Rosewood History. QLd.

Ipswich Observer and West Moreton Advocate (Qld.1870 – 1879), Wednesday 20 March 1872, page 3

ALFRED.
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)

Your correspondent has had some opportunities of experiencing the amenities of a country life, and he can say, without any fear in a future existence of atonement for a story, that your crowded towns—nay, not even the gay metropolis on the Brisbane—has such charms for him as the quiet unostentatious village of Alfred. Here he can sit down in the shade of his own home, and philosophise, as his mind directs him, undisturbed by the murmur of towns, and, happy in the thought that he has at last realise the fact that life is really rich in happiness, provided mankind will only show forbearance in their troubles, and live on patiently expecting a change for the better.

Alfred, like all country villages, is easily described. There is a difference, however, between it and most places which speaks volumes for the high tone of morality existing in it; and that is the absence of public-houses and a lockup, two places generally, but, as you see, falsely, supposed to be indispensable to Australian villages.

Alfred is chiefly an agricultural district, cotton being now the chief product—in fact, almost every person having a farm has a portion of it planted with that commodity. The township itself is hardly worth the name of a town, as it contains few houses. The place is scattered, people locating themselves in the most convenient and arable ground. It is situated at and about the Western Gate, where Mr. Barrymore has charge, and is watered by Mort’s and Western Greeks, which contain water during the most severe droughts. At the present time pasture is abundant, being a yard high almost everywhere.

The Primary School, recently erected, is a pretty four-roomed cottage, and about the nicest country school I have yet seen. It is only about 35 yards from the railway line, and not a quarter of a mile from the gate-house. Its proximity to the railway line serves in a great measure to break the monotony of bush life—if we might term monotony a spot

“With lowing herds and pasture green,” through which the old road to the Downs passes, on which an occasional equestrian is seen to “Wend his solitary way.”

There is a large source of amusement at Alfred. Kangaroos are frequently seen by the score, and so tame that they can be ridden up to without showing any more signs of fear than the well known one of sitting on their haunches, and turning their pretty heads towards the intruder on their quiet, as if they were capable of discerning by a sniff of air whether he were friend or foe. Ducks, too, are very numerous, as are plovers and many other kinds of birds that afford as much pleasure to the sportsman as they are useful for culinary purposes.

I might add I have seen no reptiles here as yet, although in riding up, as I passed through grass, I saw an immense carpet snake almost under my horse’s fore feet. With great presence of mind I plunged both spurs into the horse’s side, which immediately leaped over the reptile, and thus escaped being bitten.

There is nothing more to narrate, but, when there is, I shall find time to acquaint you of it.