

Port Robe

By Jon Peasey

Published by Peasey Publications at Smashwords

Copyright 2012 Jon Peasey

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Table of Contents

Title Page

Preamble

Chapter 1 - One Fine Day

Chapter 2 - Another Fine Day

Chapter 3 - Disease

Chapter 4 \- The Long Journey

Chapter 5 \- The Chinese Invasion

Chapter 6\- Here We Go Again

Chapter 7 - Prosperous Times

Chapter 8 - Tragedy and Heroism

Chapter 9 - 1860 to 1861

Chapter 10 - 1862 to 1863

Chapter 11 - Rumblings of Discontent

Chapter 12 - Changing Times

Chapter 13 - 1868 to 1869

About the Author

Preamble

The Province of South Australia has been in operation for 21 years; it was proclaimed by Royal decree in 1836. These are the days of tall ships and coastal steamers; of horses and carts and bullock teams. And these are the days of the pioneer white settlers felling timber and carving out pastoral lands, sheep runs and wheat farms.

The export trade for wool and wheat in the southeast is expanding. Harrison Medcroft, Sub-Collector of Customs for the Guichen Bay District, in southeast South Australia, has been in the job at Port Robe for two years. Unfolding events will focus the Province's attention on Port Robe, an international sea port at Guichen Bay. Harrison (Harry) Medcroft unknowingly is in the 'box seat' and will become a crucial player in these events.

Chapter 1 - One Fine Day

Harry Medcroft woke at his usual time at 5:30 am. It was a fine morning, the sun was already up and casting a golden glow over Guichen Bay in the south eastern corner of the Province of South Australia. Harry went over to the window of his bedroom, pulled the curtains aside and looked outside. Not a cloud in the sky anywhere. 'It looks like it will be another fine, hot summer day.' He thought to himself. Harry was glad it was Saturday. There were no ships in the harbour at Port Robe at present.

He looked at his wall calendar. 'Today is Saturday, 17-Jan-1857. So far the new year has been uneventful.' He took a pencil and crossed out Friday, 16-Jan-1857. Next he filled a basin with water to wash himself. Amanda his wife woke up and smiled at him. "Good morning, Harry." She said cheerily to him.

Annie their maid was already up and making preparations for breakfast. Baby Amelia woke up and cried for her feed. Amanda lifted her out of the rocking cradle and began breastfeeding her baby. Amelia's cries woke the two boys Jason and Tristan in the next bedroom. They jumped out of bed ready for the new day.

After breakfast Harry and Amanda made plans to have a picnic at Town Beach for lunch. There were a few good places at the top of the sand dunes in the shade of some coastal scrub; where there was a superb view of Town Beach and Guichen Bay. They decided to have an early lunch, about 11:00 am, so the young ones could have a nap back home in the early afternoon.

About 10:30 am they set off along Mundy Terrace, past the bullock teams waiting to unload their cargoes of wool and wheat at the Royal Circus roundabout. A nice sea breeze was blowing. They walked to a beach access point and moved down on to Town Beach. About fifteen minutes later they toiled up the sand dunes to a nice shady place amongst the coastal scrub. Guichen Bay was spread out before them. To their left the jetties could be seen. As they looked to their right, Long Beach could be seen curving around to Boatswain's Point in the distance. They drank in the scene; it sure was a pretty sight.

Harry spread out some rugs to sit on. Annie opened up the picnic baskets and spread out the lunch. They sat happily eating lunch and enjoying the scenery. It was peaceful and relaxing. Harry's practised eyes looked to his left over towards Cape Dombey and the Obelisk. He thought he had caught some movement in the area. Sure enough, the top sails of a ship could be seen on the horizon. 'Oh no, there goes my peaceful Saturday.' He continued to stare in that direction. Amanda noticed him staring.

"Harry what's up? Why are you staring like that?"

"There's a sailing ship making its way into the Bay."

"Oh Harry, that will spoil the rest of our day."

As they looked the outline of a tall ship could be seen. Harry began to pack up. They needed to get home so Harry could change into his Customs' uniform. They made their way back home.

Harry walked up to his Customs' office to prepare the necessary documents and then walked down to the jetties. The tall ship was flying a British flag. It moved into deep water off the end of the jetties and let down its anchors. The decks were crowded with passengers!

As the news spread the people of Robe Town hurried to see the sight. These were no ordinary passengers. They all had moon shaped faces, were all dressed alike and had long pigtails. They wore long sleeved blue tunics and long, black, wide bottom pants. It was hard to make out individuals as they all looked alike! Was the ship loaded with women?

A large group of people gathered on the foreshore to watch proceedings. "What is going on? Why are there so many passengers?"

As they watched a boat was lowered from the ship the 'Land of Cakes'. The Captain was rowed ashore. Harry Medcroft and his two Customs' officers, Joseph Moore and Owen Morrison waited to greet the captain. Harry watched the boat pull up at the jetty. The captain climbed up the steps. Harry met him at the top.

Harry spoke, "Captain, I am Harrison Medcroft, Sub-Collector of Customs and Harbourmaster for Guichen Bay. Welcome to Port Robe."

"Captain Miller of the Land of Cakes, at your service Mr Medcroft. May we talk privately for a few minutes?"

"Of course Captain Miller." Harry moved along the jetty to give them some privacy.

Captain Miller spoke, "Mr Medcroft, I have over 250 Chinese men on board who are on their way to the Victorian gold fields. As you know the Colony of Victoria has imposed a £10 poll tax on every Chinaman entering Victoria by sea. The Province of South Australia doesn't have any such poll tax. The Chinese have money and other valuables and will pay to be taken ashore. I want them to disembark as soon as possible."

Harry digested this information. He had a problem. The two lighter vessels the 'Osprey' and the 'Cormorant', used for transport were full of wool bales waiting to be transhipped. Harry spotted George Ormiston, of Ormiston & Co Merchants, and signalled to him to come over. George Ormiston made his way to the two men. The crowd wondered what was going on! Harry explained his predicament to George Ormiston.

George spoke, "Well Mr Medcroft, the locals with boats will have to help out; on the understanding that each man can make his own charge for ferrying the passengers and their goods."

Captain Miller readily agreed to the plan. He was anxious to discharge his passengers and move on. He climbed aboard his boat and was rowed back to the Land of Cakes.

Harry and George Ormiston encouraged the locals who owned boats to help out and charge whatever they thought was suitable. So a plan was adopted to go and get the Chinese and make them pay what was asked; anything from 5 shillings to £1 was asked to ferry them and their belongings ashore. As the trip from China cost them £12 each, this fee seemed excessive. However, the Chinese had no alternative but to pay up.

What a spectacle took place as the ferry boats drew alongside the Land of Cakes. The sailors tossed the Chinese passengers' baggage into the boats. Sometimes they missed and the baggage fell into the sea. Some of the Chinese protested. They were thrown overboard to swim ashore! If they were timid or afraid to get into the smaller boats; they were also thrown overboard. If they didn't have money to pay the ferrying charges, they were thrown overboard. The Chinese on the boats had to hand over the ferrying charge before the boats were rowed to shore.

What a sight! Boats were coming to and fro. Baggage of all description was floating in the water. Half drowned Chinese floundered ashore; some clinging to baggage. Lots of excited Chinese were jabbering away in their sing song dialects.

Many hours' later 264 Chinese men were lined up on the foreshore; with all, or some, of their baggage. What a sorry looking lot they were! Harry and his men now had the task of calculating the 5% import duty on their goods. Sergeant James Woodbine and his Mounted Police troopers, Smith, Adcock and Pickering were on hand to keep order. The Robe Town locals were worried! More Chinese came off the Land of Cakes than there were people in Robe Town!

"What are we going to do with all these Chinese?" they asked each other.

Captain Blakely, the Government Resident, arrived to inspect the Chinese. He spoke to Harry.

"Mr Medcroft, why have so many Chinese disembarked here at Port Robe?"

"To avoid the Victorian poll tax of £10 per head, Sir."

"What are we supposed to do with them?"

"I understand that they plan to walk overland to Ballaarat or Bendigo. They will need some local guides to take them there. They have silver and artefacts and goods they can trade with to buy equipment and supplies."

"Where will we put them Mr Medcroft? We can't possibly lodge this amount of people in town."

"We will have to set up a camp on the outskirts of the township until they make arrangements to move on."

Captain Blakely was thoughtful for a few moments. "We will have to find as much canvas sheeting as possible to make tents. They can purchase the canvas. We will use the area to the side of the cemetery. Also, I am a bit concerned that some of them look sick. Dr Maclagan will have to examine them. We don't want an outbreak of disease starting up."

He turned to Sergeant Woodbine, "Sergeant, when Mr Medcroft is finished here; you will escort these Chinese to the outskirts of town."

Captain Blakely motioned to George Ormiston to come over. "Mr Ormiston a favour please, sir! Can you please organise your men and any others willing to help; to gather up all the spare canvas sheeting in town and take it to the camp we are going to set up on the outskirts?"

"Of course, Captain Blakely; only too pleased to help out."

Captain Blakely sent one of his aides to Dr Maclagan's house with a message to see him as soon as possible. Dr Maclagan cancelled the rest of his appointments for the day and walked briskly to the foreshore. He could see a large crowd had gathered. Captain Blakely's aide had already informed him that a ship full of Chinese men had disembarked. He made his way to Captain Blakely.

"It's good of you to come, Dr Maclagan. Some of these Chinese look sick. Will you please examine them? We don't want an outbreak of disease in Robe Town."

The crowd looked on expectantly. The excitement was almost too much to bear! "What if these Chinese had exotic Eastern diseases?"

A sudden fear of illness, or even death, went through the crowd. A feeling of revulsion was felt; yet their curiosity held them transfixed to the spot. The Chinese already outnumbered the population of Robe Town. It was a disturbing situation to be in!

Dr Maclagan finished his initial examination of the sick Chinese. He went to Captain Blakely. "These men will have to be isolated from the others. They need medical treatment urgently. Set up a tent at least 50 yards away from the camp. I will start treatment when the tent is set up."

"Very good, Dr Maclagan; the camp will be set up at the side of the cemetery. Sergeant Woodbine will escort the Chinese there as soon as Mr Medcroft is finished."

He turned to Sergeant Woodbine, "Sergeant, keep the sick men away from the rest. You may begin your march to the camp site, when Mr Medcroft is ready."

Harry and his men worked quickly. They had to liaise with the headman of each group of Chinese. They were the only ones who could speak any form of English. The headmen were responsible for all negotiations and documents for their own groups. However, Chinese money was not legal tender in South Australia. When Harry was satisfied he had collected enough silver to pay for the duty on their goods, he informed Sergeant Woodbine.

The Chinese headmen were informed that they would all be taken to the outskirts of town to set up a camp until they moved on to the goldfields. The sick would be isolated to prevent disease spreading among them. The head men could also negotiate the purchase of any supplies needed.

Sergeant Woodbine gave the order to move out. The Chinese were an orderly lot. The procession of Chinese carrying their belongings headed up the Royal Circus into Cooper Street. At the end of Cooper Street they turned left into O'Halloran Street. The other side of O'Halloran Street was where the area designated for the camp was situated.

Sergeant Woodbine and his troopers arranged for the canvas sheeting to be distributed so each group could stay together. The Chinese realised that they needed to cut poles for their tents; lots of their bamboo carrying poles were lost in the ferrying operations. Two poles were lashed diagonally together at each end of the canvas. A horizontal pole was then lashed across the middle. The canvas was then spread over the horizontal pole and spread on an angle to the ground. Weights were placed on the canvas walls to stop the canvas blowing away.

Meanwhile Harry and his men were busy completing all the necessary documentation. What a day it had turned out to be! Many a local was richer because of the ferrying charges. The town's storekeepers were happy; they would be selling lots of supplies to the Chinese.

Harry was quite tired by the time they sorted out all the documentation from the events of the day. He walked home to his wife and family. Amanda was eager to hear his news. The whole town was full of excitement about the China ship. No one had seen the likes of it before!

The town's social life took on a brighter note. A fine German band was in town for a few weeks. The ship's captain and crew were entertained with dances and functions over the next few days.

Captain Miller decided to take a shipment of wool bales directly to London. He had already made a good profit from the Chinese and now he had a fine cargo of wool to take to London. He was feeling quite pleased with himself.

Three days later on Tuesday 29-January-1857 the 'Cornwall'; another British ship sailed into Guichen Bay in the late afternoon. On board were 307 Chinese. Captain Dawson told Harry, "At least six more vessels have been chartered directly from Hong Kong bound for Robe."

The ferrying operation commenced and went into the long twilight hours. Again the locals with boats charged exorbitant prices to ferry the Chinese and their baggage ashore. The same procedures were carried out. The Chinese were lined up on the foreshore. Dr Maclagan examined the sick, after that the troopers marched them all up to the camp grounds. Captain Blakely decided that Dr Maclagan should allocate the areas for the different groups, as the Chinese were not all from the same districts and spoke different dialects. They were suspicious of each other.

The original lot from the Land of Cakes had meanwhile negotiated with locals to guide them to the goldfields in Victoria. Some of the guides were local bullockies who knew the best routes to travel overland to the Victorian goldfields. Some of the groups had already departed.

Chapter 2 - Another Fine Day

A few days later on Monday 2-February-1857 another China ship the 'Phaeton' sailed into Guichen Bay. It was a beautiful morning with a light breeze blowing from the land.

Captain Morrison was in command of this splendid British ship of 1,000 tons. He refused the offer of the Pilot service and sailed up the Bay in grand style. However, he waited too long to turn his ship around.

As Harry watched the 'Phaeton' ran aground on a sand bank. It was stuck firm. Efforts by the crew to use its lifeboats to row the ship off the sand bank were futile. Harry was angry that the Captain of the Phaeton had refused his offer of the pilot service. Now the ship was stuck on a sand bank off Long Beach in Guichen Bay.

Harry boarded the Sea Spray to reach the Phaeton. He and Captain Stradwick, the Pilot boat Captain, boarded the Phaeton. Captain Morrison met them.

"Captain Morrison of the Phaeton, at your service sir."

Harry spoke, "Well Captain Morrison you have gotten yourself in a real pickle by refusing our pilot service. Instead of heaving to in a safe anchorage you are now stuck on this sand bank."

Captain Stradwick spoke, "Captain we need to get you, your crew and passengers off this ship. If the weather turns foul the results will be even more disastrous."

Harry spoke, "Captain Morrison how many Chinese are on board?"

"There are 250 Chinese and a crew of 20. Plus, the holds are fully laden with cargo."

"I will leave Captain Stradwick aboard as he has a very good knowledge of the Bay. Hopefully the ship will refloat at high tide. Meanwhile I will make arrangements to take your passengers ashore. Local boat men will ferry them and their belongings for a fee. The Chinese will have to pay what they ask; as it will be a private matter between them and the boat men."

Harry boarded the Sea Spray and returned to the jetties. He went to see George Ormiston for assistance. "George, this ship is well and truly stuck on the sand bank. I don't know if we can refloat it as it is fully laden with cargo. I will need your assistance to take the cargo off; after the Chinese have been ferried ashore."

"Harry you know you can count on me for help at any time."

"Thank you George; now we need to rally the locals again to bring the Chinese to shore. There are 250 of them. We'll ferry them straight on to Long Beach. The Chinese will have to carry their belongings to Robe Town."

The two men rounded up the local boat men who were milling around and filled them in on what was happening. Soon a small flotilla of craft was on its way to The Phaeton. The ferrying operations commenced. Harry went up to Robe House to report to Captain Blakely.

"Well Harry, what do you make of the situation?"

"Captain Blakely, I am concerned that we won't be able to refloat the Phaeton. If it doesn't come off the sand bank at high tide it will become a salvage operation. There are 250 Chinese and a crew of 20 on board."

"This is not good news. Let us hope and pray the ship will refloat. In the meantime those Chinese are our number one priority. Thankfully, the weather is good at present. I will let you get back to the rescue. Keep me up to date if the situation deteriorates."

"Yes Sir, I will have one of my men on standby."

Harry returned to the Sea Spray. The Phaeton needed to offload its cargo if it was to have any likelihood of refloating.

Captain Woodbine and Trooper Smith had moved down to Long Beach to keep order. The police were getting a bit tired of the situation. Their normal policing duties were falling behind. They were constantly tied up with the Chinese problem. Troopers Pickering and Adcock were keeping an eye on the Chinese camp. They patrolled the camp on alternate four hour shifts Thankfully, the Chinese respected law and order. The sight of a mounted Police trooper riding around the camp; with his sword by his side and wearing a pistol in a holster was a sobering sight. He often carried a rifle as well.

