool teams from New England will be able to perform the journey without risk. We then may expect a revival in business.
Unfortunately for the traders on the coast heavy rain caused the road to be in a wretched plight by September that year. In fact in June 1861 the following letter about the road had been sent to the Express:
ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE PORT MACQUARIE ROAD
To the inhabitants of New England [Per favour of the Armidale Express]
GENTLEMEN- A petition to the Government for a grant of money to open the "Grass-tree Hill" line of road to Port Macquarie is now in the hands of Mr Markham, of Armidale, awaiting your signatures. As the advantages which will accrue to you if that road be opened will be very considerable, I hope you will bestir yourselves in the matter, and send it down to Sydney in time for the opening of Parliament, extensively signed, with a request to your members to use whatever influence they possess in pressing upon the Minister of Works the desirability and importance of yielding to the wish of the petitioners the boon they seek. From calculations made
by myself and others the advantages which your noble district would derive from this highway cannot be exaggerated. For instance goods ordered from Sydney or wool or other produce sent to Sydney taking Armidale as a centre, would arrive at their destination either up or down the line WITHIN TWELVE DAYS; now, this one consideration alone should, I imagine, be sufficient to enlist the influence of every squatter, storekeeper, publican, farmer, mechanic or traveller in your district, and, as a natural consequence, freight would be greatly reduced.
The letter continued to extol the virtues of the road and was signed "A Port Macquarie Man".
It seems that the Waugh and Schrader families were tempted to try their luck as selectors on the Tablelands after the Robertson Land Act freed up the purchase of land; perhaps they paid attention to the Port Macquarie correspondent who wrote in the Armidale Express of 8th December 1860: Our streets,here and there, present a lamentable appearance of neglect and poverty. There are certain holes in some of the main streets large enough to receive a horse and rider at one and the same time. When some fatal accident occurs we shall be "up and moving" to "mend our ways!" He continues The fact is we are all getting "rusty" in Port Macquarie. Our grass grown streets tell a tale of inertness against each and all of us. He reports There has been a good deal of illness during the last few months - measles, influenza &c - yet on the whole this favoured district, as regards health only, deserves to be better peopled, in order to restore it to its pristine greatness. Those who remember Port Macquarie some twenty five years since, its wealthy inhabitants, its freshness, vigour, and business like appearance, can now only compare it to a "deserted village". Let us hope for brighter days.
Over several years the town of Walcha continued to grow as the surrounding district became more populated by selectors. Alexander Waugh moved to the New England in the late 1850s, buying land at Walcha on the advice of John Fletcher of Oorundumbie, near Walcha. The Waugh family called their selection "The Lagune". It consisted of three selections of 320 acres (in the name of Alexander and his two sons Harvey and William Napier Reeve Waugh) and two of 960 acres of conditional lease, a total of 2880 acres. They bred horses (of "Whalebone" stock, for police mounts) grew potatoes and bred Merino sheep crossed with Border Leicester rams.
After a few years the Waugh family sold "The Lagune" to John Fletcher and bought land on the boundary of "Ohio" and "Bergen-op-Zoom" Stations. They called this property "Spring Creek" and Alexander Waugh's home faced the Apsley River.
In April 1861 the Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser 30 April 1861 reported from Port Macquarie that Dr Schrader, lately our coroner, has left the district to practise his profession at Walcha, where I am informed, there is an excellent opening for a medical practitioner. We lose in Dr Schrader an excellent and most worthy and humane man, and with him every success in his future professional career. The office of coroner must be filled up without delay. In the following years Dr CUD Schrader of Walcha was listed as a Medical Referee for the Australian Mutual Provident (Life Assurance) Society. (Reference Empire 30 Jan 1863 Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser 11 June 1863, and 26 Jan 1865)
The discovery of alluvial gold in creeks and river beds helped the development of the area, with Tia, Glen Morrison and Nowendoc being the largest mining centres. In 1866 Tia became the scene of the first mining activity, with more occurring on properties such as Oorundumby, Branga Park and Bergen-Op-Zoom. In 1872 the Glen Morrison diggings became the source of the most profitable gold mining in the area, producing 46,000 ounces of gold from April 1872 to June 1873.
The road to the coast however remained an issue, the local paper reporting The road from Walcha to Nowendoc is on what is called the Port Stephens line, and may be classed amongst the most wretched in the colony, and barely safe to travel. Some £70 a year was originally voted for this Slough of Despond, but this year there is nothing on the Estimates for its maintenance. Lord Nelson remarked that " England expects every man to do his duty, while "he of Orange " has so far done his that he has got, we are told, some £50,000 voted for his district. The precept of the one and the example of the other may be recommended to the hon. member for New England. (Maitland Mercury 15 July 1873) Was "he of Orange" the politician Samuel Henry Terry (1833-1887) a landowner who was member of the Legislative Assemby for the New England fom 1871-1880 in the NSW Parliament?
The railway progressed northwards from Sydney, travelling a similar route to the road The railhead reached Singleton in May 1863, Muswellbrook by 1st June 1869, Aberdeen on 20th October 1870, Quirindi by 13th August 1877, Tamworth on 14th October 1878, Uralla by 2nd August 1882 and was opened in Armidale on 1st February 1883. As the railway moved north so the isolation of Walcha, on the edge of the Tablelands, decreased.
According to W. Frederic Morrison in "The Aldine Centennial History of NSW" of 1888 Walcha is a town of importance lying east of Walcha Road Station twelve miles and is situated on the River Apsley. It is the centre of a very rich farming district, on the eastern slope of the coastal range. Pastoral and agricultural industries claim the attention of the people in this district equally, and both enterprises are successful. Gold mining has been carried on with profit for many years in the southern part of the district. The place is one of the healthiest in the colony. The climate is delightful and the country seldom suffers from drought.
Aldine's Centennial History of NSW also lists the most prominent men in the State. The information would have been gleaned from the men themselves and so this wonderful old book is an invaluable reference for family historians. The prominent citizens of Walcha were:-
JAMES WILLIAM DUFF, J.P., Grazier, and a leading resident of the Walcha district, was born in 1849 at Jerry's Plains, He is the son of Mr. Peter Duff, an old squatting pioneer of the north-western district, and grandson of an officer in the British army, a Waterloo veteran who afterwards became a settler in New South Wales. Mr. Duff was educated at the High School, Maitland. In 1870 purchased land near Walgett, and for about fourteen years carried on pastoral pursuits in that district on the property of which he is still the proprietor. A year afterwards he settled in the Walcha district, where he carries on stud sheep farming in connection with his Walgett property. He is a justice of the peace, and was married in 1873 to the daughter of Mr. John Brown, of Ellerslie, Jerry's Plains, and has three sons and five daughters.
T. O. HARDAKER, Merchant, was born in Rawden, near Leeds, England, in 1839, and came out to the colonies with his parents at the age of nine. He was educated at Christ Church School, Sydney, and afterwards served his time as a carpenter and joiner. For some years he was engaged as a builder and contractor with his brothers, and in 1865 settled in Walcha in the same business. Among the contracts he fulfilled. in that town was the erection of the hotel now occupied by Mr. Bath. In 1867 he purchased the oldest established general store in the town, which for over fourteen years he successfully carried on. In 1881 he took his brother into partnership, and for about six years resided in Sydney for the purpose of educating his family. The partnership with his brother expired in 1886, and Mr. Hardaker returned to Walcha in 1887, where he has since resided. He keeps a large general stock, and enjoys extensive patronage among the settlers of the district. Mr. Hardaker was married in 1867, and is an adherent of the Congregational body. He is the father of three sons and three daughters.