May 15, 2015
A tattered old map, drawn on tracing paper and found hidden away in the Mitchell Library in Sydney was the trigger for Nanango historian Dr Judith Grimes to produce her latest book.
“Squatters In The South Burnett – Their Life and Times 1840-1860” was officially launched at historic Ringsfield House on Friday night.
The map, which was stumbled upon by a researcher in the 1980s who was investigating the life of Maryborough founder George Furber, shows southern parts of Queensland in the 1840s, from Kilcoy to Bustards Bay (north of Agnes Water) and west to the Balonne River.
It is the earliest known map that shows the South Burnett region and it inspired Dr Grimes to research the history of the area when she saw it.
Her book tells the story of the first European settlers in the Nanango area, John James Malcolm Borthwick (Tarong Station) and William Elliot Oliver (Nanango Station), who came to the area in the mid-1840s.
Dr Grimes went back to primary sources to dig out “gems” of forgotten history for her work.
“It’s a story of conflict and compassion,” she said.
“Conflict between two cultures, conflict between different agriculture systems in Britain and in Australia, conflict between free men and convicts, conflict between squatters and workers, but also about the compassion that was also involved.”
She says she believes she has also settled the debate whether it should be Barker Creek or Barkers Creek – she votes for “Barkers” (without an apostrophe) as there were several Barker brothers who later owned Nanango Station.
On this point, fellow author and researcher Liz Caffery – who officially launched Dr Grimes’ book – agreed.
“All the old-timers always said Barkers,” she said.
Mrs Caffery praised Dr Grimes’ work.
“I am in awe of Judy’s ability to find interesting and unusual things,” she said.
“She has enriched our knowledge and understanding of the local area.”
A special guest at the launch was Ian Borthwick, who is currently working with Stanwell at the Mica Creek Power Station in north-western Queensland but is originally from Gippsland, Victoria.
Mr Borthwick’s great-great-grandfather’s uncle was John J. M. Borthwick.
Dr Grimes said she had been unable to locate any recent descendants from William Oliver – the last she had found had been wounded twice in World War I before eventually being killed in action.
Dr Grimes thanked Brisbane Valley Heritage Trails for their assistance with the book, the second in a series about Nanango history.
In 2013, Dr Grimes released a biography of Jacob Goode, of Goode’s Inn fame, who built the first commercial building in Nanango.
Copies of both books can be bought at the South Burnett Energy Centre in Henry Street, Nanango, and at the Country Focus office.
The first book is also available from the Amazon online store for Kindle.
- Related article: Nanango’s History Comes To Life
Footnote: George Clapperton, who worked on Tarong, bought this station in 1857; Oliver sold Nanango Station to the Barker family (of Barkers Creek fame, above) who sold it to George Clapperton in 1861. At the time of his death in 1875, Clapperton owned three iconic South Burnett stations: Nanango, Tarong and Barambah. Nanango historian Daun Clapperton has written a book about George.
