A story of immigrants, poverty, and Cattle Kings.

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Just finished watching a DVD, " Kings in grass castles ", by Mary Durack. My interest awakened, I probed a little deeper, in the Australian Dictionary of Biography. I started with Patrick Durack, and was introduced to a collection of tough men and women who opened up the Channel country, the Gulf, parts of the NT, and the Kimberley. Hard nosed businessmen, hard as nails cattlemen, women raising children in the most difficult circumstances, a fascinating glimpse of our early pioneers. So, without further ado, let the story begin.

Patrick Durack.
Biography - Patrick Durack - Australian Dictionary of Biography

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John Costello, Patrick's brother-in-law.

Biography - John Costello - Australian Dictionary of Biography

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William Landsborough, explorer, land owner.

Biography - William Landsborough - Australian Dictionary of Biography

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Nathaniel { Nat] Buchanen, the man who is said to have settled more new land than any man in Australia, but died with none in his possession.

Biography - Nathaniel (Nat) Buchanan - Australian Dictionary of Biography

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Alexander Forrest, largely instrumental in opening up the Kimberley to grazing. Wonder if the current day Forrest of WA is related ?

Biography - Alexander Forrest - Australian Dictionary of Biography

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Michael Durack, Patricks oldest son.

Biography - Michael Patrick Durack - Australian Dictionary of Biography

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Isadore Samuel Emanuel, went with the Duracks to the Kimberley.

Biography - Isidore Samuel Emanuel - Australian Dictionary of Biography

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Charles MacDonald, took cattle on one of the longest cattle drives in history.

Biography - Charles Macdonald - Australian Dictionary of Biography

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Who could forget the kid with 5 shillings in his pocket, and a one eyed horse, Sir Sidney Kidman, legend.

Biography - Sir Sidney Kidman - Australian Dictionary of Biography

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My Grandfather was born in Aramac, 1898, and worked as a stockman from an early age. My father left home aged 15 to work as a stockman in the channel country. Many a tall tale was told around a fire with a long neck or two [ not me, of course] and the Duracks, Costello, Landsborough, all got a mention, although told long after they had left the area, I imagine. One of the biggest claims to fame was riding with Harry Redford, one of our relatives was said to have been with him taking the cattle down the Strzelecki track, but Dad did tell me later with a wink that if every man who claimed to be there, was, there would be no men left in the district. His court case at Roma is legendary, they couldn't get a jury to convict him, and indeed shut the court house down for two years as a result, cases being heard on neutral ground elsewhere. All you have to do is dig a bit, and you find a most fascinating history. Larger than life.

Harry Redford - Wikipedia

The trial, lunatics , cattle duffers, priceless.

18 Feb 1873 - ROMA DISTRICT COURT. - Trove