The ferrying operation continued at the Phaeton. High tide did not make any difference; the ship remained aground on the sand bank. By late afternoon the last of the Chinese passengers was deposited safely on the beach. They had a couple of miles to walk along the beach to Robe Town. Sergeant Woodbine gave the order to move out. The Chinese began the dreary walk of carrying their possessions to Robe Town. It was slow going on the sand.

Harry took the Sea Spray back to the jetties. It was time to inspect the Chinese baggage for the import levy. Meanwhile Captain Stradwick and Captain Morrison had inspected the holds on the Phaeton. The cargo appeared to be safe. However, they were not sure if the vessel would refloat.

Harry ordered the crews of the Osprey and the Cormorant to offload the cargo on the Phaeton. He was concerned that a change in the weather would bring rough seas. George Ormiston sent a lighter and one of his crews to help. The Phaeton was carrying a large quantity of tea, opium, silk and chow chow in the upper holds. A big shipment of linseed oil was stowed in the lower holds.

Harry, Joseph and Owen worked quickly assessing the duties to be paid on the Chinese belongings. It was difficult to keep up with things at present. All these Chinese arriving, plus the normal export trade placed a huge burden on the Customs' service. They found it was necessary to work well into the night to try and keep abreast of their paperwork.

Captains of ships using Guichen Bay wanted to get away as soon as possible. Bad weather came up quickly along the south eastern shores of South Australia. The coast line was treacherous; it was better to be in the open sea. Guichen Bay was not a good place to be in storms, and rough seas.

The Sea Spray returned to the Phaeton to pick up Captain Stradwick. By now twilight was nearly gone. Tomorrow salvage operations would continue. Captain Stradwick was dubious that the ship would refloat; even if they managed to get the cargo off safely.

Next morning was fine but the wind had changed direction and was strengthening. Harry was concerned. The waves were getting more boisterous. This would make the salvage efforts more difficult. The Sea Spray, the Osprey, the Cormorant and George Ormiston's lighter would all be needed to ferry cargo to the jetties. Fortunately with a good breeze they could make use of their sails. All day long they ferried cargo to the jetties. The cargo was sorted into categories to make the job of calculating duty easier. As the Phaeton was a long way from the jetties the ferrying operation was a slow process.

By day's end the crews were exhausted. As were the Phaeton's crew; they had to bring the cargo up on deck and then load it on to the lighters, which were bobbing up and down on the waves. The Phaeton had not moved on the sand bank. The constant pounding of the waves against the ship's hull was a concern for all. The sooner the cargo was unloaded the better. Captain Morrison now held grave doubts about his ship's safety.

Day three began ominously. Dark clouds appeared on the horizon out to sea. The wind blew harder and the waves were getting larger. Transferring cargo to the lighters became very difficult. The only safe way was to use the cargo nets to keep the loads intact. With the boats bobbing up and down on the large waves it was hard to drop the nets accurately into the boats.

Harry was worried about the safety of the crews; and the possibility of the lighters smashing into the side of the Phaeton. The Phaeton was holding steady but waves were crashing over the deck on the seaward side. Harry made the decision to stop salvage work for the day. Captain Morrison and his crew decided to stay aboard overnight.

By the time the Sea Spray and the other lighters made it back to the jetties it was raining heavily. Thankfully, George Ormiston had arranged for canvas tarpaulins to be spread over the salvaged cargo. The storm increased in its intensity. Forked lightning and heavy thunder claps accompanied the driving rain. Harry hoped the Phaeton would hold together.

The storm eased during the night. By morning the rain had gone. The seas were still up, but the wind had abated. The day was overcast, with the promise of another afternoon storm. The Sea Spray and the other lighters went out in the early morning light. They needed to salvage as much as they could before the storms came.

The Phaeton had suffered damage from the wild storm. The lower holds were taking in water. The bilge pumps so far were keeping up with the leaks. The Phaeton's crew concentrated on recovering a large quantity of linseed oil in the lower holds. Some of it was ruined due to the ingress of water from the leaks.

As predicted, black clouds appeared out to sea about 2:00 pm. They would only have time to take this current load back to the jetties.

Harry expressed his concerns to Captain Morrison. "Captain Morrison, I don't believe your ship can withstand another severe storm. I want you and your crew to evacuate the Phaeton before any lives are lost."

"Come now Mr Medcroft, surely you don't think the ship won't hold together through another storm?"

"Captain Morrison, I am the Harbourmaster for Guichen Bay. The lives of all who use the Bay are my responsibility. I want you and your men off this ship before the storm breaks. If you refuse I will have you arrested."

"Very well Mr Medcroft." he said resignedly. "We can return in the morning. Please send your lighters back for us."

The storm approached slowly. Green tinges could be seen in the clouds. A sure sign of hail! The lighters were quickly unloaded with many hands to help. The Osprey and the Cormorant returned to the Phaeton to pick up her crew. As the lighters approached the jetties; rain began to fall heavily. They pulled in quickly and discharged their passengers. The lighters were then moored securely alongside the jetties.

Vicious forks of lightning illuminated the sky. Tremendous thunder claps rolled around Guichen Bay. The wind and rain increased in strength. Hailstones fell from the sky. The wind was howling in its ferocity. The driving rain was almost horizontal in appearance. The size of the hailstones increased; some were as large as walnuts! It was far too dangerous to be outdoors!

Huge waves pummelled the shore line; foaming up on to the base of the sand dunes. Visibility was only a few yards. This was the worst storm for many years. It went on for hours gathering in intensity.

Finally the storm began to wane. The wind and rain eased off. The rain turned to a steady downpour. The lightning and thunder moved inland. Visibility returned to near normal levels. Harry got out his telescope to check on the Phaeton. She had broken up! Wreckage and debris were scattered in the surf and along the beach. Harry's decision to evacuate the Phaeton was vindicated.

Next morning a dismal sight greeted the people in Robe Town. The wreckage of the Phaeton was scattered for miles along Long Beach. The ship was completely broken up. Timber, ropes, rigging and cargo were floating in the water; or were being washed up on to the beach. It was an eyesore and blight on their beautiful Bay.

The huge waves had scoured out sand on Long Beach. There was a three feet drop off at the base of the sand dunes.

Reports of the wreck of the Phaeton spread quickly to Adelaide and beyond. Other sea ports in the vicinity; such as Rivoli Bay and Port Caroline seized the opportunity to discredit Guichen Bay and Port Robe.

Harry's assessment of the salvaged cargo added more than £300 to the Government coffers.

Chapter 3 - Disease

Harry wondered how many more Chinese were coming to Port Robe. By the end of February 2,329 Chinese had disembarked at Port Robe, from six ships. The Chinese camp grew larger and spread further from the town area. Local bullockies such as Gerry Baker, John Edgeworth and Sam Elcock were in demand as guides to the Victorian goldfields.

The South Australian Government, concerned at the number of Chinese landing in Robe was no longer prepared to pay the ongoing costs of medical examinations. The Chinese usually left for the goldfields within days of landing. Dr Maclagan still allocated camping spots for the Chinese but was not allowed to treat them. A cursory look at the arriving Chinese, gave him the opportunity to segregate those that were obviously sick. Conditions on board some of the ships were atrocious. Overcrowding, poor nutrition, sleeping on the deck; or in cramped conditions below deck, meant a dreadful journey for many. On top of this was the ever present malady of sea sickness.

The crews of the ships were often brutal in their treatment of their Chinese passengers. They were scared of these strangely dressed foreigners; many of whom carried knives for protection. As the Chinese greatly outnumbered the crews, the sailors always kept the upper hand to prevent any uprisings.

Extra supplies from Adelaide were ordered and brought down by coastal steamers, or sailing ships. George Ormiston & Co's steamer the 'Ant' was continually going back and forth to Port Adelaide for supplies. The demand for supplies, particularly mining equipment such as picks, shovels and sluicing pans increased with each ship load of Chinese. Canvas sheeting for tents was also in huge demand.

Small groups of Chinese were often seen down at Long Beach collecting thin, purple edible strips of sea weed. The sea weed was dried out on racks made from coastal scrub. The dried sea weed would form part of their diet on the trek to the goldfields. Other Chinese could be seen on the beach flying kites and enjoying each others' company. They were generally well behaved and orderly. The younger men obviously respected their elders. Ancestor worship was part and parcel of their culture.

Merchants would not trade with the worthless Chinese money. The local traders in Robe Town traded their merchandise for silver, or artefacts that could be sold at a profit; or such things as beautiful and intricately carved tea chests and the like.

The Chinese whilst generally well behaved were gambling addicts. They drank an alcoholic beverage made from rice called 'Shamshoo'. They would get loud and excited whilst gambling. Another vice was their habit of smoking opium from clay or bamboo pipes. They were obsessed with opium. These Chinese were not immigrating to settle in Australia; they had come to make a fortune and then return home to China.

An air of prosperity began to pervade Robe Town. Many locals were getting rich from the Chinese. Some of the wooden shanties were being pulled down and solid buildings made of local limestone were going up in their place.

However, all was not well in the camps. More Chinese meant more illness among them. The hot summer weather made conditions worse. Dr Maclagan needed more tents for the sick Chinese. It was very difficult for Dr Maclagan to supervise the sick Chinese and his normal patients as well. The Government in Adelaide had ordered him not treat the Chinese. Some of the Chinese died from their illnesses and were buried in unmarked graves in a corner of the Robe Town cemetery.

Something needed to be done to help the gravely ill Chinese. The compassionate women of Robe Town started a group of volunteers to nurse the sick Chinese. They were led by Elizabeth Blakely the wife of the Government Resident, Captain Phillip Blakely. Elizabeth Blakely, the first ranked lady in the Guichen Bay District, took charge of the volunteer ladies. With no medications available and the dreadful conditions in the heat the nursing situation was intolerable.

The volunteers laboured on during the heat and storms of February. Some of the Chinese died from Eastern Dysentery and were buried in unmarked graves. The healthy Chinese did not wait around for their sick countrymen. When their guides were ready to leave, those not well enough to travel were left behind.

Amanda Medcroft was expecting another baby; however due to her pregnancy she was not permitted to offer her services as a volunteer. She did not see much of Harry as he worked day and night, and all week long. Amanda and Elizabeth Blakely had become firm friends; even though there was a marked difference in age and rank. Towards the end of February, Elizabeth Blakely became ill. Dr Maclagan was worried. She had contracted some form of Eastern Dysentery from contact with the sick Chinese. He commenced a course of treatment, however Elizabeth in her weakened state was not responding to the treatment

Amanda Medcroft was saddened by this news. She wanted to visit Elizabeth; but was not allowed anywhere near her friend. She sat in her bedroom and reflected on their friendship. Her mind drifted back to how they first met in January 1855.

"Amanda, I am home." Harry called out as he stepped into his Customs' office adjacent to their lodgings.

"Would you like a cup of tea, Harry?"

"Yes, that will be good. Have you had a good day?"

"Yes Harry, while you are having a cup of tea I will get the children ready for our dinner appointment with Captain Blakely and his family."

By 5:30 pm Harry and his family were ready for the walk up to Robe House. Harry locked their front door and picked up Jason. Amanda had baby Tristan tucked into his baby carriage. They set off for Robe House. Robe House had been constructed from local limestone blocks. It was an imposing residence. They were greeted at the door by a valet.

"Good evening Mr Medcroft. Captain Blakely is expecting you. Please follow me to the main drawing room."

Robe House was furnished in the typical fashion of houses in Queen Victoria's reign. It was good quality furniture, but not ostentatious.

Phillip Blakely, his wife Elizabeth and their six children were waiting for them.

Amanda could sense from the atmosphere in the room that they were a close knit, loving family. Captain Blakely seemed to be a likeable, fair sort of a person. Mrs Blakely appeared to be a lively, compassionate, caring individual. Their six children ranged from a toddler to teenagers.

Phillip Blakely spoke, "Mr and Mrs Medcroft, this is my wife Elizabeth and our children; Alicia, Amanda, Samuel, Jason, Sarah and Edward."

Harry spoke, "It is an honour to meet you Mrs Blakely. This is my wife Amanda and our children Jason and Tristan." He turned to Captain Blakely, "We want to thank you Sir, for your invitation to dine with you all."

"It is our pleasure Harry; now that the formalities are over we can get better acquainted."

Elizabeth Blakely made a bee line to baby Tristan. "May I call you Amanda, you can call me Elizabeth."

"Yes, of course you can call me Amanda and I would be happy to call you Elizabeth."

The two oldest girls Alicia and Amanda also came over to fuss over baby Tristan. Phillip Blakely and Harry conversed about the Customs' portfolio and Harry's other responsibilities as Harbourmaster and Receiver of Wrecks.

The valet entered discreetly to inform Captain Blakely the dinner was ready to be served.

"Well everyone dinner is ready. Let us adjourn to the dining room."

The dining room was quite large with a long rectangular table able to accommodate twenty people. Captain Blakely sat at the head with his wife and his four youngest children on his right. Harry and his family sat on his left with the older children. When dinner was over they all went outside to a side garden. It was the time of year for long summer twilights. The cool night air was invigorating. The younger children played on the lawns. Everyone else sat and enjoyed the coolness; happily conversing with each other.

As the twilight deepened Harry and Amanda excused themselves wanting to get home before dark. They took their leave and went home; Jason and Tristan were both asleep. The Medcrofts were glad to get home and go to bed. It had been a long day.

From then on, Elizabeth Blakely often had Amanda and her children visit for morning tea; before the heat of the day set in.

While it was good to reflect on pleasant times; Amanda's thoughts returned to the present. She found it hard to erase the reality of the dreadful illness that Elizabeth was suffering from. She wished she could go and comfort her friend; it was distressing Amanda, she felt so helpless.

Dr Maclagan's concern deepened as the days went on. Elizabeth's condition deteriorated. Day by day she grew steadily worse.

Captain Blakely found it difficult to leave his official duties to be by his wife's side. The incoming Chinese placed a heavy strain on the administration of Guichen Bay. Captain Blakely's resources and the men under his command were really not sufficient for the ongoing situation. He was thankful for the calibre of his people. They worked day and night to keep things on an even keel.

Philip Blakely watched his wife's condition deteriorate each day. Elizabeth was usually so full of life; now she lay listlessly in bed. Unable to eat because of constant nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea she was losing weight dramatically. Ongoing fever and accompanying sweats also made her life miserable. She found it difficult to drink fluids; this exacerbated her already weakened condition.

Her children found the situation very distressing. They felt helpless. Their mother was so sick and she was not responding to treatment. It was a worrying time for them all. The townspeople rallied around the Blakely family to offer comfort and support. As the month of March came along; it seemed inevitable that Elizabeth was dying. She passed away on Sunday 8-March-1857.

Phillip Blakely sat by his wife's side. Her breathing slowed down. She slipped into a comatose state. Long pauses between breaths became normal. The hours dragged on interminably. It was stressful waiting for his beloved wife to die. A dry rattle in her throat as she drew each breath signalled the end was near. He had seen men die on the battlefield, but this was extremely hard to bear.

He felt completely helpless and hopeless. Elizabeth made a long sigh and her spirit departed. Her body went limp and still. She was gone. The reality of her passing struck him forcibly. Phillip Blakely was devastated by the loss of his soul mate.

He brought his children in for a last look at their mother. They were numb with grief. Tears poured down their faces. It did not seem possible that their beloved mother was dead. It was not fair! Why did it have to be their mother?

A great outpouring of grief went through the town. Even the Chinese were saddened by her death. On the day of her funeral most of Robe Town was at her funeral ceremony. All the businesses in town closed shop as a mark of respect to Elizabeth Blakely. As the funeral cortege left Robe House a sad and solemn procession followed it to the cemetery, for the funeral service. How poignant it was! Elizabeth Blakely was the second person to be buried in the main part of the Robe Town cemetery.

Phillip Blakely found it hard to concentrate on day to day matters. He was almost overwhelmed by grief. However, his military training stood him in good stead. The people of Guichen Bay District needed him to be a capable leader; with all these China ships arriving at Port Robe.

Animosity towards the Chinese increased. The townspeople blamed them for Elizabeth Blakely's death. If she had not had to nurse sick Chinese, she would be alive and well. Dr Maclagan made the other volunteer ladies very aware that they needed to be careful about their personal hygiene. In particular, they needed to wash their hands in clean water after contact with the sick.

Chapter 4 - The Long Journey

The Adelaide Times reported on 4-March-1857, that "...during the last few days, 260 Chinese were travelling on the Horsham and Lexton Road, 160 in the Upper Glenelg and a similar number by Casterton and Mt Sturgeon and nearly 300 were crossing the plains between Streatham and Ballaarat beside several smaller parties."

