Courtesy of TROVE Northern Star, Saturday 15 March 1947
SAGAS OF THE EARLY DAYS by WINDSOR LANG.
An Era Of “Squattage”
THE SETTLEMENT of the more open country, on the upper reaches of the, Clarence and the Richmond basins was brought about by a ”squattage” wave which commenced about 1839. By about 1849-50 the opening-up of new pastoral holdings in this area ceased, apparently because there were no further large areas of land suitable for pastoral pursuits.
In the Richmond River district these “stations” were situated in the more open country between Casino and the present site of Lismore, and to the west of Casino. They occupied the only part of the district that could be accounted as approaching anything like established settlement. Supplementary branches of some of these stations existed at places far down the south side of the South Arm and the main river, although there is no evidence that these off-shoots were much more than lightly-stocked and thinly-manned relief “runs” for the parent stations.
Mr. Cecil H. Anderson, of Casino, who, as a young man had had experience throughout most of the district covered by these holdings, made contact with many of the original hands as well as having access to the office records of Wooroowoolgen station. He told me that 35 miles of the river frontage from Bungawalbyn Creek to the west was held by Wooroowoolgen station.
Mr. Robert Leycester Dawson mentions that at one time this portion was included in Mr. Clarke Irving’s holdings, as was Tuckombil station, a few miles to the south of Woodburn. Another station, named Virginia, was situated somewhere in the vicinity of Steve King’s Plains.
This was held in the name of Mr. Ward Stephens.
Mr. William Yabsley arrived in 1843 to occupy a grazing lease-hold near Ballina, for which, without previously seeing it, he had made successful application. He had taken it for granted that it would be open forest country whereas it was dense Scrub and swamp land. The boundary of the grazing rim was approximately where the Tintenbar and North Creek roads of today intersect. It is not recorded whether he ever attempted to enter into occupation. More than probably he did not, because we learn that he settled in Ballina and engaged in the timber trade until he and his family removed to Coraki in 1849.
The story of pastoral settlement in the district is an extremely interesting one, but already it has been recorded in something approaching detail, from the advent of Messrs. Clay and Stapleton at “Cassino” (later Tomki) station, by those better qualified than I to do so.
However, as Mr. William Yabsley had secured the grazing rights of a block that was far removed from the acknowledged pastoral portion of the district I should like to repeat here Mr. Cecil H. Anderson’s account of Mr. Yabsley’s “trek.” Mr. Anderson recounts the graphic description given by Mr. Henry Barnes, at that time in the employ, of Messrs. Clay and Stapleton, and living in a bark hut about the position of the Casino Golf Links of today.
He was astounded to see a bearded man ride up, who introduced himself as Yabsley, asking how he could get to Bulleena (Ballina) with his bullock team and dray as he had secured a grazing settlement there.” Mr. Yabsley and his family had left the settlement (Grafton) with the, intention of occupying the block. He had broken an axle at Myall Creek, and had returned to get it fixed. Eventually he had arrived at Cassino by following the track that Mr. Bundock had used. Informed that there was no crossing on the north arm, and that the scrub behind Lismore towards Ballina would prove to be an impassable barrier, Mr. Yabsley was directed to Pelican Tree, where he left his team in charge of Mr. Donald Campbell.
Subsequently, Mr. Campbell took the bullocks down with “fats” to Mobbs’ Bay, from where, later on, they were swum over to the north side. Soon after he and a black boy went up to Lismore, station and bought two extra young bullocks from Mr. Wilson, handled them, and then led them back through the scrub to Ballina, on foot.
Meantime, Mr. Yabsley constructed a cedar punt, and proceeded, by water, to his destination.
Practically all the land along the river fiats between Casino, Lismore, and the sea coast, was left for the passing occupancy of the timber getters during the period of their cutting-licenses. These were renewed annually. They conferred no right of tenancy. Those lands were far away from being grazing lands, so had no appeal that would lead to their occupation by pastoralists, and they were not made available to the agriculturalists until after the Land Act of 1861.
Land regulations of 1847 granted an opportunity to the pioneer “Squatters” to secure a “fixity of tenure” on portions of their “run” holdings. Up to that time they had no permanent legal right to any part of their holdings leased from the Crown at a merely nominal rental.
The 1847 Act, gave squatters the right to purchase any small area of their runs – not less than 160 acres, or more than 640 acres, at, £1 and acre – to be paid off within three months.
This enabled the squatter to secure the choice spot for his home stead, to erect substantial buildings, thereon, to effect desired improvements, and to retain fixed ownership of all these. Added to this it gave him a “sense” of security regarding the remainder of his holding. Events proved this “sense” did not coincide with the reality. At a later period, fixity of tenure was given to a few more, other than the squatters, when in 1857 a “few” farms at Casino, Lismore, Codrington and Deptford (Ballina) were sold at Casino at the upset ‘price £1 an acre.
(To be continued)