17/12/1869
... part of the KellyGang story
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Four miles further along the road I came to
DOON
This place is certainly suggestive of "Ye banks and. braes of bonnie Doon,'" and at this season of the year it looks very, pretty, the surrounding hills being covered with long grass. The population, however, has not changed during the past ten years, a public house and two or three huts being the extent of the buildings. A few miles further on several parcels of ground have been taken up under the 42nd clause of the Land Act. At this place I came to the residence of an old and much esteemed friend and well known contractor. This gentleman has erected a neat comfortable Cottage on the banks of the Dry Creek, a misnomer, as there is a fine stream of water flowing along it at present. Mr Motherwell, who is an old experienced agriculturalist, has reared a rare stock about 500 - of the finest fowls in the country. His sheep three pets, are beauties, and so fat, that they with difficulty walk. One weighs stout 120 lb, and had about 10 lb of wool on its back. The garden is tilled with a choice selection of shrubs and fruit trees. As a proof that farming is no new hobby of Mr Motherwell's, I my mention that the sideboard in his little parlor is covered with silver plate, prizes obtained for exhibits at our agricultural shows in Melbourne.
A short distance from this young model farm, I came upon the
BORODOIANAN STATION
This is the largest squatting station in the district. This year 65,000 sheep have been shorn, and although the run is much over stocked, yet the sheep are in fine condition, owing to the favorable season. The shearing was finished some weeks ago, still a few stray ones are brought in occasionally. It is from this cause that the great difficulty arises of keeping stations clean. Mr Wilson is striving to keep his stock down by supplying tho miners at Godfrey’s and other places with cheap mutton. The consumption, however, is not equal to the increase in his flocks. Borodomanan is a kind of small township, consisting of the homestead and a large number of outbuildings. Mr Wilson is the prophet, priest, and king of the establishment; whilst he keeps a sharp look out over his worldly affairs, he does not forget the good old Scotch custom of gathering his large household around the family altar morning and evening. To be continued.
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