The Port Phillip Herald reported on the same day, "...one hundred and sixty four have landed from a vessel lately wrecked in Guichen Bay, arrived in Ballaarat yesterday after three weeks overland journey."

Of the 2,329 Chinese landing at Robe during January and February at least 700 were already in Victoria and 164 of them from the wrecked Phaeton had just arrived in Ballaarat.

Back in Robe Town a well known bullocky, John Edgeworth was finalising the unloading of a load of wool bales on to the Osprey. His next venture would be to take another group of Chinese to the Victorian goldfields. He was happy with his present circumstances; taking Chinese to the goldfields then picking up wool, or wheat, from Victorian stations on his return trip.

His wife Imelda appreciated their sudden change of fortune. John's acting as a guide to the Chinese was very lucrative! John's last trip had netted them about £200. He was hoping to make similar money this time. Imelda had her heart set on a solid limestone house. Soon they would be able to start construction. She had already spoken to the local stonemason, Larry Cooper.

John Edgeworth was dependable, but easily provoked. He had a quick temper and was not averse to using his fists. His local watering hole was the Bush Inn on the outskirts of town; near the junction of the track to Penola and the track to the Coorong. A bullocky's life was hard; often on the tracks in all sorts of weather. Their use of colourful language was legendary. They provided an essential service to the sheep stations, pastoralists and wheat farmers.

John had negotiated with a Chinese headman, Ah Wong to take a group of 300 Chinese to the Ballaarat goldfields. He planned to leave in two days time. Due to the untimely death of Elizabeth Blakely, and her subsequent funeral; John had out of respect put back his departure to Tuesday 10-March-1857.

The day dawned bright and sunny. John brought his team and dray along Victoria Street; as close as he could to the Chinese camp. The heavy items of baggage were loaded on to the dray. Some sick Chinese were also hoisted aboard. The rest of the Chinese were lined up single file along Davenport Street ready to follow John and his team. Each Chinaman had a bamboo bow (pole) up to six feet long over one shoulder. At each end of the bow was a basket with up to 35 pounds weight of belongings in each basket. In addition to their native uniform they wore on their heads parasol shaped woven hats; up to a yard in diameter.

John stood on the left hand side of his team of 10 bullocks; yoked in pairs. In his right hand John held his bullocky's whip. Each pair of bullocks was connected to a central chain. The central chain was connected to the dray.

The whip was made of strong leather, with a handle over three feet long; with it John could reach every bullock in his team. Each bullock had its own name. The two lead bullocks were the most important. They steered the way and set the pace. The pair at the back end also had important roles; going downhill they backed up to the dray to help slow it down. On steep downhill gradients a heavy log was chained to the back of the dray and dropped on the ground to slow the descent.

When the dray was loaded John cracked his huge whip and the leading bullocks took up the strain. As they began to move John lightly flicked each bullock in each pair and the dray moved off. A long slow procession of Chinese followed him. The Chinese soon settled into a smooth, slow jog trot.

As a Chinaman took a step his pole would bend so the baskets touched the ground. The rebound on the pole would bounce the load off the ground allowing the Chinaman to move it along. To keep in step as they trotted they could be heard chanting, "Ballalat, Ballalat,"

The first major stop was at Kangaroo Inn. It took two days of travelling with an overnight stop. Previous Chinese overlanders had dug wells at Water Cress Springs and Clay Wells along the route. Water Cress Springs was about 9 miles from Robe and Clay Wells was about 25 miles from Robe. The wells were lined and had lids on them to prevent animals falling in. This kept the water fresh for other travellers.

The stop at Kangaroo Inn was a good opportunity to relax for a couple of days. John Edgeworth was able to quench his thirst and socialise with the locals. He spoke to Ah Wong.

"Ah Wong, we are camping here for two days. You can rest up before the next part of the journey."

"Velly glood, Bloss."

The Chinese spent the time gambling. Some of the Chinese had begun to discard items to reduce weight in their baskets. The journey continued on to Penola where they rested overnight. From Penola, John went via Glenroy to the Inverness Inn for an overnight stop. Inverness Inn was very close to the disputed Victorian border. There were no roads in these areas only bullocky trails. Townships were few and far between.

From Inverness Inn they travelled over the Victorian border to Tallengower Homestead. The homestead stood on a hill overlooking Gray's Crossing. It was a dry weather crossing of the Glenelg River, easy to ford. It was a summer time crossing only; winter rains made the crossing impassable. In winter they had to turn south and head down river to Casterton where there was a punt across the Glenelg River.

Tallengower Homestead was on the summer route. Whilst there, the Chinese took the opportunity to negotiate the purchase of some sheep to freshen up their food supplies. They also had some other delicacies Europeans found detestable. Dogs and cats mysteriously disappeared along the routes taken by the Chinese.

After crossing the Glenelg River they travelled to Chetwynd Station, then on to Wando Dale Station; from there to Koolomert Station. Koolomert Station was near the southern boundary of the Grampians mountain range. The local sheep station owners were eager to negotiate the sale of sheep to the Chinese. Otherwise, sheep mysteriously disappeared when they passed by. It was better to make a profit than suffer a loss.

Koolomert Station near the town of Cavendish was an important milestone on their journey. The Chinese could see the Grampians mountain range looming up before them. John Edgeworth informed them that on the other side of the Grampians lay the Victorian goldfields. It gave them hope; and the will to complete their long, hot, tedious journey.

The Land of the Golden Mountain; as the Chinese referred to the goldfields, was somewhere on the other side of these mountains. Little did they realise another 130 miles of country had to be traversed to reach Ballaarat. They had come about 2/3rd of their journey.

From Koolomert Station they trekked to the township of Dunkeld; which was on the well established route from Hamilton to Ballaarat. From Dunkeld they could travel east to Ballaarat or head in a north easterly direction to the Bendigo goldfields. Bendigo was 170 miles away.

The cavalcade averaged about 20 miles per day; depending on the type of terrain crossed. Mountains or hilly countryside slowed them down. If they were crossing plains or crossing undulating terrain they improved their daily average. At night hundreds of cooking fires; made in holes scooped in the ground, could be seen; each man cooking rice brought in from China. Sometimes their diet was enhanced by wombat or kangaroo meat; from animals they caught. Any stray dogs or cats also made it into their diet.

John Edgeworth was pleased with their progress. At this rate they would arrive in Ballaarat during the first week of April. He calculated that another seven days of travel should confirm his reckonings. John was a shrewd trader. He wasn't going all the way into Ballaarat. He would leave his Chinese charges one day out from Ballaarat. John well knew the hatred of the white miners towards the Chinese. He was not prepared to cop any angry mobs.

John also knew of others who took the Chinese only a short way on their journey then abandoned them. The poor Chinese, in a strange and foreign land, then had to try and find the way to Ballaarat or Bendigo. So a self help system began. The Chinese began to mark the trails to the goldfields. They emblazoned Chinese symbols on trees they passed. Discarded items of clothing and other items littering the sides of bullocky trails also identified the way.

John's group was fortunate it was still the dry season; with occasional showers or storms. Winter rains, cold winds and frosts made the going more difficult and the journey more miserable. The wet season would bring extra hardships, due to exposure and cold. Chinese were known to have died from exhaustion, exposure and cold weather. Hail storms were not uncommon in winter, plus sleet or snow in the high country. Ballaarat was known to be a very cold place in winter.

John Edgeworth departed from Dunkeld knowing the route to Streatham was on flatter terrain; on a well established road from Hamilton to Ballaarat.

The Chinese in his group were eagerly looking forward to reaching Ballaarat; and a fortune in gold. The fabled Land of the Golden Mountain was at the end of this road. There was much excited chatter around the camp fires that night.

John was pleased with their progress. Except for a few minor incidents the trip so far had gone well. This group should reach Ballaarat either Wednesday, 1-April- 1857, or Thursday, 2-April-1857. Chinese groups stretched for miles along the road. Travellers coming the other way were greeted by the sight of hundreds of Chinese jogging along the road; chanting "Ballalat, Ballalat." It was a sign of the times!

John's cavalcade made good progress. From Dunkeld they travelled past the small village of Yuppiekiar and headed towards the village of Wickcliffe; where they made camp overnight around nightfall. Next day they passed by a large lake named Lake Bolac; where they replenished their water containers. Moving on, they trekked to the small township of Streatham and camped overnight.

Next morning they set off for the small village of Skipton; where they made an overnight stop. Tomorrow they would travel to Smythesdale; passing the old gold diggings at Linton. John's charges were excited when they got to Linton and realised that gold had been mined here. It gave them a new surge of energy. Ah Wong asked John Edgeworth how many more days to Ballaarat. When John told him tomorrow by nightfall; he was elated. Excitedly he conveyed the good news to his fellow countrymen. A general mood of optimism and excitement filled the air.

Their stop that night was the old gold mining diggings at the village of Smythesdale. A jubilant mood could be sensed around the camp fires. Tomorrow the Land of the Golden Mountain would be reached.

Next morning, Wednesday, 1-April-1857, John called Ah Wong and told him they would have to travel the last day on their own. He was not prepared to go any further in case there was trouble with the European miners.

Ah Wong remonstrated with him. "You all a same aglee take us Ballalat! Now you leave Chinee here. Ah Wong pay you mush silver to glo Ballalat!"

Ah Wong was hurt and disappointed.

John ordered the Chinese to take their belongings off the dray.

"Ah Wong take your goods and go. I'm not going into Ballaarat. Those crazy miners will beat me to within an inch of my life; if I arrive with you lot."

He promised them that they would reach Ballaarat that day. "Look you will reach Ballaarat before the sun goes down."

A reshuffling of belongings took place. Ah Wong gave the order and they jogged steadily up the road; chanting "Ballalat, Ballalat."

John Edgeworth watched them go and then settled in for a good drinking spree. He had plenty of money stashed in a hidden, waterproof compartment under the dray. He had enough money on his person for a good time, for a couple of days.

Ah Wong and his group travelled all day and reached the outskirts of Ballaarat as the sun sank low in the sky. Hostile, hateful stares greeted them as they jogged into Ballaarat. Tensions between European miners and Chinese miners were at a flashpoint. Another large group of Chinese arriving would only add to the tension.

Ah Wong made inquiries and was directed to the Chinese Protector's Office. The Chinese Protector allocated camp sites to Ah Wong's group. Tomorrow they would each have to purchase a Miner's Right before they could begin staking a claim and start mining for gold.

Their journey was over, but their quest for gold was just beginning.

Chapter 5 - The Chinese Invasion

The month of March brought another six China ships with a total of 3,079 Chinese disembarking at Port Robe. On Wednesday 18-March-1857 a British ship, the "William Miles' arrived with 694 Chinese passengers on board. The crew on the William Miles were so callous and brutal towards the Chinese that Harry had to contact Sergeant Woodbine about the matter. Sergeant Woodbine took troopers Pickering and Adcock with him and was rowed out to the William Miles.

After conducting an investigation, four sailors were arrested and locked up in the cells at the Police Barracks. Two days later they were arraigned in court before Judge Gerald Fosdyke-Smith. After hearing Sergeant Woodbine's case against the four sailors, he called for witnesses. The witnesses confirmed the callous acts of brutality against the Chinese; who had not provoked the sailors in any way.

Judge Fosdyke-Smith found the men guilty.

"I find the four of you guilty of brutal acts of violence against these poor, unoffending creatures. You will each pay a fine of £5. Failure to pay the fine before your ship leaves port will mean a prison sentence. Do you understand?"

Each man nodded in agreement. They left the court house in a subdued fashion. They now needed to part with £5 of their hard earned money. A hard lesson indeed; but the alternative was a prison sentence!

The numbers in the Chinese camps steadily increased. Larger groups of Chinese moved out to trek to the goldfields. The month of April brought a total of nine ships to Port Robe with 4,350 Chinese disembarking. At one stage there were about 3,000 Chinese camped on the outskirts of Robe. This amount of Chinese caused anxiety in Robe Town.

Harry had good reason to be concerned. On one occasion a large parcel of opium belonging to a group of Chinese was impounded because they refused to pay the 5% levy. The parcel of opium was taken to the Bond Store in Smillie Street; and locked away until the levy was paid. During the night the owners of the opium broke in and regained possession.

Harry brought the matter to Captain Blakely's attention. After consultation with Sergeant Woodbine an urgent request was sent to Adelaide for soldiers to help keep order. A sudden uprising of 3,000 Chinese was a fearful prospect! Lieutenant Burrows and a detachment of 25 Red Coat soldiers from the 12th Regiment, with their horses, were despatched to Robe on a coastal steamer. The horses were stabled at the Police barracks. The soldiers took over guard duties at the Chinese camp and also patrolled the town. Sergeant Woodbine was grateful to Lieutenant Burrows. He could now concentrate his efforts on normal police work.

On another occasion Harry was on one of the jetties. A Chinaman refused to pay the 5% levy on his opium. When Harry insisted, the Chinaman pulled out a knife and threatened Harry.

Harry not relishing the thought of a knife between his ribs reacted instinctively. He swung a punch to the man's head connecting just below his ear. The blow knocked the Chinaman off the jetty and into the water. A wet and very subdued Chinaman handed over the levy on his opium.

Harry and his men worked extremely long hours processing all these arrivals. Monday 27-April-1857 topped it all off. Three tall ships arrived that day with a total of 1,418 Chinese immigrants.

An American ship the 'Queen of the Seas' captained by Captain Cobb had 609 Chinese on board. Then a Dutch ship the 'Almonde' captained by Captain Surie arrived with 309 Chinese on board. The local boat men were kept very busy ferrying Chinese from the two ships.

The third ship was a different scenario. The Master of the 'Sultana' a British ship did not wait for the Pilot vessel, but recklessly took his ship over the reef at Cape Lannes on the approach to Port Robe. The vessel struck rocks heavily and sprang a leak. The Master feared the ship would go down in deep water. He deliberately ran her aground on rocks at the base of Cape Dombey.

Harry and his men had to leave what they were doing and mount an immediate rescue operation. The Sultana was under the command of the First Mate a man named Garrett. The Captain had apparently died at sea. On board were 400 Chinese, plus a crew of 18. The location of the Sultana made the rescue more hazardous. The area at the base of Cape Dombey was rocky with little in the way of sandy coves to land the people on. Fortunately the weather was fine and the sea normal. The Sea Spray, the Osprey and the Cormorant were immediately sent to the Sultana's aid.

Harry gave the order. "Save the people first; the ship might break up at any time."

The rescue operation swung into action. Getting the Chinese off the Sultana was a long slow process. Boats normally did not come into this area; it was too hazardous. Care and precision was needed to steer the rescue craft around rocks on the way to the shore. Waves threatened to push the vessels on to these rocks.

Harry was angry and perplexed at the action of the Master of the Sultana. 'What in heaven's name possessed him to come in so close to shore; in an obviously dangerous area for shipping? Surely, he could see 'Doorway Rock' and the treacherous coastline around it?' He shook his head at the man's stupidity.

Upon landing, the Chinese and the crew of the Sultana had to scramble up the rocky shoreline to higher ground. The area lay away from the township in a westerly direction. There were no roads in this area. The rescued made their way through the coastal scrub to the track leading to the Obelisk on top of Cape Dombey. The Obelisk painted in red and white horizontal bands could be seen 20 miles out to sea on a fine day. The rescued folk followed the track into the township.

Harry was relieved when all the passengers and crew were safely ashore. Some had minor injuries sustained from the two impacts; either the initial running into rocks or the deliberate running aground. No attempts were made to salvage baggage or cargo at this stage. Harry was dubious about First Mate Garrett's story. He was evasive and vague; particularly about the circumstances of the Captain's death. Although Harry could not prove anything; he felt that Garrett was not telling the truth, or covering something up.

The next day another ship the 'Jacob Cats' under the command of Captain Vander Windt arrived with 440 Chinese on board. Harry had no time to follow up his suspicions about the Sultana running aground. He and his men were literally run off their feet.

There was no let up in May; as more China ships arrived at Port Robe. On Saturday, 2-May-1857 an American ship the 'Eagle Wing' captained by Captain Waters arrived with 576 Chinese passengers. On Monday, 4-May-1857 a British ship the 'Kensington' under the command of Captain King arrived in Port Robe with 449 Chinese passengers.

Harry and his men fitted this into their demanding schedules. Harry in his capacity as Receiver of Wrecks found time to organise the sale of salvaged items from the wrecked Sultana. The sale was held where the ship was wrecked; at the base of Cape Dombey.

Wreckage from the Phaeton could still be seen strewn along Long Beach. Port Robe was a dismal sight to onlookers. It did not give a good impression to the crews of arriving ships. Two shipwrecks within a couple of months of each other was not a good record to hold. Ships' captains were eager to move on.

