Things

Overview

The from the arrival of the first Europeans in the area in the late 1830's until the late 1870's there had been nothing but change. The first change came to the Aboriginal community with the arrival of white men. With the end of the arrival convicts in about 1840 and a depression, the expansion in the number of squatting runs slowed. The next major change was in the 1850s with the discovery of gold. This reduced the number of shepperds working on the squatting runs and increased the need for meat rather than wool. In the 1860's many former gold miners and others were looking for land. Many of the squatting runs had selections cut out, but in a lot of cases the squatters managed to arrange things to suit their interests.

By the late 1870s small farmers were having real problems (Argus13/12/78)

Topics covered include

Wheat
One of the first crops to be grown was wheat. In the early years wheat was in short supply and it had to be imported into Victoria for many years. Wheat was grown around Oxley and along the River Murray. Flour mills were set up at Wahgunyah and Yackandandah.
Later the prices dropped and Victoria became an exporter. The drop in price largely affected the small selectors.

Oats
Oats attracted a similar price to that payable for wheat.

Fruit and Vegetables
Most properties and selectors had their own vegetable gardens and orchards. Some ex chinese miners operated vegatable gardens on the river flats and sold their produce to local shops.

Cattle
See the results of the cattle sales (OMA18/1/1879)

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Find the hiding places and sites where the KellyGang found fame and fortune and where their friends indulged in horse stealing and tried to make a life against the challenges of the squatters and banks. Let the KellyGang show you the places where they found safety from the law in the bush.