Rosewood History

From the Brisbane Courier (Qld), Saturday, 10 April 1926, page 15

Grandchester and District.
Famous Stations and Rich Farm Lands.
(By Our Special Representative.)

As the terminus of the first section of the first railway opened in Queensland, Grandchester, or “Bigge’s Camp,” as it was then known, was a very busy place. The driving of the tunnel, some 28 chains long, through the Liverpool Range, kept a fairly large population in the vicinity for a considerable time, but with the extension of the line business decreased, and those who followed railway work broke camp and “kept with the rails.” Some, however, took advantage of the early Land Acts, and selected and made homes for themselves, In many instances their descendants remain on the original areas.

THE oldest surviving resident of the district is Mr. Edmond Rafter, who was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, 85 years ago next October, and arrived in Moreton Bay in the ship Theresa, Captain Kennedy commander, in the first week of August, 1862. The voyage round the Cape of Good Hope was uneventful. The immigrants from Ireland got their full share of sensation when the paddle steamer Lady Waterford, which was carrying them from Dublin to Plymouth, ran down a sailing schooner beating into the bay. “She went through her like a bar of soap,” said Mr. Rafter. After landing in what was then the very small town of Brisbane, Mr. Rafter made his way to Ipswich, thence to Pine Mountain, where, for a couple of years, he engaged in pine felling, the logs being rafted down the river to Cox and Burleigh’s sawmill at Kangaroo Point.

The flood in 1805, however, resulted in the loss of a raft of logs, and Mr. Rafter made his way to the Downs, where he followed shearing for a few years. When the 1870 Land Act was passed he selected land at Grandchester,-and three years afterwards became a benedict. For 53 years he and his wife have lived in the neighbourhood; in fact, the slab and shingled kitchen erected when they were first married “is still in use after having been moved three times.”

After  I look up the land for about nine years, I used to go to Jondaryan shearing,” said Mr. Rafter. ”Three and sixpence a score was the price paid for shearing in those days, but one could make a cheque of £60 in the season, which was a big help when one was getting the land in order.”

Then came the era of dairying, and that, with general farming, was followed for many years. As a change Mr. Rafter applied for the position of overseer of works to the Laidley Shire Council, a position he held for more than 13 years. Six years ago he retired from active work, although today he ploughs enough ground to secure winter feed for the two or three cows which keep the house in milk and butter.

The Rafter family comprised five sons and three daughters. All the boys came to Australia and lived to advanced ages. John, the eldest, died about three years ago at Grandchester, at the age of 91 years. Put died in Toowoomba when 87, and James, retired from the police force, died in Redcliffe, aged 70 years. Mrs. Rafter was formerly Miss Louisa Moody, born in Devonshire. She arrived with her parents in Brisbane in 1866 by the ship Sirrico, which was burned at sea on the return voyage. A cheery, charming, and hospitable old lady, she and her husband are a fine testimony as to what can be achieved in Queensland by the exercise of common sense and industry.

WAR RECORD AND THE SCHOOL.
Although the population of the district is not large, it is doubtful if there is any other centre in Australia which in proportion to population can show such a record as is exhibited on the honour board displayed at the Grandchester Railway Station. There are 45 names inscribed on it; seven were killed in action, one was gassed, and seven others wounded-more than 35 per cent, of casualties. In addition, D.C.Ms. were awarded to R. J. Carew and E. Holland, while Military Medals were gained by G. Porter, 13. Quinn, J. Bright, and A. E. Bank.

The school, which has an enrolment of 45 children, is in charge of Mr. S. N. Alcorn. The old schoolhouse was destroyed by fire, and the present building was erected and opened in 1917. In the fire all records were lost, but by the number of the school it must have been opened about 48 years ago.

Mr. T. J. Watson (railway station master) kindly furnished information regarding the trade of the station. About 1000 gallons of cream are sent away every week; prop timber for the coal mines totals about 1000 tons a year; and hardwood logs about 3000 tons a year.

THE FARMS.
The first farm visited was that of Mr. W. H. Schimke, who about two years ago bought the old Creedy homestead of 180 acres. Mr. Schimke is one of the well-known Hatton Vale pioneering farming families. He moved to the Burnett district, but, selling out there, decided to settle nearer the big market. He has 35 acres under cultivation, including eight acres of lucerne.

