Short Stories of the Blackmores, Suttors, Kinlesides, Watsons, Farrs, Gordons, Blacks and others.
In 1882 the Watson’s moved the goods out of their store at Burketown to Gregory Downs to the present site of the Hotel and started a pub and store. This was the spot that they had at first settled and built on when they arrived on the Gregory River but they found that travellers became … Continue reading The Gregory Hotel
One of the few flowing rivers in Australia, the Gregory River rises from underground limestone springs close to the Northern Territory border, 50 kilometres east of Camooweal and eventually joins the Nicholson River to flow into the Gulf of Carpentaria near Burketown. With a catchment area of some 12,690 square kilometres the mean flow rate … Continue reading The Gregory River
In 1973 and I obtained my Private Pilot’s Licence at the Rockhampton Aero Club and then in May 1973 purchased at a 1957 model, straight tail, Cessna 172 VH-RDP from George Campbell at Mudgee in NSW, for $4,300. George Cambell was a renowned ex WW2 flight instructor and had also given flying lessons to my … Continue reading VH-RDP, 1957 Cessna straight tail 172
In 1974, Lew Blackmore ordered a new McCulloch Aero Resources Super J2 VA-18 Gyroplane. He saw this new rotary wing aircraft as being suitable to assist mustering operations on Gregory Downs, in Queensland's Gulf Country. The Gyroplane had a Hughes rotor system and a Lycoming 180 HP aircraft engine that was widely used in light … Continue reading “Black Looking Doover” – Gyrocopter Down
Bush Yarn from helicopter mustering pilot, Russell Carrington of "Planet Downs" "I had a pretty wild ride once on a flight from Mt. Isa to Gregory in a light aircraft. Passengers were Dennis Bauer and myself, Paul Langridge (a ringer at Planet) and Wray Finlay (an old Drover bloke and local identity) and the Pilot … Continue reading “Shakey the Pilot”
Wyndradyne's Grave at "Brucedale" (Note plaque spelt as Wyndradene also notes wrong date of death as he died in March 1829) A new plaque was added on the 10th August 2024 by the Bathurst District Historical Society and the Suttor family that corrected Wyndradyne’s date of death to March 1829 New plaque with corrections for … Continue reading William Suttor & Aboriginal Clan Chief “Windradyne”
Grandie Watson's and Isabella Watson's grave at "Walwa" Grave of great, great, grandfather, Sidney Grandison Watson and his first wife, Isabella Robinson, at Walwa Homestead on the Upper Murray River, Victoria. "Grandie", as he was known, was the father of Harry, Sidney and Greg Watson who settled Gregory Downs in 1877. Rumour also has it … Continue reading Grandie Watson of Walwa, Upper Murray
The Ribbon Gang In 1830 a convict mutiny flared at Bathurst. Driven beyond endurance by brutal treatment, a young convict, Ralph Entwistle, led a spectacular goal break. Entwistle had been flogged and had his ticket of leave cancelled for bathing naked in a stream as the Governor rode by. He vowed never to be captured … Continue reading The Ribbon Gang of Bathurst Bushrangers
William Henry Suttor In 1832, great, great, grandfather, William Suttor became enamoured with a local Bathurst girl, the daughter of a fiery West Indian planter, who had taken up a grant on the Bathurst Plains. William and the girl enjoyed clandestine meetings at the Willow Pond – until a new man came on the scene. … Continue reading William Suttor’s Pistol Duel
William Henry Suttor Letters and telegrams of condolence poured into “Alloway Bank”, near Bathurst, one day in the 1870’s, when a Sydney newspaper announced the death of William Henry Suttor, of Bathurst Plains. Most amused was William Henry himself. His deep laugh boomed through the homestead as he read his own obituary. With relish he … Continue reading William Suttor reads his own Obituary
Struth it's Blackmores 