Some ships were bound for Melbourne to finish offloading passengers and cargo. Other ships' captains were looking for export cargoes for their return journeys.

Harry wondered, 'When is this going to end?' So far 23 China ships had sailed into Port Robe to offload Chinese going to the Victorian goldfields. The demands on his time and resources were wearing him down. He hardly saw Amanda and the children.

Amanda Medcroft took it philosophically. It was Harry's job and it had to be done. Her mother always used to say, "A man can't argue with his bread and butter." She wished she could see more of Harry at home. It was a stressful time for their family. Thankfully she had Annie to keep things on an even keel. There was a respite of two weeks before the next China ship arrived on Monday, 18-May-1857.

Harry was able to spend a bit of time with his family. Two British ships arrived on Thursday, 21-May-1857 with an aggregate total of 1,018 Chinese passengers. Another busy month!

News filtered through from the Victorian goldfields that the European miners had rioted. They had become increasingly angry at the amount of Chinese miners on the goldfields. The local constabulary had problems dispersing the angry mobs.

The Government of the Colony of Victoria expressed its disapproval to South Australia and New South Wales for letting the Chinese enter Victoria across their borders.

As the month of May progressed the weather turned colder. Showers of rain and wind squalls became more prevalent. The annual winter rains had started early this year. A lot of low lying ground around Robe Town was marshy in winter and the water did not drain away. Most of the low land in the Guichen Bay district was in a similar condition. Travel during winter meant staying wherever possible on higher ground. Local bullockies fitted their drays with floats above the axles; and had drain holes in the floor of the drays.

There were lots of creeks and causeways to cross on the way to the goldfields. In summer they were usually dry; but in winter they were full of water, fed by the constant showers of rain. These conditions could add another two weeks to travel itineraries.

Rumours abounded that the South Australian Parliament was considering a similar poll tax to the Victorian poll tax. The constant stream of China ships eased up during the month of June. This was also due in part to the start of the hurricane season in the Northern Hemisphere. It was a dangerous time to be sailing south to Australia.

Harry heard some interesting news that the 1st Mate of the Sultana was reportedly living the 'high' life in Melbourne. Where did his sudden fortune come from? Harry was suspicious that Garratt had been paid to deliberately run the Sultana aground and wreck her. The death of her Captain was also very suspicious. However there was no conclusive proof to be found.

Chapter 6 - Here We Go Again

Monday, 15-June-1857 a British ship the 'Evanee' under the command of Captain Smith arrived in Port Robe with 406 Chinese passengers on board. Harry and his men were pleased that the enormous pressures of the past months were easing. By this time the locals were so used to dealing with the Chinese they barely took any notice. Port Robe was riding high on the prosperous times the Chinese had brought to it. Robe Town was thriving; new buildings were going up everywhere. The Chinese had injected thousands of pounds Sterling into the local economy.

Thursday, 25-June-1857 a Dutch ship the 'Koning Willem 2 under the command of Captain Giezen arrived at Port Robe with 397 Chinese passengers and cargo. After the passengers were ferried ashore the cargo was unloaded. The ship was in ballast only with her full complement of crew. The ship was sitting high in the water.

A few days later the weather changed quickly; a strong gale began to blow from the northwest. Captain Giezen ordered the crew to let out the anchor chain to its maximum length. The ship began rolling in the heavy swell. The sea became more boisterous and huge waves began pounding the ship.

Harry was apprehensive. The Koning Willem 2 was taking a battering. He kept a careful lookout. He had a gut feeling that this situation would turn out bad.

Her anchor chain was only good for 60 fathoms; 120 fathoms of chain was necessary to withstand the storm. The ship was straining mightily on her best anchor. The crew were worried that the anchor would not hold. Suddenly the chain ripped through the hull; passed clean through to the windless, pulled out of the hawse pipe and flew into the sea.

The vessel was now completely at the mercy of the elements. The ship was driven relentlessly towards Long Beach. The crew knew they were in extreme danger. There was no way a rescue vessel could attempt to reach them.

The townspeople flocked to the scene to render assistance. Heavy surf made rescue difficult. By now the rigging was being smashed up and falling into the sea. The Koning Willem 2's crew somehow launched a boat into the raging sea and crowded into it. Before the captain could board the launch; a sailor had to cut the line to save the launch from being swamped. It drifted away from the ship.

The launch was broadside on to the heavy surf. The crew attempted to swing the stern around but a large wave swamped and capsized the vessel. Those who could not swim were desperately trying to cling to the launch; but some were drowning. Others were carried out to sea by the drawback and lost. It was a terrible sight!

The rescue crew on the shore managed to get a line to the ship which was beginning to break up. Harry sent an urgent request to Lieutenant Burrows to send a detachment of soldiers to the beach to secure any belongings washed ashore. Sergeant Woodbine sent trooper Adcock along to help in the rescue. The danger was not only the heavy, pounding surf but also the wreckage and rigging in the water. One poor chap was almost to shore when he was caught in the drawback and washed on to some rigging and disappeared. Harry thought the chap had been stunned and then drowned.

Trooper Adcock did a sterling job; wading out into the treacherous surf to recover bodies. Dog fish were attaching themselves to some of the bodies. Some of the crew who could swim made it to shore but were exhausted from their ordeal.

Captain Giezen was the only man on the wreck. About ten o'clock that night the seas abated enough for him to try and get to shore along the rescue line. By now large fires had been lit on the beach to give light and warmth. Captain Giezen moved cautiously along the rescue line; he was bobbing up and down in the waves.

As he neared the beach his weight on the line caused him to drop repeatedly into the surf. The poor fellow was drowning only a few yards from the beach.

Harry being a strong swimmer went to his aid. Harry approached the water cautiously. He had not swum in heavy surf before. He learned to go with the waves and not attempt to breast the drawback. When the waves broke he went under them and clung momentarily to the bottom. When he reached Captain Giezen he helped the half drowned man to shore; guiding him along the rescue line. Both of them struggled through the breakers.

Next morning they counted the cost. From a crew of 28 they had recovered 15 bodies; 11 crew members had made it to shore and two had been swept out to sea.

Harry pondered this latest tragedy as he surveyed the wreckage of the Koning Willem 2. One hundred and twenty fathoms of anchor chain and the ship would have ridden out the gale. Most of the ships coming into port had not even had their anchor chains out of their lockers. They usually moored at wharves or jetties.

Fifteen coffins were quickly constructed. An air of sadness and loss pervaded Robe Town. There is something final about coffins lined up on a beach; in front of a shipwreck. A very solemn burial ceremony took place in the sand dunes of Long Beach.

Captain Giezen gave a short, moving message and praised those who had lost their lives. He also thanked those who had taken part in the rescue. A sombre mood pervaded Robe Town. This had been a very tragic incident; with many lives lost. The wreckage on Long Beach, yet again, was bearing mute testimony to another shipwreck in Guichen Bay.

Harry had to officiate at another salvage sale from a shipwreck. Many items were salvaged from the Koning Willem 2; including the ship's signal cannon. Items such as doors and fittings eventually found their way into buildings in Robe Town.

The month of July was quiet; no China ships arrived. Harry and his men were getting back into their normal routines. However on Wednesday, 1-August-1857 a British ship with 560 Chinese passengers arrived. 'I wonder what their reception will be on the goldfields.' Harry thought to himself. News had come through from Victoria of another riot by white miners on the goldfields. Consequently the Victorian Government put a lot of pressure on the South Australian Government to stop Chinese coming through South Australia. The situation was being debated in the South Australian Parliament.

Another China ship, the 'Salsette' arrived on Friday, 14-August-1857 with 407 Chinese passengers.

News had been conveyed to Hong Kong that South Australia was preparing legislation to declare a poll tax on Chinese immigrants landing in South Australia. The flow of China ships dwindled.

The Colony of Victoria passed legislation making it compulsory for all Chinese miners to stay in prescribed areas on the goldfields. No longer could the Chinese miners pitch their tents wherever they liked.

A new poll tax of £4 was imposed on all Chinese entering Victoria other than by sea. The Victorian Government was desperate to stop the influx of Chinese coming to the goldfields. The British ideal of 'white supremacy' had to be upheld at all costs.

No China ships arrived in September or October. Harry was pleased that life was back to normal. The familiar sight of Chinese on the streets of Robe Town disappeared; however the town was busy with a building boom.

With so much money circulating around Robe Town its citizens were knocking down their wooden shanties and building solid limestone block homes and businesses. The Chinese invasion had resulted in prosperous times for the Guichen Bay area. Harry sent an official request to Port Adelaide for a dedicated building to handle the Customs' work. A new building in the vicinity of the Royal Circus and the jetties would be preferable. The amount of revenue being collected at Port Robe was second only to Port Adelaide. Harry felt sure his request would receive a favourable response.

Captain Blakely received news that work had started on the Telegraph line at the Adelaide and Melbourne ends of the proposed route. It was anticipated that the overland telegraph line from Adelaide to Robe Town would be ready sometime in 1858. A submarine cable from Goolwa would pass under Lake Alexandrina and connect up with the overland telegraph line running to Robe Town. The overland telegraph line from Melbourne would come to Robe Town via Mount Gambier.

One lone China ship arrived on Tuesday, 10-November-1857. A British ship the 'Lancashire' under the command of Captain Young had 280 Chinese on board. Captain Young doubted if Robe Town would see any more Chinese; as restrictions in Victoria and legislation before the South Australian parliament for a poll tax, had effectively cut off free overland passage to the Victorian goldfields.

On Tuesday, 1-December-1857 the South Australian Parliament enacted a poll tax law similar to Victoria to charge £10 per head on any Chinamen entering South Australia by sea. The China ships to Port Robe ceased.

As 1857 drew to a close Harry Medcroft reflected on the year gone by. Over 14,000 Chinese had landed at Robe and walked overland to the Victorian goldfields. Elizabeth Blakely had died as a result of nursing sick Chinese. Three separate shipwrecks had occurred at Port Robe; the last one with the loss of many lives. However, on the positive side the China ships had brought a lot of money into the local economy. The little town was booming; but the China ships' era was over, and life was returning to the pre China ships' routines. He wondered what the New Year would bring to Robe Town.

Chapter 7 - Prosperous Times

Harry and Amanda celebrated Christmas at home, with their children and Annie their maid. The year 1857 had been a tumultuous year. Hopefully 1858 would be more normal. The townsfolk were in a festive mood. New Year was an exciting time in Robe Town. The Scottish immigrants always celebrated New Year with 'Hogmanay'; a great time of festivity as they welcomed in another new year. There would be music, feasting, bonfires and lots of laughter; and at night people brandishing flaming wooden torches. The celebrations could go for days. Harry thought to himself, 'The Scots certainly know how to celebrate!'

Scottish families in Robe Town and further afield converged on the town. Huge bonfires were piled up on Town Beach in readiness for the midnight hour. Scottish pipers and drummers, dressed in their Clan's tartan kilts, were ready for the night's events. The New Year was always welcomed in with the singing of 'Auld Lang Syne'.

Harry and Amanda left Annie at home with the children and joined in the festivities. It was a great way to welcome in the New Year. Although they were not Scottish they appreciated the Scottish New Year celebrations. They stayed for a couple of hours after midnight and then went happily home.

The year 1858 started well. The town's prosperity was secure. The Chinese invasion had made many people rich. The building boom continued; Larry Cooper, the local stone mason was very busy. He had to employ extra men to keep up with the demand for his services. Extra tradesmen were hired from Adelaide. Robe Town was enjoying its place as a boom town in south east, South Australia. A local Chamber of Commerce was inaugurated. The amount of exports through Port Robe was steadily increasing. Up to a thousand bullock teams per year were processed.

The general increase in prosperity augured well for spiritual growth in Robe Town's inhabitants. Father Julian Tenison-Wood of the Roman Catholic Church at Penola commissioned the building of a chapel at Robe Town. Robe Town was part of his diocese, which stretched from Mount Gambier to Robe Town. His congregation in Robe Town were mainly Irish folk. The new chapel would be constructed of local limestone. His Robe Town congregation were pleased with this news.

A small Free Presbytery Kirk was already under construction to cater for the Scottish community; and could also be used as a private school. Not to be outdone by these efforts the local gentry decided a Church of England church should also be commissioned and built. The Church of England, Bishop in Adelaide was contacted for his input.

Meanwhile the magnetic telegraph line from Adelaide was slowly approaching Guichen Bay. In the opposite direction the line from Melbourne had already reached Mount Gambier and was nearly to Penola. Plans had been drawn up for telegraph stations at Port Robe and Mount Gambier and construction had begun. As these were government projects they were given top priority. The telegraph stations were to be manned during the day and operators were to be available, on call, for emergencies during the night.

Summer evenings with their long twilights, were times for relaxing and socialising. This was the season for balls and dances. The local inns and hotels did a roaring trade. The winter rains and subsequent low land flooding severely impeded travelling to and from Robe Town.

George Ormiston and his wife Susan usually held a couple of balls in their mansion 'Green Gables' during summer. These balls were popular with the local gentry and the well-to-do. Dances were held in various venues in the town with everybody welcome. Visiting musicians and bands were in great demand. Classical music buffs were also catered for with visiting ensembles. The well-to-do also held musical evenings in their own homes. The Irish folk held their own dances; where Irish music and dancing were enjoyed. The Scots not to be outdone held their own gatherings; with the swirl of bagpipes and the beat of drums.

The population of Robe Town worked hard; but also knew how to relax and let off steam. Horse racing was a popular pastime. The local race course was a popular venue. Horse racing and steeplechase riding were enjoyable pastimes for many people. Young Lindsay Gordon, a former Mounted Police Trooper from Mount Gambier was held in high esteem; as a horse breaker and rider.

Although he was tall and lanky he had already won some races and placed well in others. He was also known to be a bit of a poet. He published his poems under his full name Adam Lindsay Gordon. He and Father Julian Tenison-Wood were good friends. Father Julian encouraged Lindsay in his poetry writing. Father Julian was a well known scientist and geologist and had written books on these subjects. He had a great desire to see the children of Irish immigrants educated by the Catholic Church.

The town was well catered for with two banks. The National Bank of Australia and the State Bank of South Australia had branches in Robe Town. Each vied with the other for the upper hand in wooing wealthy customers. It was rumoured that a new flash hotel would be built in town by a wealthy Scotsman.

Although the town was growing there were no Government schools. Education was mainly for the children of the wealthy; those who could afford private school teachers or governesses. Working class families could not afford the fees. Unless the children could be taught privately they remained illiterate. Tradesmen usually handed down their knowledge and skills to their sons. Business people usually passed on their knowledge and experience to their children.

The children of Robe Town generally had a good lifestyle. Fishing was a popular pastime with the local boys. The jetties were fine places to fish; when work ceased for the day. Town Beach and Long Beach were great places for families. You could kick a football around, or play a game of beach cricket.

The long summer twilights were good times to be down on the beach. Some wreckage from the shipwrecks was still around, but the wind, rain and surf had cleaned up most of Long Beach. Port Robe was certainly set in a picturesque part of the coast. Sailing ships and steam ships at anchor added to the idyllic scenes.

By March work on the new telegraph stations at Port Robe and Mount Gambier was nearing completion. Once the lines were connected, no longer would they have to rely on despatches via coach or steam ship. News could be transmitted by the magnetic telegraph and arrive within minutes in Adelaide; and vice versa. The telegraph lines were steadily approaching the outskirts of Robe Town. In May 1858 the lines were connected. A lot of testing and adjustment was necessary. There was a problem with the submarine cable on the Adelaide line. Charles Todd, Observer and Superintendent of Telegraph, South Australia reported the news to the commissioner of Public Works.

In a letter dated Guichen Bay, June 18th he stated the causes of the problems.

"With the ordinary arrangement of the batteries, the platinum pole is brought to earth on the western (Adelaide) end of the line so as to correspond to the Victorian system. The strength of the current in this was at Goolwa, 49 degrees; at Guichen Bay, from 3 degrees to 8 degrees. But by putting the platinum pole to earth at Guichen Bay and the zinc at Goolwa, the strength of the current increased at Guichen Bay to 79 degrees and decreased at Goolwa to 14 degrees."

Testing and adjusting continued through June into July. On Tuesday, 20-July-1858 a telegram was received at the Robe telegraph station via the South Australian Magnetic Telegraph. It was received at 8:35 am. The telegram consisted of 19 words and was sent by the Bishop of Adelaide to George Ormiston with his greetings. The inter-colonial telegraph line from Adelaide to Melbourne, via Port Robe and Mount Gambier, was now open for business.