All along the banks of Western Creek, which here runs south, under the Liverpool Range, there are good black soil flats, very suitable for lucerne growing. In fact, the further one travels up the creek, the wider the flats open out. At the time of the visit rain was badly wanted One crop of early sown maize was good, but all the later planted seed had practically perished. The recuperative powers of “new” land, especially the rich alluvial basalt, is so great that the late showers may have a good effect, and at least some sort of crop may be pulled.

Mr. Schimke’s small son has a patch of acola cotton planted. The youngster, who seems to be a “born” farmer, started a cotton patch last year, retrieving some seeds from old chaff bags that had been used for sending cotton to the ginnery. These he cleaned from the lint, hoed in, and harvested. This year he has a larger plot, does all the cleaning, and will do the picking, getting the gross result for himself. The patch had stood up well to the dry weather, and is carrying n fair number of bolls with long-stapled cotton.

It is intended to put a lot more of the virgin land under the plough, but the great difficulty is to get labour. Indeed, there was a general complaint throughout the district that it was almost impossible to get men to stay more than a few days on a farm. As one farmer put it: “A man will come along with his swag, vow he wants work, put in perhaps a week, draw his money, then go to the nearest hotel, spend his cash, and tramps on to the nearest police-station for rations.”

There’s no doubt from observations made by the writer during the past two years that the difficulty is a real one, and in keeping much land under grass that otherwise would be producing crops.

Mr. Schimke has a herd of 31 cows milking, with a well-bred I.M.S. bull at the head of the herd.

Following up the creek the next farm is that of Councillor P. J. Doonan, a member of the Rosewood Shire Council. Here there are 45 acres of cultivation, the crops being kept exclusively for the dairy herd. A Gatton College-bred Jersey bull is used with the herd, the result being some nice young stock.

Going on, the farm of Mr. T. J. Stokes is reached. This is a fairly large holding of 460 acres, of which 60 acres are under cultivation. A herd of 40 cows are milked, and a number of pigs are fattened. An l.M.S bull is used with grade cows.

Crossing the creek one arrives at the farm of Mr. T. Waite, a property he purchased recently from Mr. Andrews, now living in retirement in Brisbane. This farm has extensive black soil flats, and more than 100 acres are under the plough. Lucerne does exceedingly. well, and from a small patch Mr. Waite took off three bags of very good lucerne seed, which he estimates to be worth £60. The total area is 450 acres, 30 acres being under lucerne. Only, 15 cows are milked, but the herd is good-I.M.S. cows with a Jersey bull.

Adjoining is a farm of 80 acres owned by Mr. John Coyne, one of the early settlers of the district. Forty acres of flat are cultivated, and a herd of Jersey cows is milked. The breed is being kept pure, a Gatton College bred Jersey bull being used. Judging by the experience of those who keep to a clean strain, it is more profitable than crossing, as the progeny will always bring a much better price than the hybrid-bred animal, no matter how good milkers the mothers may have been.

The last farm on the creek is that of Mr. M. Baker, but he lately established a butcher’s shop, which he works with his sons in Grandchester, where he lives.

FRANKLYN VALE
Franklyn Vale Creek runs into Western Creek about two miles below Grandchester. The present road from Grandchester runs over sandy ridges for about four miles, when the creek and black soil flats are met with. Franklyn Vale has historic associations, for it is one of the early stations of Queensland. It was originally taken up by Henry Mort in 1849. Mr. Mort who arrived in Sydney from England when a lad of 18 spent a couple of years in the Southern city and then took a consignment of bulls to Mr. D. C. M’Connel, the original founder of Cressbrook station in 1842. He remained there as a manager for a couple of years while M’Connell went to the Old Country, whence he returned with his bride.

Striking out for himself Mr. Mort explored the foothills of the Liverpool Range and applied for the run. In its best days it included a very extensive scope of country, starting from Perry’s Nob near Rosewood it followed the Bremer to Mt. Walker, ran West to Mt. Mistake, at the head of Laidley Creek, including the Laidley Valley, swung round by Hatton Vale, and thence to the point of commencement.

