Introduction

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Welcome to some historical and interesting stories about the Blackmores and related families. Short stories are here on the "Posts" page. On another Page, under the Menu, "Story Links to PDF's", there are Links to, more detailed family histories with a short introduction. To read the latest "Post" just scroll down.  If you "Follow" and … Continue reading Introduction

Gregory Downs Station – Old Photographs

In October 1876 three Watson brothers left from “Walwa” on the Upper Murray in Victoria, following a survey trip by Greg, one of the brothers, in 1875, to settle on the Gregory River at “Gregory Downs” some 120 kilometres south of Burketown, arriving in August 1877. Two of the brothers, Harry Frederick and Philip Sidney … Continue reading Gregory Downs Station – Old Photographs

Julia Farr Centre, Adelaide.

The End of an Era : Julia Farr Centre Guest Post by North Road Cemetery, Adelaide This week, as International Women’s Day is celebrated (2023) the North Road Cemetery in Adelaide pays tribute to Julia Warren Farr (nee Ord). Julia Warren Farr (nee Ord) It is interesting to note that it was announced this week … Continue reading Julia Farr Centre, Adelaide.

Watson Bros to Gregory Downs

In 1876 three Watson brothers came from “Walwa” on the Upper Murray in Victoria following a survey trip the previous year, to settle on the Gregory River at “Gregory Downs” some 120 kms south of Burketown.Two of the brothers, Harry Frederick and Philip Sydney were twins aged only 19 at the time and the youngest … Continue reading Watson Bros to Gregory Downs

The RFDS and Foxtrot Delta Romeo

The Royal Flying Doctor Service from the Mt Isa base and Dr Ian Robinson were regular visitors to Gregory Downs for the clinics conducted there and at other locations around the Gulf country and Mt Isa district. Dr Ian Robinson treating a patient with VH-FDR in the background. The RFDS aircraft was a Beechcraft Queen … Continue reading The RFDS and Foxtrot Delta Romeo

The Cungelella Cattle Mystery

Salvador Rosa National Park Crystal clear springs add more than ten million litres of water a day to peaceful Louisa Creek and the Nogoa River as they meander beneath a backdrop of rocky sandstone crags and spires. Salvator Rosa National Park is at the western edge of the Central Queensland Sandstone Belt and roughly midway … Continue reading The Cungelella Cattle Mystery

The Fosters at Riversleigh and Gregory Downs

Harry Foster at “Riversleigh” in the 1950’s (Photo courtesy Ken Foster) Mrs “Aunty” Barrett, at the Gregory Hotel, had taken in and reared the child Harry Foster and his sister, Jessie. Harry and Jessie Foster's young mother died in childbirth at Westmoreland Station and their father left the two children with Emily Barrett at the … Continue reading The Fosters at Riversleigh and Gregory Downs

Going Bush – a Jackeroo

By Greg Blackmore I can remember always wanting to be a Jackeroo and had my leather saddle bag and quart pot for a few years before I had even left school. Raised on a small mixed grazing property near Rylstone and Mudgee in NSW, I rode a bike the 3 miles to Clandulla Public School, … Continue reading Going Bush – a Jackeroo

Dud Suttor – Soldier and Wallaby #129

Dudley Colin Suttor Dudley Colin Suttor, was born at Koorawatha in 1892, whilst his parents, Walter and Louisa (Nee Monro), were living at the property “Warrangong”. Walter and Louisa had 9 children, 5 boys (2 of those died young) and 4 girls. Dud Suttor was their seventh child and their other children were:-Stella Louise 1881- … Continue reading Dud Suttor – Soldier and Wallaby #129

A Pilot’s Log Book

By Greg Blackmore In 1965 I started flying lessons with Schutt Aircraft Flying Academy at Grovedale airfield, just out of Geelong in Victoria. This was during my first year at Marcus Oldham Agricultural College and I progressed through to my first Solo flight in October that year at about 8 hours flying time. In April … Continue reading A Pilot’s Log Book

Major Olaf Murray Walsoe

The first of Sydney Grandison “Grandie” and Isabella Watson’s children to marry was Isobella “Emily” who married George Black from Tarwin Meadows (near Inverloch) in Victoria, in 1871. Emily was only 20 years of age at the time and George was 38 years her senior at 58. Life at Tarwin Meadows was fairly hard for … Continue reading Major Olaf Murray Walsoe