Construction work on Saint Mary's Star of the Sea, Roman Catholic church was on schedule; and was due to be commissioned by the end of the year. The foundations for the Church of England church building were in progress. This church was due for completion in early 1859. It was situated close to the Free Presbytery Kirk building.

Work had also started on a new inn for the town. A wealthy Scotsman, Peter McQueen was financing its construction. Some of the scrolled teak doors, salvaged from the Koning Willem 2 had been purchased for use in the upstairs rooms. This was going to be a quality establishment. It would certainly enhance Robe Town's accommodation options.

With the advent of the magnetic telegraph line to Port Robe; Harry Medcroft found himself with an additional portfolio. As the telegraph station would be used frequently in emergencies, the Government in Adelaide decided that the station should be under Harry's supervision. His experience in coordinating responses to emergency situations had been noted; and subsequently he was chosen to be the South Australian Government's, Officer In Charge of the Port Robe facility.

The telegraph station sprang into action in emergencies. At night, the sound of galloping hoofs or gunfire in the distance meant the station needed to be manned. The doors were hurriedly opened and the lamps were lit. On cold nights more logs were placed on the open fire in readiness for the messengers.

George Ormiston used the telegraph frequently, as did other traders in Robe Town. Urgent orders could now be placed with suppliers in Adelaide or Melbourne via telegram. This saved many days delay in shipment of their merchandise. Urgent official government despatches between Adelaide and Port Robe were conveyed in minutes; this was very helpful in emergency situations.

By October 1858 the Catholic Church building was nearing completion. The walls were up and the roof was under construction. Father Julian was pleased with the progress. Windows and doors had been ordered and were ready to be fitted. The floor had already been laid. When the roof was on the windows and doors would be fitted. By the end of 1858 the church was officially opened and named Saint Mary's Star of the Sea. Saint Mary's Star of the Sea was opened for services in time for the Christmas festive season.

The Church of England church building was also nearing completion and was on schedule for opening in early 1859. As 1858 drew to a close, the inhabitants of the Guichen Bay area reflected on a good, prosperous year with no major disasters.

Chapter 8 - Tragedy and Heroism

Harry Medcroft sat in his Customs' office; it was late December 1859. The year was rapidly drawing to its final conclusion. The weather was hot and the day was fine and sunny. His mind drifted back over the events of the past year. One event was indelibly etched on his memory. It was the worst maritime disaster, to date, in the history of the Province of South Australia.

On Friday, 5-Aug-1859 the iron hulled, three masted, steam powered SS Admella left Port Adelaide bound for Melbourne in the Colony of Victoria. On board were 84 passengers and a crew of 29. Her cargo was a mixed bag: copper, general merchandise, flour and seven horses. Four of the horses were expensive race horses.

About 1:00 pm the ship was abreast of Kangaroo Island. A heavy swell threw a race horse, Jupiter, on to its back in his box. Captain McEwan ordered the helmsman to turn into the swell. He then ordered the engine room to reduce speed. It took about one hour to manoeuvre the horse back on its feet. The ship then returned to its normal course and steamed parallel to the shore; but further out to sea.

By midnight the ship had steamed another 75 miles. The weather turned foggy. Captain McEwan estimated they would be near Cape Northumberland before dawn. Believing the ship to be well out to sea, the captain steamed along at a normal cruising speed. However the heavy ocean swells were not conducive to a smooth ride.

In the dark just before 5:00 am the Admella struck a sunken reef with a gentle bump. The next heavy swell lifted the Admella up another 20 or 30 feet on to the rocks of the reef. The force of the huge wave pushed the Admella over on her side; with the starboard high out of the water. Captain McEwan shut down the engines.

For a few moments the only sound was the waves crashing on the rocks.

He ordered the lifeboats to be cleared for the evacuation of passengers and crew. Then the unthinkable happened; within 15 minutes the hull broke into three sections. First the funnel broke off and crashed down; damaging a lifeboat. The ship heeled further over. The fore section and the mid section were over deeper water. The aft section lay on the reef. The strain on the ships beams was too great and it broke up; snapping apart at the bulkheads.

Rigging, chains and blocks came crashing down sweeping some passengers and crew into the sea. At the same time all the horses were thrown into the sea. Most of the women and children were in the bow section. About 40 people were clinging to the aft section. The huge seas and chilly water compounded their problems. A few signal rockets were found and fired. They were damp and did not ignite properly. The crew were hoping to attract the attention of the lighthouse keepers at Cape Northumberland about 20 miles away, further south.

As the first twinges of daylight appeared in the sky, a deserted coastline was slowly revealed. Plans were made to try and reach shore. A steamer was seen in the distance. Signals were quickly run up on the mast and rigging. The ship's bell was rung loudly. All to no avail; the vessel passed by. No one had seen the distress signals.

Two men who had been washed overboard were seen floating on timber trying to get to shore. They floated away from the wreck and the current carried them out to sea. An upturned lifeboat was seen floating near the wreck. A young Danish seaman volunteered to swim out to it and attach a rope to it. He managed to reach the lifeboat. However the line he attached soon broke. He spent the day clinging to the boat; but he was swept off in the raging seas and drowned. The 2nd Mate then volunteered to try and swim to shore; but he disappeared in the raging seas.

A search for food revealed a negligible amount of food. No drinking water was found. Captain McEwan doled out the meagre findings. The daylight hours disappeared into inky blackness. During the night another ship passed by. They could hear the steady thrum of its engines. Their frantic cries for help went unanswered. They had no form of lighting to show their position.

Daylight on the second day, Sunday, revealed cold and drenched survivors. They had passed a miserable night together. After consultation a decision was made to build a raft. Meanwhile a rope was finally attached between the bow section and the aft section. Fifteen men made the dangerous crossing over the rope to the more secure aft section. Regrettably, three men and two children slipped off the rope into the sea when they attempted to cross.

None of the women were brave enough to try crossing to the aft section. They elected to stay put with their children on the bow section. Some of the men on the bow section volunteered to stay with the women and children.

Several hours later more tragedy! The bow section broke up in the huge seas. All the people on the bow section perished in the raging waters. Stunned by the magnitude of their loss; the survivors on the aft section watched in abject horror at the sight!

Captain McEwan forced himself to get on with the job at hand. He ordered his men to begin making a raft. The only tool available was a meat chopper. Some of the booms and part of the mast were cut up and lashed together with rope. A long rope was then attached to the raft. Seaman Leach and Seaman Knapman were chosen to make the attempt to reach shore. Seaman Knapman was put in charge.

Captain McEwan spoke to them, "If you reach shore go to Cape Northumberland lighthouse and raise the alarm. God speed lads!"

The raft was launched with the two men clinging precariously to it. It took about three hours for them to steer the raft to shore through the huge breakers. As the raft grounded they quickly dived into the surf. Clinging to the sandy bottom, hanging on grimly between breakers they were slowly carried on to the sandy beach. It was now about 5:00 pm.

They lay on the beach gasping for breath. When they were sufficiently recovered they signalled to the survivors on the wreck; then set out in a southerly direction for Cape Northumberland lighthouse. All night they struggled over sand dunes and through numerous swamps. Being winter the swamps were full of water. Cold, wet and exhausted they reached the lighthouse on Monday morning.

Head keeper Germein listened to their tragic story. His lighthouse did not have the new telegraph system connected to it; the nearest telegraph station was at Mount Gambier. Mr Germein sprang into action; he walked briskly to a nearby farm to borrow a horse, his own horse had died a few days before. He quickly saddled up the borrowed horse and rode away. Unfortunately for Germein the borrowed horse threw him and took off. A local station owner, John Black when informed of the situation completed the ride to Mount Gambier.

Messages were telegraphed to Robe, Adelaide, Portland and Melbourne. News of the tragedy spread like wildfire. At Robe Town a messenger hurried to Harry Medcroft.

"Mr Medcroft, come quickly, a ship has been wrecked on a reef about 20 miles from Cape Northumberland lighthouse. Mount Gambier telegraph station just sent the message."

Harry ran to the telegraph station. He quickly perused the messages waiting for him. The SS Admella had broken up on a reef near Cape Northumberland. Many souls had perished but survivors were still on the wreck. He telegraphed messages to Adelaide, and Portland in the Colony of Victoria. The nearest lifeboat to the wreck was in Portland. The foul weather and mountainous seas would make rescue difficult.

He sent for George Ormiston; George came quickly. George and his rescue boat crew would have to take a boat overland by dray to the wreck site. The seas were too rough to sail to the wreck. Gerry Baker a local bullocky had just finished unloading his cargo at the Royal Circus roundabout. He offered to take George's boat on his dray. George Ormiston and his crew saddled their horses and the rescue party was soon on its way.

News spread quickly around Robe Town. Concerned citizens congregated outside the telegraph station for updates on the tragedy. Harry's orders from Adelaide were to take charge of all the shore based rescue operations. He was to liaise with Inspector Scott from Mount Gambier police district. Harry was pleased for Inspector Scott was an old friend from Harry's mounted trooper days.

Captain Blakely would coordinate all the information sent to Robe telegraph station regarding the Admella situation. He would then decide which information to act on.

News was telegraphed from Adelaide that the steamer SS Corio would be sent to the wreck. The Adelaide pilot boat was on board to assist in the rescue. Portland also telegraphed a message that the steamer SS Ladybird would be sent; towing the Portland lifeboat and a small whale boat.

On Tuesday night Harry put some provisions together, went to the livery stables, saddled his horse and galloped away. The weather was atrocious.

Meanwhile, during the day on Tuesday 9-Aug-1859, men and women began to gather on the beach opposite the wrecked Admella; which was about one mile out to sea. They found lots of wreckage, a dead horse, a damaged lifeboat and three horses grazing nearby. They set about repairing the lifeboat.

On board the wreck the huge seas had gutted all the cabins and places of refuge. The survivors were forced to climb into the rigging or cling somehow to the hull. Some people, so exhausted from their ordeal simply slipped off the wreck into the sea and drowned. Others desperate in their thirst began to drink sea water which only hastened their deaths.

Lighthouse keeper Germein arrived overland with his small whale boat loaded on a dray and accompanied by his crew. Seamen Leach and Knapman also returned with them. The huge seas were too rough to attempt any rescue. At night they lit three huge bonfires on the sand dunes; so the survivors could see they were not forgotten.

Harry Medcroft caught up with George Ormiston and his crew escorting Gerry Baker and his dray. Gerry was forcing his bullocks along at a quick pace. The load on his dray was light and he was making good time. Harry told George the news about the SS Corio and the SS Ladybird; then continued his slow gallop to the wreck site.

Early on Thursday, 11-Aug-1859 lighthouse keeper Germein desperate to do something launched his boat in the boiling surf. The breakers however capsized and swamped the boat. One of the crew had his leg terribly lacerated on rocks. They were all fortunate not to drown. Later the SS Corio steamed into view, but could not get close to the Admella. Huge seas whipped up by severe storms made recue impossible. The seas would have to calm down. A fishing boat from Robe also arrived; but the two fishermen were powerless to help.

The SS Corio moved closer to the wreck and launched the Adelaide pilot boat with a crew of seven. They battled the seas for an hour or so; but were unable to get near the Admella. They were forced to land on the beach; much to the dismay of the survivors. The disappointed survivors on the wreck set about building another raft. However, when it was launched the seas took it and it drifted away.

Harry Medcroft arrived in the early afternoon and was brought up to date on the situation. A lot of people were on the beach ready and willing to help. Unfortunately the rough seas were preventing them. There were two lines of reefs between the shore and the Admella.

Huge breakers were crashing on to the reefs before making their way to the beach. Another attempt was made from the beach to launch the pilot boat and the small whale boat. Both boats were capsized in the breakers and swamped. Another dismal failed attempt! Rescue at this point of time would have to be from the open sea.

Harry kept getting messages from Adelaide asking why nobody had been rescued. Hundreds were gathered at the Adelaide telegraph office. Both Houses of Parliament had been adjourned due to the crisis with the Admella. The people of Adelaide could not understand why the rescuers did not have a plan to get to the wrecked vessel. Messengers on horseback were constantly going to and fro from the Mount Gambier telegraph station.

Thursday night about midnight Inspector Scott arrived with troopers Dann and Young; along with special magistrate Lyon. Next day Inspector Scott and his troopers were kept busy with looters attempting to plunder the wreckage.

More people were arriving daily at the isolated beach. Regrettably, some were there for their own gain. It was rumoured that one of the passengers was supposed to have 700 sovereigns on his person. The messages from Adelaide were getting more frantic as the Government sought to get some good news for the populace. Why couldn't they rescue the survivors?

Friday, 12-Aug-1859, it was one week since the Admella had departed from Adelaide. The survivors had been on the wreck since Saturday morning; without drinking water and their food had run out days ago. They had to contend with thirst, hunger and the terrible conditions on the wreck. Raging seas continued to pound the hull. Driving rain and howling winds whipped up the huge waves. It was a wonder that anyone on board was alive.

The SS Corio was running low on coal and her captain decided to return to Robe to refuel. As she steamed away the steamer SS Ladybird could be seen on the horizon; towing the Portland lifeboat and a whale boat. George Ormiston's vessel the SS Ant also arrived to assist.

About 9:00 am on Friday, 13-Aug-1859 the Portland lifeboat left the Ladybird and approached the wreck from the western or weather side. From a short distance away they fired two rockets with lifelines attached. Both attempts failed. They pulled in closer and tried unsuccessfully to throw a line over the wreck. Then huge waves swept over the boat breaking oars and the rudder. The despondent crew exhausted and glad to be alive, somehow managed to get the lifeboat back to the Ladybird.

As the lifeboat withdrew from the Admella wreck a great scream of despair could be heard from the survivors! They feared their last hope had disappeared! The lifeboat's damaged oars were replaced and the rudder repaired; but the seas were too high for a further attempt. Another frustrating day was passed waiting for the seas to abate.

Saturday, 13-Aug-1859 saw a glimmer of hope. The seas were calmer. The SS Ladybird had moved away from the wreck for safety during the night. Mr Germein had done temporary repairs to the Admella lifeboat. Harry consulted with Germein; they decided to attempt a rescue. The Adelaide pilot boat and the Admella lifeboat were readied. Germein would captain the Admella's lifeboat.

Harry said, "If I spot the Portland lifeboat I will signal you so you can return to shore."

Germein's boat managed to cross both reefs and drew close to the Admella. One huge wave took the boat clean over the ship's boiler; but the next wave brought it back. Germein's crew was successful in attaching a line to the wreck. Some survivors, four men including Captain McEwan managed to haul themselves into the boat. Three survivors were transferred to the pilot boat, which had been unable to get past the second reef. The other survivor was too weak to be transferred to the pilot boat. Meanwhile the SS Ladybird came into view. Harry signalled both boats to return; which they did.

The Adelaide pilot boat capsized in the surf; but all on board, including the 3 survivors, struggled to the beach. Helping hands hauled them to safety. Germein's lifeboat also capsized in the surf. Unfortunately the remaining survivor from Germein's lifeboat was too exhausted to make it to the beach and drowned a few yards from salvation. Germein's crew made it safely to the beach and were helped ashore.

The Portland lifeboat, the whale boat and a boat from the SS Ant floated near the wreck. The bow man in the Portland lifeboat heaved a line over the wreck. When it was secured 18 men and 1 woman quickly made the dangerous trip down the line to the lifeboat. The lifeboat then returned to the SS Ladybird; and about 10:00 a.m. the 19 survivors were taken on board. The Ladybird exchanged signals with those on the shore and steamed back to Portland.

A huge sense of relief was felt by all on the shore. Inspector Scott sent Trooper Dann hurriedly to Mount Gambier with the news. The recue was over but there was a lot of work still to be done. The people who were gathered on the beach watched the SS Ladybird steam away. Their attention was now focussed on the 3 survivors brought to shore from the Admella wreck.

There had been eight terrible days and nights of indescribable ordeal for the survivors before 22 people were saved from the Admella. Along with seamen Leach and Knapman only 24 souls survived the shipwreck. A total of 89 people perished.

A Gypsy tent was rigged up for the 3 survivors on shore. Dr Wehl from Mount Gambier was on site to attend to them. Their feet were enormously swollen and black. Their toes were more like indentations in the blackened mass. All day Saturday they cared for the three men who were in a terribly debilitated condition.

About midday the SS Corio returned; however the seas were up again. There would be grave risks involved in getting the Adelaide pilot boat back to the Corio. A decision was made to wait until later in the day to see if the seas calmed down again. However the SS Corio signalled to shore to bring the pilot boat now or give up any attempt. The seas were much too boisterous and the pilot boat had to get over the two reefs. It could not be done without risk of damage to the boat and possible loss of life. A signal was sent to the Corio to proceed without the Adelaide lifeboat. An acknowledgement was sent by the Corio and she steamed away.