A partnership was entered into with Mr. Laidley, sheep being run on the Franklyn Vale side, and cattle on the Laidley Creek side. Mr. Henry Mort spent about nine years on the station, and then went to, Sydney, where he joined Thos. Sutcliffe Mort in the wool broking business. Before leaving he started a dairy near Keane’s Lagoon, under the management of Mr. Jacobs, an English emigrant, who had learned dairying in England.

The brand-a cross on top of an orb-was well known in the Brisbane of the early days.

The Morts did much for the dairying industry of Australia, for about the same time the Bodalla Estate, on the banks of the beautiful Tross, on the far south coast of New South Wales, was putting out cheese and bacon, which not only supplied a local market, but had a reputation in London for consistent high quality. However, those days are gone, and the station which imported bulls and stallions from the Old Land, and did much to improve the quality of Queensland stock, has been reduced in area until it now consists of 7000 acres of freehold.

Henry Mort was followed by his son, Arthur, who took up his residence on the station in 1891. Recently he and his family went to New South Wales to live, turning the property over to the son, Mr. Henry C. Mort.

There are few homes in Queensland that have been so long in the hands of the one family as Franklyn Vale. During its 77 years of existence there have been many ups and downs, floods and droughts, good and bad markets. The 1873 flood put 3ft. of water in the original homestead, where the first Henry Mort lived with his young wife. It was built of split and dressed slabs, and it is as sound today as the day when it was erected. In fact, on one of the wall plates, of adze-squared timber, can be seen a remnant of the pretty wall papers that were so much used in the early days, when the designing of the pattern was an art and the hanging a trade that had to be learned.

The 1902 drought brought a change from the Devon cattle, which previously was the breed most favoured, to the Hereford, which was found to stand better the vicissitudes of the coastal country. About that time and earlier there were columns of controversy in the Press by leading pastoralists as to the merits of the two breeds, but it appears as if it was new settled that the Hereford is the beast for the coast and the Shorthorn or Devon for the Western country. 

Prices fluctuated between £3 for a fat bullock and 30/ for a fat cow to £20 for a fat bullock. One draft of fats off Franklyn Vale-100 head-realised £2000, but that was in the boom of war time. Mr. Henry C. Mort, to whose courtesy the writer is indebted for the information given, is running two dairy farms and a lucerne farm, having some 200 acres altogether under the plough. He runs I.M.S. cows with a Greyleigh bull, and it is possible that, like his grandfather, he may do much for the dairying industry of Queensland by breeding first class milkers to take the place of the “farm robbers” which so many dairymen tolerate and feed. 

The country is looked upon as being first class fattening land and it is stated that under four acres will carry a beast. Certainly there is a lot of country rung and cleaned up and as one goes further south the ridges change from sandstone to black soil. Right through to Grey’s Plains-a fine expanse of agricultural land-to Rosevale, the basalt has been distributed.

HIDDEN VALE
The name of A. J. Cotton is identified with the cattle industry of Queensland and the Northern Territory. His Queensland home Hidden Vale is situated some four or five miles from Grandchester. It consists of 11,000 acres of freehold which was portion of Franklyn Vale estate. Mr. Cotton settled there in 1901 and built a fine two storied house which later was destroyed by fire and has been replaced by a comfortable bungalow type. Mr. Cotton is at present in Tasmania on holidays and his son (Mr. Douglas Cotton) is in charge of the homestead. The property is largely used as a resting place for cattle sent from Brunette Downs before being forwarded to market or the meat works. There is a beautiful outlook from the house over undulating ridges, most of them ringbarked and cleaned up of falling timber. 

Mr. Douglas Cotton has done much flying in the West, en route to the Territory, and speaks of getting his own aeroplane.

Franklyn Creek was a constantly running stream until 1917, and although there no still permanent holes the fact that is not always running points to the diminished rainfall of the past few years. A large dam at the bottom of one of the paddocks covers some acres in area and supplies the house with water. Numbers of wild ducks can be seen on it and occasionally  a swan or pelican makes it a resting place between flights.

There is a pretty little school topping the ridge near Hidden Vale homestead. The western front is nearly all glass. The school has an attendance of l5 and is the charge of Miss M. Dunne. A number of pictures brighten the walls and on the occasion of the visit wild flowers and gum leaves showing autumn tints were displayed thus helping to encourage in the children a love and knowledge of nome of the beauties of the Queensland bush.