George Ormiston promised Harry he would keep the SS Ant at Port Robe until Wednesday, 17-Aug-1859. Harry would have to get the pilot boat overland by dray to Port Robe by that date. Harry agreed to the offer. A further problem arose with the pilot boat crew; they had no shoes on their feet and hardly any clothing on their backs. Harry could not obtain these things from Mount Gambier in time.

He wrote a letter to Geo. Glenn Esquire in Mount Gambier asking him to supply the necessary items. He then hired a horse and cart to transport the crew to Mount Gambier. They left on Saturday afternoon for Mount Gambier.

Harry had not had any sleep for three nights. Harry and Inspector Scott had to watch over the survivors during the night and attend to their feet. When he was not on watch Harry was able to sleep for some of the night.

Inspector Scott woke him on Sunday morning for the morning watch. Harry woke their patients and gave them their medicine. Then he carefully anointed their feet with ointment. He sat at the tent opening and tried to keep awake. Hooking his arm around the tent pole, his body relaxed. He began to drift in and out of wakefulness. Suddenly horrendous shrieks filled the air! Harry sat bolt upright! Captain McEwan in his delirium was remembering the terrible scenes of the shipwreck.

He cried out, "Oh! The poor women and children. Oh! My God save them, look, look!"

Harry's hair was standing on end! He was wide awake! 'Poor Captain McEwan what a terrible sight to relive.'

One of the lifeboat captains describing some of those who died said, they were "...more like statues than human beings, their eyes fixed, their lips black, for want of water, and their limbs bleached white and swollen through exposure to the relentless surf..."

George Ormiston meanwhile made arrangements to get his boat and crew back to Port Robe. Inspector Scott and Harry then organised horses and carts to transport the three survivors to Mr Livingstone's farm about 12 miles away. Mr Livingstone had been most generous in supplying food, men and whatever was deemed necessary during the rescue operation. The survivors were assured of a comfortable bed to recuperate in.

Germein and Harry collected oars and equipment belonging to Germein's lighthouse boat and the Adelaide pilot boat; then secured them for the journeys to their respective destinations. The Admella lifeboat was left on the beach. When all was ready they set off. Harry and Inspector Scott accompanied the survivors to Livingstone's sheep station.

Germein set out to return to his lighthouse at Cape Northumberland. Inspector Scott left two of his mounted troopers at the beach. Their assignments were, (a) to patrol the shoreline morning and late afternoon, (b) to keep an eye out for any bodies washed ashore, (c) any property washed ashore was to be noted and an inventory kept, (d) arrest any looters found plundering goods from the wrecked Admella.

In both Colonies crowds of people were eagerly waiting at the various telegraph offices for news of the survivors. A huge sensation of relief was felt by the whole country when news came through that the survivors were safe and doing well. Newspapers had to print extra editions as normal editions sold out immediately. The extra editions sold out just as quickly. Relief monies flowed into Adelaide, Portland and Melbourne. Committees were set up to handle these funds.

Harry left Livingstone's station on Monday, 15-Aug-1859 and proceeded to Mount Gambier telegraph station to obtain instructions regarding the transfer of the Adelaide pilot boat from Port Robe to Port Adelaide. Instructions came through to put the pilot boat on the next steamer bound for Adelaide. Harry then left Mount Gambier and commenced his journey to Port Robe.

Inspector Scott also left Livingstone's on Monday and went to Mount Gambier. He left the Mount on Tuesday, 16-Aug-1859 as went as far as Glencoe that day; reaching Penola the following day. He immediately set about filing a report to the Police Commissioner in Adelaide; just in time to catch the mails before they closed that day.

Saturday, 20-Aug-1859 Harry Medcroft drafted an interim report to his superiors in Adelaide. He despatched the report on a steamer bound for Adelaide and then made arrangements to go himself to Adelaide on Monday, 21-Aug-1859. By now the atrocious weather conditions had passed. Harry was pleased to spend a little time with Amanda and the children.

Amanda was expecting their fourth child towards the end of October. She was glad Harry was home safe and sound. What a horrendous time it had been for Harry and the others.

Harry left on Monday on a coastal steamer to report to Trinity House in Adelaide. His interim report had been avidly read as to why the rescue took so long. Harry gave his superiors a further detailed verbal report. The Governor of South Australia, Sir Richard McDonnell also summoned Harry for a briefing on Harry's actions and findings in the matter. An investigation was begun by Trinity House into the disaster. A Coronial inquest was also set up.

Harry stayed in Adelaide until the end of the week then returned to Port Robe on a coastal steamer. He still had work to do at the wreck site. Arrangements for an auction for the sale of salvaged goods from the wreck needed to be made. Late in August Harry arranged for an auction on the beach for goods washed ashore from the Admella.

One week later the cargo and remains of the Admella were sold for £850. The cargo of copper was quite valuable; if it could be safely recovered.

The initial findings of Trinity House were tabled in the South Australian Parliament. This plus the ongoing coronial inquest led to the setting up of a Royal Commission into the disaster.

The crews of the rescue vessels were treated as heroes. The SS Ladybird crew was especially feted and honoured. The committees in Adelaide, Portland and Melbourne made their decisions as to how the relief monies were to be spent. In Adelaide the decision was made to spend the money on monetary rewards. In Portland the monies received were used to pay for such things as doctors' bills, lodging, clothing and other items necessary for the welfare of the 19 survivors at Portland. In Melbourne the monies received were mainly used to strike medals for the rescue crews.

Harry and Inspector Scott in their respective reports mentioned the settlers who had helped in the Admella rescue.

Inspector Scott's report stated, "...The settlers in the immediate neighbourhood of the wreck are deserving of the highest commendation, especially Mr Livingstone, who supplied men as guides, horses to carry messengers and provisions for those working at the wreck..."

Harry noted in his report, "...You will, I am sure, be gratified to hear that everyone in the neighbourhood of Mount Gambier afforded all the assistance in their power. Nothing was wanted that kindness or humanity could suggest, both in providing for the wants of those at the wreck or in anticipation of recovering the shipwrecked.

It will afford me great pleasure to see some public acknowledgement made to Mr Livingstone and other settlers who provided relays of horses and guides for messengers sent with telegrams to Mount Gambier, a distance of 30 miles from the scene of the disaster..."

The disaster left a lasting impression on the populations in South Australia and Victoria. It was an unprecedented act of co-operation between them; which led to closer cross border ties.

Harry's reverie was interrupted by his colleague, Owen Morrison with news of another tall ship arriving in Guichen Bay. His thoughts returned to the present matter on hand. He and Owen walked down to the jetties. It was business as usual.

Chapter 9 - 1860 to 1861

Sunday, 1-Jan-1860 dawned bright and sunny; Harry Medcroft sincerely hoped it would be a better year than 1859. The terrible tragedy of the Admella wreck was still keenly felt in South Australia and Victoria. However, there were some positives during 1859. The new Caledonian Inn had been completed and duly opened. It had a large room suitable for functions; and quickly became the place to hold balls in Robe Town. The publican was a Scotsman, John Park. The new Church of England church building had also been completed and was named Saint Peters. The Bishop of Adelaide came and dedicated the new building.

Harry and Amanda were enjoying their new baby daughter Elizabeth born on Sunday, 16-Oct-1859. They named her Elizabeth in memory of Elizabeth Blakely. It was more than two years since Elizabeth Blakely had passed away. Amanda often thought of her friend; and missed her friendship and advice. Baby Elizabeth was a beautiful baby and was growing well. She seemed to have a sweet, placid nature.

Harry spoke to Amanda, "Amanda, I think it is time for us to move to larger premises. With four children, ourselves and Annie, we could do with more room. This place is getting a bit cramped with all of us in it."

"Oh Harry, that is a wonderful idea. When can we start looking for a new place?"

"We can start looking right away. We don't have to take what is presently on offer if there is nothing suitable. It would be better to wait for the right house to come on the market. I will keep my eyes and ears open. If something seems to be suitable, I will have a look at it. If I think it will fit the bill I will show it to you for your appraisal."

"That seems sensible Harry. Now we better get a move on. I have to get the children ready for church."

Governor McDonnell issued a public acknowledgement via the newspapers to the settlers and all who helped out at the Admella rescue attempts. He praised everyone involved in the rescues; paying particular attention to the settlers who provided provisions, food, horses and messengers. It left a good feeling in those who had taken part.

Lindsay Gordon was inspired by John Black's ride to Mount Gambier with news of the tragedy. He wrote a poem about the ride. He called the poem From The Wreck. It captured the essence of the mad dash to Mount Gambier on horseback. Lindsay being familiar with the terrain was able to give a very clear description of the countryside on the way to Mount Gambier. The poem was widely read and appreciated.

As the months rolled around; Harry and Amanda looked at some places they thought were worth inspecting. At the end of March they found a solid, limestone block house; with four bedrooms and an office for Harry. During April 1860 they moved house. Amanda and Annie were thrilled with the extra living space in the new larger house.

Due to problems encountered with the Admella rescue, Harry requisitioned a lifeboat and crew for Port Robe. News came through from Port Adelaide that this had been approved and Port Robe would have its own lifeboat later in the year. The Royal Commission into the disaster was well under way.

Harry had been summoned to Adelaide to appear before the Royal Commission. He also had to give evidence at the Coronial inquest into the deaths of the 89 who perished. Hopefully some positive outcomes would be achieved for the benefit of those who sailed in South Australian waters.

The Admella remains and cargo were resold to a Mr Robert Anderson. Mr Anderson built himself a house at Port McDonnell using some of the salvaged items.

Construction work began about this time on a prison for male inmates at Port Robe. The walls of the new gaol needed reinforcing due to the soft nature of the limestone blocks used in its construction. The builders contacted Mr Anderson and bought a large quantity of iron plates from the Admella wreck. The plates were inserted between the inner and outer walls. If prisoners tried to dig through the limestone blocks they would come up against the iron plates. Thus foiling any escape by these means. The Robe gaol was expected to be finished sometime in 1861.

In June 1860 the crews of the rescue boats involved in the rescue of the Admella survivors were invited to Melbourne. It was a Gala occasion for the public presentation of their medals. A grateful public was lavish in their praise of the heroic actions undertaken by these gallant men. It was a fitting acknowledgement of their brave deeds.

In late spring the new Port Robe lifeboat was delivered by coastal steamer. Harry was glad to see it arrive. He set about having a small slipway constructed and a rolling carriage for the lifeboat. The lifeboat needed to be launched quickly in times of need and a crew would have to be selected and trained.

Thankfully 1860 passed without any major disasters. The Royal Commission into the Admella disaster did not attribute any blame to Captain McEwan for the shipwreck. However, he was criticised for not taking depth soundings when he was unsure of his position. The findings from the inquiry decided a strong inshore current had caused the Admella to come in too close to shore. Questions were also raised as to a magnetic disturbance near Cape Northumberland which seemed to affect the compasses on iron hulled ships.

As a result of the Coroner's inquest and the Royal Commission a lighthouse was to be built at Cape Banks; which is near Carpenters Rocks, the site of the Admella tragedy. A recommendation for a better method of making watertight bulkheads was handed down. It was decided that the watertight compartments on the Admella had given way where the lines of rivets were used to construct the compartments. This was the reason the ship broke so easily into three sections. The rivets gave way under the enormous strains placed on them.

The year 1861 started out well. The new gaol was completed at a cost of £1,959. The gaol was situated on the cart track on the way to the Obelisk, on Cape Dombey. It was located well outside the town area; over the other side of Lake Butler. It was soon home to its first lot of inmates.

Lindsay Gordon the poet, often rode horses at race meetings at Robe racecourse. It was during a race meeting at the Robe race course that Lindsay met young Margaret Park. Maggie, as she was known, was the daughter of John Park, the publican at the Caledonian Inn.

Sixteen years old Maggie was an excellent horse rider and found the atmosphere of the race meet exciting and stimulating. Young Maggie found the tall, lanky Lindsay Gordon to be quite handsome and shy.

Lindsay Gordon was by now quite the gentleman. His mother had passed away in England in 1859 leaving him an inheritance of £6,944; which he received in 1860. He used some of the money to purchase land in Mount Gambier. He now had the money and the time to write his poetry; and also race his own horses in South Australia and Victoria. He had become a well known steeplechase rider. He also raced in hurdles races. He was known far and wide as a fearless, reckless rider.

He found the new publican's daughter very attractive. Apparently she was a very accomplished horse woman. She seemed to be quite sensible and straight forward. He thought her Scottish accent was charming. However, no spark of romance occurred at their first meeting.

The months slipped by and summer rolled around again. About mid December two tall ships the Alma and the Livingstone were anchored in Guichen Bay.

The Alma had unloaded its cargo and was in ballast only. She was sitting high in the water and not in the usual anchorage; but was in seven fathoms of water, in a position exposed to the wind and waves.

The Livingstone, in contrast, was fully loaded with a cargo of wool; and was anchored at the usual anchorage, with three anchors out. She was ready for sea and a voyage to London. The crews of both ships had recently been entertained at balls in the Caledonian Inn.

The captain of the Alma was ashore on Saturday, 15-Dec-1861 when the wind began to blow strongly from the northwest. The wind's velocity increased and the waves in Guichen Bay became boisterous. Heavy rain began to fall; the wind picked up in intensity. A huge storm began to sweep along the south eastern coast of South Australia. The winds built up to hurricane force.

The Alma was straining on her anchor chain. She could not take much more of this. Harry had the lifeboat ready to launch and the crew ready. They would go if the Alma's crew signalled them. The situation was dire indeed. If they got the lifeboat to the Alma they would not be able to row it back to safety! The risk to all their lives was huge. If they did manage to get to the Alma and rescue the crew; there was a distinct possibility that all hands would be lost in the boiling, raging sea. Harry stayed put.

A newspaper correspondent was scathing in his opinions to Harry.

"What's the use of the lifeboat, if you are not going to use it? If the Alma is forced ashore, all hands will be lost. Mr Medcroft you are taking risks with other men's lives."

Harry said to him, "Mind your own business. No distress signal has been raised. That crew is safer where they are at present."

Harry could only wait and see. It was a trying time for all concerned. Watching and waiting was testing their patience. About midday the main anchor chain snapped under the terrible strain on it. The 1st Mate ran the Alma ashore in a little inlet on to some rocks; underneath a cliff. The bow was stuck fast. Harry and the lifeboat crew reacted quickly; taking their rescue apparatus to the cliff top above the Alma.

The first rocket was fired with a line attached. It was too high and the gale force wind drove it away from the stern of the Alma. The line was dragged back and attached to a second rocket. Harry had the elevation lowered and fired the second rocket. This was a mistake as the rope was now heavier through being dragged through the sea after the first attempt. The line fell short!

The third and last rocket was prepared for firing. Meanwhile, the Captain of the Alma had made his way to the cliff top. He gave his opinion to Harry.

"The crew won't leave the ship; even if you do get a line to her. They would be fools to leave the ship on the line. They are safer where they are."

Harry hesitated, 'Maybe the Captain is right. He knows what his ship is capable of.'

Harry turned to the Coxswain of the lifeboat crew and asked him his opinion.

"Coxswain, what do you think?"

"Oh, she may remain jammed in the rocks, or she may not."

Harry had a decision to make. 'Should I try to establish communication with the Alma; with the rocket line, or not?'

Harry thought long and hard then made his decision. 'I have only one rocket left. It's my duty to use it to try and establish communication with the Alma. If I get a line to the ship and the crew don't want to leave it, my conscience will be clear in that I have done my duty.'

Harry spoke to the crew of the lifeboat.

"It is our duty to try and establish a line of communication to the Alma in her predicament. Prepare the rocket for firing and fire when ready!"

The rocket zoomed across the top of the Alma and the line got caught in one of the masts. Harry was relieved. However, all was not well. In order to effect a rescue operation; an endless loop had to be made with the line so the cradle buoy used to rescue people could be worked from ship to shore, and vice versa. The Alma crew was not familiar with the apparatus and let go one end of the line. There was only one solution; one of the rescuers had to make the trip to the Alma, show them how to do it and get the first man started on his way.

Several volunteered, but the Coxswain was considered the best man for the job. He was tall and heavy; however they managed to get him on to the Alma. He explained to the crew what to do and then made the journey back. Unfortunately for him the line (called a warp) dipped as he passed over a boulder and he hurt his back severely.

Great care was needed to get men safely off the Alma. As the vessel lifted in the heavy surge from the waves it put a tremendous strain on the warp line. The crew on the cliff had to slacken the warp. As the ship lowered in between the surge of waves; they hauled the cradle buoy, with the sailor on board, a few yards. Then the warp had to be slackened again. It was delicate, time consuming work; with no room for error. When the cradle buoy was finally clear of the waves it was an easy matter to haul it to the cliff top.

It was a very anxious time for all concerned. If the warp line broke; the cradle buoy would have dropped into the raging waters. The person in the cradle would have perished. What then the fate of the others on the Alma? One by one, the Alma's crew made it precariously to the cliff top.

Harry had a very anxious time of it. If they had lost any of the Alma crew and the vessel managed to hold together; Harry would have been severely reprimanded. Fortunately for him all hands were rescued safely to shore.

Meanwhile the Livingstone seemed to be riding out the gale on her three anchors. The Livingstone was not as exposed to the fury of the storm as the Alma was.

Harry and his crew packed up their apparatus and returned to Robe Town. This was the worst storm he had ever been in! Harry got to bed about 1:00 am for a well deserved sleep.

It was not to be; a short time later he was woken up with the news that the Livingstone was drifting. She had snapped her main anchor chain and was dragging the other two anchors along. About daybreak she ran aground. Fortunately the storm was abating and they did not hold any fears of the Livingstone breaking up. The Port Robe lifeboat was manned and all aboard the Livingstone were safely taken off the ship as a precautionary measure.

Daylight on Sunday, 16-Dec-1861 revealed the fate of the Alma. During the night the heavy breakers had lifted the Alma on to the rocks where the hull had been smashed into a myriad of pieces! Only a few feet of the bow was visible stuck in the rocks. Wreckage from the Alma covered about ten miles of Long Beach!

Harry felt justified in his decision to rescue the crew of the Alma. Every soul on board would have perished during the night. Harry did not find out what the Alma's captain thought of the matter; nor was he interested in finding out. A 'Thank You' dinner was given to the crew of the Port Robe lifeboat for their rescue of the 24 men.

Harry was galled to think that his own Chief in Port Adelaide gave no recognition at all of their splendid rescue work. Harry thought to himself, 'He won't give any prominence to anything, or any of his officers, where his own cocked hat is not seen!'

Harry indicated to his Chief that the Coxswain, Fergus Fullarton should receive a medal for risking his life in aid of his fellow men. Nothing came of it.

'What a way to end the year!' Harry thought to himself.

Chapter 10 - 1862 to 1863

As Receiver of Wrecks, Harry turned his attention to the beached Livingstone. Her cargo of wool was intact. He contacted George Ormiston for his assistance in the matter. The upshot was that Ormiston & Co would unload the cargo of wool and transfer it to their warehouses. Harry then set about organizing an auction for the wrecked ships. A firm of underwriters in Adelaide, on behalf of the insurers, undertook the preparations for the auction. Early in the new year of 1862, on Saturday, 4-Jan-1862 advertisements for both ships appeared in the South Australian Register.

Postponed till Tuesday, January 7, at 12 o'clock (In consequence of not being able to arrange lots before the above date).

ON ACCOUNT OF WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

BY ORDER OF CAPTAIN J. PRYNN AT GUICHEN BAY

THE WRECK OF THE LIVINGSTONE

SPARS, MASTS, RIGGINGS, ANCHORS

ALSO

2,400 BALES OF WOOL

COPPER ORE

BLACK SAND

LEAD, IRON AND SUNDRIES

Townsend, Botting & Kay have received instructions to sell at Guichen Bay,

On Tuesday, January 7, at 12 o'clock, on account of whom it may concern,

By order of Captain Prynn

2,400 bales of wool

Three parts (about) Washed Wool, and one-fourth

(about) Greasy, the growth

Of the SOUTH EASTERN DISTRICT

All more or less damaged by sea water

ALSO

36 casks Copper Ore, 38 do. do

36 tons Copper Ore, 5 kegs Black Sand

451 pigs Lead, 20 tons Scrap Iron

As originally shipped from Port Adelaide

BESIDES

THE BARQUE LIVINGSTONE

As she now lies wrecked at Guichen Bay; together with Masts, Spars, Riggings, Bolts, Anchors and Sundries

TERMS CASH

Full particulars will appear

SPECIAL NOTICE

The ANT will leave Port Adelaide on Saturday, January 4, at 10 o'clock sharp

Conveying intending passengers to Guichen Bay, thus affording ample time for inspection of the wool before the sale. For further particulars, apply to Messrs. Wm. Younghusband & Co or to the auctioneers.

On TUESDAY, January 7

ON ACCOUNT OF WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

AT GUICHEN BAY THE WRECK OF THE ALMA

SAILS, SPARS, RIGGINGS, CHAINS, ANCHORS

CABLES AND SUNDRIES

ALSO

150 TONS (ABOUT) COPPER ORE

Townsend, Botting & Kay have received instructions to sell at

Guichen Bay on Tuesday, January 7, at 12 o'clock

THE SHIP ALMA

As she now lies wrecked at Guichen Bay

TOGETHER WITH

Masts, Spars, Cables, Chains, Anchors, Sails, Rigging and Sundries

BESIDES

150 TONS Copper Ore

All more or less damaged by sea water

TERMS CASH

The auction day was a huge success. The cargo of wool from the Livingstone was auctioned for close to its full value and went for £40,000. The rest of the items sold well and the auctioneers were very pleased with the final outcome. Quite a large gathering of people were there for the auction of the two ships. Not everyone was there to buy; the majority of people were there out of curiosity. It wasn't every day a major auction like this was held at Port Robe. The Insurance underwriters were very pleased and grateful to Ormiston & Co for their assistance in the matter and their services were well paid for.

Yet again Harry received no acknowledgement from his Chief for Harry's actions in saving a very valuable cargo. However, the underwriters wrote him a letter of thanks and enclosed a bank draft for £50. 'At least someone appreciates our actions!' He divided the £50 evenly among the Port Robe lifeboat crew. As a government official Harry was not permitted to accept any other remuneration.

With the aftermath of the two wrecked ships out of the way, Harry and his men settled back into their normal routines. Summer gave way to autumn and the cooler weather was very welcome. It had been a hot summer. Port Robe continued to be a very busy port; especially with the export of wool to London and horses to the Indian army. Teamsters were kept very busy delivering cargo to Port Robe.

Harry and Amanda's children were growing up. Jason and Tristan were being schooled privately at the school held in the Free Presbytery Kirk. Amelia and Elizabeth would also receive an education when they were old enough. Harry's family were enjoying the home they had moved into last year. Life in Robe Town was generally good to them. Amanda sometimes reflected on Harry's job; occasionally it had its downsides, but on the whole it worked out well for them as a family. Harry was much respected as a public servant and was known to be straightforward, honest and courageous in emergencies. Amanda enjoyed living in Robe Town and also enjoyed the respect accorded to her as Harry's wife.

It was about this time that Lindsay Gordon had a serious fall from one of his horses at the Robe racecourse. As there was no hospital at Robe Town he was taken to the Caledonian Inn to recuperate. It would be a few weeks before he would be well enough to resume riding again. Maggie Park took it upon herself to nurse him back to health. As they were often in each other's company a strong bond developed between them.

Maggie found herself falling in love with Lindsay. Lindsay on the other hand was captivated by her. She was attractive, sensible and practical. He was deeply grateful for her compassion and care for him. When he was well enough to walk, and the weather was not inclement, they would go down on to the beach and spend time walking and talking together.

Lindsay decided he could not live apart from her. He asked Maggie to marry him; to which she gave a happy, "Yes". Lindsay then asked John Park for his daughter's hand in marriage. John Park was agreeable as Lindsay was quite well off and he liked the young man. Their engagement was announced and then celebrated at the Caledonian Inn at the Function room. Plans were made to marry sometime later in the year.

Their engagement caused quite a stir among the eligible bachelors in Robe Town. Quite a few of them thought that they would be the chosen one. Larry Cooper, the stonemason, was especially grieved. He was infatuated with Maggie; but being an introspective person and shy around women, he found it difficult to let her know his feelings. He reckoned his girl had been stolen by 'the Poet'. It left a bad taste in his mouth.

Harry and Amanda were invited to the engagement party. Harry had known Lindsay for several years. Lindsay had been a mounted police trooper in the Mount Gambier district after Harry had left the police force. They had met when Harry took up his position as Sub-Collector of Customs in 1855. Lindsay and Maggie's engagement party was a gala occasion in Robe Town; they were both well liked. After the engagement party Lindsay formally moved his belongings into the Caledonian Inn to stay near his fiancée.

The winter of 1862 brought a big surprise. On Monday, 4-Aug-1862 an American tall ship, the 'Buena Vista', under the command of Captain Ayers, sailed into Guichen Bay. On board were 300 Chinese passengers and a crew of 16. Another China ship had arrived! During 1861 the South Australian Parliament, taking its cue from Victoria, had repealed its onerous Poll tax on Chinese immigrants; opening the way for more gold seekers. Harry and his men were gobsmacked! "Here we go again.' thought Harry. A large crowd gathered down on the foreshore. The usual formalities took place and then the Chinese camped out by the side of the cemetery. Sergeant Woodbine and his troopers kept an eye on them.

Captain Ayers told Harry he did not think they would see huge numbers of Chinese coming through to Port Robe. A lot of them that came in 1857 had since returned to China. Gold was becoming harder to find in Victoria and the Victorian Government discouraged Chinese miners. Harry was inclined to agree with Captain Ayers. He had been told that most of the alluvial (surface) gold had already been mined and that the deep leads were where the gold was now. As this form of mining needed expensive machinery and equipment, the ordinary miner could not afford it. Only rich people and wealthy consortiums could afford to mine the deep leads. 'Maybe this is a one off.', Harry thought to himself.

October was a big month for Lindsay Gordon and Maggie Park. They had made plans to marry on Monday, 20-Oct-1862 in Mount Gambier; however the venue was changed by Rev. James Don to his own home in Port MacDonnell. Maggie Park being a superb horsewoman rode the 80 plus miles from Robe Town to Port MacDonnell for her wedding. On Monday, 20-Oct-1862 they were married by Rev. James Don at Port MacDonnell. Lindsay and Maggie returned to Robe Town after their wedding. Lindsay arranged to have a house built on his land at Yahl Paddock at Mount Gambier. When the house was finished they moved to Mount Gambier.

Larry Cooper was a shattered man. His girl had gone and married the Poet. As Larry was already inclined to be introspective he now began to be reclusive; shunning the company of his friends. He threw himself into his work to compensate for his loss. Sometimes he would be seen on the sand hills gazing wistfully up at the windows of the Caledonian Inn.

News was conveyed to Harry that his new Customs House would be constructed in 1863. 'It's taken them long enough to make up their minds about it. After all, we are second in importance to Port Adelaide.'

The year 1863 started off with business as usual. Harry's new Customs House had been pegged out on the Royal Circus; and construction was due to start any day. Larry Cooper was putting the finishing touches to a new business in Smillie Street and would then begin building the Customs House. A wealthy pastoralist had also booked Larry Cooper to build a mansion for him on the other side of Lake Butler; on a site overlooking Guichen Bay. Architects had already drawn up plans for the mansion. As soon as the Customs house was finished Larry Cooper would start on the new mansion.

The summer months ended and autumn commenced its annual passage of time. Lo and behold, on Thursday, 26-Mar-1863 a China ship arrived in Guichen Bay. An American ship the 'Independence' under the command of Captain Crowell arrived with a crew of 20 and 120 Chinese passengers bound for the gold fields. Harry was surprised to see Chinese again. The usual processing took place and the Chinese moved to the side of the cemetery and set up camp. As this was a fairly small lot of Chinese they were in town only a couple of days before they headed off to the gold fields.

Life in Robe Town returned to normal. The Customs House was finished during autumn and Harry's Chief, Sir William Bradshaw arrived from Port Adelaide to open it with a great show of pomp and ceremony. 'It's a good opportunity to show off his cocked hat and claim all the credit.' No mention was made of Harry's initiative in requesting the new Customs House. 'Oh well, what did I expect?'

Larry Cooper turned his attention to the new mansion to be built. It was quite a grand building for Robe Town; and would certainly enhance the town. The mansion and the accompanying stables were to be built from limestone blocks; Larry Cooper stood to make a handsome profit from this contract.

Harry's Customs house worked well and its location on the Royal Circus made life easier for them. It was a fine building well suited for the customs' work; and close to the jetties. The ships lying at anchor could be seen from the front steps.

Winter brought another surprise; another China ship arrived. An American ship the 'Maria Bradford' under the command of Captain Wilson arrived on Saturday, 1-Aug-1863. On board were 346 Chinese passengers and a crew of 20. Captain Wilson told Harry he doubted if anymore Chinese would be coming as news had reached Hong Kong that the surface gold was running out in Victoria. The vast majority of Chinese miners in Victoria had already gone back to China. Some returned rich, the remainder to a life of poverty.

The new mansion was finished in the springtime; and was named 'Karatta House'. It would be used as a magnificent holiday home for the rich and famous. Karatta House had an unrivalled view of Guichen Bay. It was situated up on the headland just past Lake Butler and views down on to Lake Butler could be seen from the side of the mansion. It was certainly set in a very picturesque location.

As the year wound down to its final conclusion, rumblings of discontent were heard in the Guichen Bay District. Rumours abounded that the Government in Adelaide was about to revalue the land leased as sheep runs in 1851.

Chapter 11 - Rumblings of Discontent

People were unhappy. The squatters who had taken up leases for sheep runs in 1851 were worried. The Government in Adelaide was indecisive about the renewal of these leases. In particular, the right of 'perpetual renewal' was in question. The South Australian Government would not make a commitment regarding perpetual renewal. The squatters felt betrayed by the Government of the day.

Under the terms of an Act of Parliament passed in 1858; which purported to be "An Act to impose an assessment on stock"; the real reason soon became apparent. In the body of this Act it stated it was "An Act for raising the rent of certain Crown lands during the currency of the leases, and to give five years extension of lease at the full market rates as compensation therefore." Therein was the main problem. The leases were to be valued at an annual rate over a five years period; and the new market rate assessed for that period would become the new value applied to the leases. This 'assessed' value would apply to the squatters' current stock holdings.

So in 1864 a gradual exodus of the pastoralists in the Guichen Bay area began. Their leases were surrendered to the Crown. Many of the people leaving could not afford the impost re-assessment of their leases would bring. They sold off their flocks of sheep and left the district; never to return. They were disillusioned, disconsolate and very unhappy about the Government's stance regarding their leases.

Surveyor-General Goyder was commissioned to revalue the sheep runs in the Guichen Bay District. Mr Goyder chose 18 of the best sheep runs as a frame of reference. These runs when assessed would become the standard for assessing all the sheep runs in the district.

The pastoralists were apprehensive! It seemed that the Government was determined to gain more revenue from them; but not in an equitable manner.

Mr Goyder's assessments were mind numbing! The pastoralists were stunned at the increases! Normal assessments based on the old rates for the 18 sheep runs totalled £4,303. The new assessments totalled £30,199; a staggering increase of 700% or seven times more. A huge outcry took place! On top of this assessment was a levy of twopence per head of sheep! The whole Province was in an uproar! Even Parliament was divided on the issue. The South Australian Parliament split into anti-squatting factions, or pro-squatting factions. Many city folk believed the squatters should pay the increase. The Chronicle newspaper stated, "The squatting question is alone enough to make 1864 celebrated – or notorious – just according to the light in which people view it."

An immediate impact was felt in Robe Town. Pastoralists leaving the Guichen Bay District meant a loss of jobs and income. Sheep flocks decreased and bullockies found carting jobs harder to find. A general mood of discontent, and anger at the Government, pervaded the town. The population had reached a peak of 500 inhabitants; but was now on the decrease. Another issue was linked to the discontent. It had become obvious that the sheep runs needed to be fenced wherever possible. Some pastoralists had built 'dry stone wall' fences to enclose their sheep. Others used 'brush' fences. These were not light fences; cleared scrub was piled into long heaps at a cost of £13 per mile. Bullock teams were used to drag the heavy brush into position.

There was another bone of contention for the pastoralists. The Government in Adelaide did not care! Thirty two percent of the population lived in or around Adelaide; with another large group of miners at the copper mines on the upper Yorke Peninsula. These people were not interested in the agricultural areas.

For the pastoralists, what was the use of incurring heavy expenses on leases that were overvalued and not profitable anymore? What about the improvements they had made in clearing the land and constructing buildings and yards? Would they receive any compensation for this? If the leases on the sheep runs were surrendered they would simply be put up for auction. It was an unsatisfactory situation to be in. It's no wonder people were just giving up and leaving. People in Robe Town sympathised with the pastoralists. In most cases their livelihoods depended on the prosperity of the pastoralists in the district.

Harry Medcroft noticed a decline in wool shipments and an increase in live sheep sales to other districts or Colonies. The shipments of live sheep out of the Guichen Bay area did not bode well for the future prosperity of the area. To make matters worse, the local Member of Parliament in the Penola area sided with the anti-squatter factions.

This was happening just as South Australia was getting on top of the sheep 'Scab' problem that blighted a lot of flocks. Former Police Superintendent, Alexander Tolmer was instrumental in attacking the problem. As Crown Lands Ranger for the Guichen Bay District he was successful in having an Act passed in Parliament in 1863 to regulate the distance stock could travel daily. It was about this time an excellent sheep dip, based mainly on tobacco plus other chemicals, was discovered that eradicated the 'Scab' blight.

Ranger Tolmer was based in Robe Town but moved about frequently around the whole of the Guichen Bay District in his duties. As vigilant as he was, he found it hard to keep tabs on the flocks. The early settlers had not bothered about fences and there were no clear boundaries on the leases. The scrub had been cut by hand, using axes or saws. The settlers had to cut their own tracks through the bush as they settled on their leases.

Another huge problem was the Government's refusal to construct drains to channel the swamp waters out to sea. Some of the land was under water for two thirds of the year! Yet year by year successive Governments refused to do anything to alleviate the problem. A huge area of low lying land would become productive land if the marshes and swamps were drained.

A severe drought, due to bad weather conditions, was in progress in South Australia. Wheat farmers in the north of the Province were in a terrible plight. Annual rainfall levels were way below normal. Pastoralists in the Olary and Flinders ranges were losing large quantities of sheep due to starvation and thirst. Wool shipments through Port Augusta dropped dramatically, however, Port Robe continued to be a busy port. Whilst the exodus of some of the pastoralists was being felt it did not have a major impact at this point of time. The local store keepers and the two banks were trading profitably.

It was about this time that rumours swept through the town that bushrangers from the disputed territory on the South Australian/Victorian border were on their way to Robe Town.

Angus Cameron, the manager of the State Bank of South Australia was very concerned at the news. He loaded his revolver and paced up and down on the verandah outside his bank. All afternoon he paced up and down. Townspeople went indoors and locked their doors. Robe Town became very quiet as everybody waited expectantly for the bushrangers to appear. Police troopers were placed on standby.

As night fell Angus continued his vigilance. He became more apprehensive and was spooked by shadows. All night he paced slowly up and down; sometimes stopping to lean his back against the front wall of the bank. Nervous anticipation soon had him moving again. By morning he was completely exhausted. He went wearily to bed and collapsed into a deep sleep. He slept all day! The bushrangers never showed up! They had stayed in the 'no man's land' in between South Australia and Victoria.

Back in 1836 an Imperial Statute was proclaimed that the border between South Australia and Victoria would be fixed at the 141st degree meridian of longitude, east of Greewich. However, proclaiming it and surveying it were two very different matters.

In 1839 Charles Tyers completed a survey from Melbourne to the mouth of the Glenelg River near the border area. On a broad expanse of the sandy beach he made a broad arrow with limestone blocks. This was used to determine a starting point for the border survey. However, the equipment used was inadequate and the border was later found to be 2 miles and 4 chains in error.

As Tyers' mark was used as the starting point for the border survey up to the Murray River, the error was extrapolated. Doubts as to the accuracy of the border line meant a constant state of dispute between South Australia and Victoria. Thus a 'no man's land' appeared in the disputed 500 square miles of territory. The disputed territory became a safe haven for bushrangers, thieves and scoundrels evading the law.

The disputed territory was even more hotly contested when Victoria included a large proportion of it in land sales or leased Crown land. The South Australian Government sought monetary compensation from the Victorian Government.

As the year 1864 concluded the pro-squatters faction became more vocal. The original leases were due to expire 30-Jun-1865. Mr Goyder's re-evaluations were based on the premise that each of the five years used in his assessment would be very good years.

No variation scale was built into his assessments to account for bad years, loss of stock, bushfires or devastating weather conditions. Mr Goyder assumed that each year would be better than the previous year. The severe drought conditions continued into 1865.

The anti-squatting arguments continued. The ongoing drought also took up their attention. Surveyor-General Goyder was instructed to report on the state of the pastoralist runs in the north of the Province. Mr Goyder drew a 'line of rainfall'; indicating the limits of the rainfall areas for the year. He then defined three zones of drought severity upon which the Government based reduced rents to assist the drought stricken leaseholders. Goyder's famous line became, in the publics' eyes, the areas showing 'safe' from 'uncertain' rainfall.

1865 was a tumultuous year for the South Australian Parliament. On 11-Jan-1865 a deputation went to Lindsay Gordon to ask him to stand for Parliament in the Mount Gambier district. The pastoralists wanted someone in Parliament who would champion their cause. Polling day for the general election was 6-Mar-1865. Lindsay Gordon fought a close contest with the sitting member. On 16-Mar-1865 he defeated the sitting member Attorney-General, Randolph Stow by three votes; helping to bring down the Blyth government.

The month of March was another distressing month for Harry Medcroft. On the night of Monday, 13-Mar-1865 the 80 tons, schooner Agnes was wrecked on Margaret Brook reef near Cape Jaffa. The Agnes had a crew of five. News did not reach Port Robe until Thursday, 16-Mar-1865. A survivor, Seaman Backer brought the news himself. Harry decided to take the pilot boat to Margaret Brock reef, as the only other survivor left was the captain of the Agnes.

The local newspaper correspondent was infuriated again. "Mr Medcroft what good is the Port Robe lifeboat if you don't use it for rescues?"

"Mind your own business! There is only one known survivor. I don't need a full crew to rescue one man."

Harry, Coxswain Fullarton, a crewman and the survivor Backer set off about 4:00 pm to sail to the last known spot of the wrecked Agnes. They reached the area at night. The seas were still up and they were in broken water. They put down the anchor. During the night the sea became even more boisterous, so much so they feared for their lives if the anchor chain broke. Harry thought about Amanda and his children and the Insurance office!

Next morning they sailed to Margaret Brock reef, but could not see any signs of the vessel. They sailed around the area, concluding that the ship must have broken up. For a long time they found no evidence of the wreck. Eventually they spotted some floating spars and rigging.

They were hoping to find the Captain lashed to some part of the stern. They began a pattern, sailing towards shore and then out again. About midday they discovered a portion of the wreck with a signal lashed to it. Harry used his powerful telescope to search the wreckage. As they neared the wreckage Harry could see a body on the starboard portion of the wreckage. Their spirits soared!

"Maybe he's asleep." said the Coxswain.

Seaman Backer said, "He's probably exhausted."

"Surely, he's not dead!" they all exclaimed.

Alas, he was as dead as a doornail. Harry wondered why he had died. "Did he die of a broken heart? Had he given up all hope of rescue, as he found himself drifting out to sea?'

They recovered his body and took it to Port Caroline. The local newspaper correspondent at Lacepede Bay, for the South Australian Register filed this report on 17-Mar-1865.

'On Wednesday afternoon this place was thrown into a state of consternation by some natives reporting a ship had broken up outside, as the bay was strewn with wreck. On going down Mr Tucker picked up a bundle of papers, &c.

We then ascertained her to have been the schooner Agnes, Taylor, 80 tons, from Port Adelaide, bound to Melbourne, and from the direction of the drift, concluded that the ship had gone on to the Margaret Brook Island, which lies about seven miles from the shore off Cape Jaffa, about sixteen miles from here.

Every available horse was, therefore, immediately put into requisition to get to the spot as soon as possible, whilst the Sub-Collector of Customs started on horseback for Robe to telegraph the Chief Collector, and to have the lifeboat sent out, as we did not know then that it was known in Robe, and that they had already promptly despatched the pilot boat. On arriving at the Cape found Trooper Budd there, who informed us that a sailor, Charles Henry Backer by name, had come ashore on a raft, and had arrived in Robe that afternoon, having been twenty-four hours up to his waist in water, and then travelled nearly twenty miles on foot. It seems that the ill-fated craft left Yankalilla on Sunday morning, the 12th instant. On Monday night it was blowing very heavy, and Backer, being on deck, saw white water, and told the captain, who was at the helm. They hove the lead, and found seven fathoms, lowered away the peak of the mainsail, and put her head half round when she struck! All hands were then called, and before they got on deck she struck a second time. The captain ordered the mainsail to be again fully set, when the sea swept clean over her and cleared everything off her deck and she heeled right over. The captain, his brother the mate, and three seamen made for the rigging, and in about an hour she broke up.

Between that time and daylight four of them were washed off, when Backer seeing they were only about two miles from the beach, constructed a raft, and invited the captain to go with him. Captain Taylor, however, refused, and Backer succeeded in reaching the shore after twenty four hours immersion.

The raft he landed on consisted of five small pieces of three-quarter-inch plank and a piece of timber about 4 by 3 inches, tied with bits of line and rope yarn in the form of a triangle; and the brave fellow must have been in imminent peril from the smallness and frailty of his craft in the fearful sea breaking over the continuous reef, and the immense number of sharks between Brock Island and Cape Jaffa. On landing, he was so weak and exhausted that he could not stand, and, after lying down for half an hour, he, without any further refreshment, started on a journey of twenty miles which he accomplished in about six hours notwithstanding all this exertion, under such exhausting deprivation.

In half an hour after his arrival in Guichen Bay, and having had something to eat and drink, so anxious was he to save his captain that he volunteered to go in the pilot boat to the spot where he had left him clinging to the wreck. His conduct is beyond praise, and deserving of a very handsome reward. The pilot boat after cruising about that night and part of next day without seeing the captain on the wreck, followed the drift of most of it, and at last succeeded in recovering his body, though quite dead, clinging to a portion of the wreck floating into Lacepede Bay where it was pointed out to them by Mr A. Cooke. They landed the body at Port Caroline, and an inquest was held on it by Mr Jas. Cooke, J.P., at the Ship Inn, Kingston, The body was buried with every decorum on Friday morning in the Kingston cemetery, the funeral being attended by about seventy people.

As yet none of the other bodies have been found; though a strict patrol of the shore for twenty miles is being kept up. We must not forget to mention that the steamer Penola, came out on Thursday, and steamed round the reef, to assist should it be necessary. Backer is now at Kingston, where a subscription has been opened for him, and is being liberally endorsed.

The captain, whose name was William Taylor was a fine young man. He had no papers on him, but a ring bearing a Masonic emblem, and inside the inscription, 'William Taylor, from J. and B. Miller.' It is reported that he has left a wife and four children in Melbourne, and he and his brother the mate, who is also drowned, were part owners. One of the seamen lost was named John Welsh, and the other two not known.'

Subsequent to these events Harry was contacted by the relatives of the deceased captain expressing their wish that Captain Taylor be buried in Victoria. George Ormiston very kindly had the body taken up and placed in a special casket to be returned to Victoria. A tombstone and railing were constructed and placed on the grave site in the Kingston cemetery. Captain Taylor's relatives sent Harry a very nice letter of appreciation.

His Chief at Port Adelaide as usual sent no word of approval for their actions. 'Here we go again; we risk life and limb to aid our fellow human beings and we don't even get an acknowledgement from Port Adelaide.'

1865 was marked by uncertainty as Premiers came and went. Arthur Blyth lasted until 22-Mar-1865; when Francis Dutton became Premier. He lasted until 20-Sep-1865. Henry Ayers then took on the job of Premier; but he was only there for 33 days before John Hart became Premier.

1865 was the year Lindsay Gordon made his famous leap on horseback over the post and rail perimeter fence of the "Blue Lake" at Mount Gambier.

The feat was astounding as the horse needed to clear the fence, land then stop on a narrow ledge on the other side of the fence. Below was a steep drop of 200 feet to the surface of the lake! The famed Blue Lake is a volcanic lake, famous for its deep, blue colour; particularly around November each year. It has a constant, ready supply of fresh water for the township via a pumping station situated near the top of the lake.

More pastoralists in the Guichen Bay area sold off their flocks and walked off the land. The indecision from the Government left many people in a quandary as to whether they would continue on the land or not. Trade in and out of Port Robe began to decline. People had lost confidence in the Government and general morale in the district was low. Shipments of live sheep out of Port Robe continued as pastoralists sold off their flocks.

Lindsay Gordon was a bit of a maverick in Parliament. His semi classical speeches were few and were not of much consequence. He found parliamentary life on the whole quite boring; even though the South Australian Parliament was going through tumultuous times. Sure he upheld the cause of the pastoralists; but their problems were not resolved. Lindsay would rather be off racing horses.

As 30-Jun-1865 came and went, the question of the lease renewals was let slide until 1870. The indecisiveness of the Parliament was the final straw for many and they let their leases lapse.

The Province of South Australia had grown and prospered since its formation in 1836. In 1856 the Province had been granted a large measure of self government by the British Colonial Office. The South Australian constitution was deemed to be very democratic and was based on the Westminster system of government. Progress and prosperity in the 1850's had been rapid.

Steam navigation on the River Murray began in 1853, and by 1865, there were thirty six, South Australian owned paddle steamers on the river in South Australia. The river trade really opened up the eastern interior of the Province.

It was a sign of a greedy Government that the once very prosperous region in the south east of the Province was now in a steady state of decline.

Chapter 12 - Changing Times

During 1865 the idea of a railway from Mosquito Plains (Naracoorte) to Port Robe was mooted. Meetings were held in support of the proposal. An amount of £2,500 was placed on the Estimates for Survey. Lindsay Gordon argued in Parliament for a broad gauge railway with rails of 50 lbs to the yard. However, the estimates were to be based on light rails, on a narrow gauge track. These rails were 28 lbs to the yard. The proposed railway started a round of controversy in the Guichen Bay District.

As 1866 approached it was apparent not everyone was in favour of a railway to Port Robe. Suggestions were made in early 1866 to change the destination to Kingston S.E. at Lacepede Bay. This was the catalyst for more controversy.

In January 1866, Harry and Amanda Medcroft were blessed with another son. They named him Cameron. Their family was growing, Cameron was their fifth child. Harry continued to be busy with his Customs' work. Annie Townsend their trusted maid gave notice to leave their employment. Annie had been engaged to a young man Frederick Taylor for three years. The wedding was planned for Saturday, 24-Feb-1866. Amanda and Annie were quite excited about the wedding. Annie and Frederick had secured work together on one of the major sheep runs. Annie would do domestic work at the main house and Frederick would be a general roustabout on the property. They planned to live in a small cabin near the main house.

Harry and Amanda felt obliged to help the young couple. Annie did not have family in Australia. Harry and Amanda spoke to Annie, "Annie, we are going to miss you. You have been a real boon to our family. We have decided to hold a wedding reception for you and Frederick at the Caledonian Inn; after the wedding ceremony."

"Oh, Mr and Mrs Medcroft, I don't know how to thank you. It's such a lovely gesture."

Harry spoke again, "Annie it's our pleasure to help you and Frederick have a memorable wedding day."

"Oh Mr Medcroft, thank you so much!"

Harry booked the Caledonian Inn function room for Saturday, 24-Feb-1866. Amanda and Annie set about planning the reception. Harry made inquiries around town about a new maid. It was a busy time in the Medcroft household.

Saturday, 24-Feb-1866 was a hot, sunny day. Harry had hired two carriages to take Annie and the Medcroft family to St Peter's Church of England church for the ceremony; and later to the wedding reception. Reverend Stephen Anderson would officiate at the wedding ceremony. The ceremony was scheduled to start at 11:00 am. The carriages were outside Harry and Amanda's house at 10:30 am; in plenty of time for the wedding ceremony.

Annie looked as pretty as a picture. Her blue eyes glowed with happiness. Her long black, glossy hair was neatly pinned up under her wedding veil. Her cream coloured wedding dress accentuated her trim figure.

Annie had asked Harry to give her away. Harry was quite chuffed about this. Harry and Annie rode in the smaller carriage. Amanda and the children rode in the larger carriage. There were lots of well wishers at the church.

Promptly at 11:00 am the organist began to play the Wedding March. Harry accompanied Annie up to the church altar. Frederick was waiting expectantly for his bride. He watched her walk slowly up the aisle. Annie was almost bursting with happiness. A broad smile was on Frederick's face. He was dressed in a well fitting, hired suit for his wedding day. Annie was so proud of her strong, gentle bridegroom.

Harry and Annie reached Frederick and Rev. Anderson. Harry quietly took his seat alongside Amanda. The ceremony began. When Rev. Anderson asked, "Who gives this woman away?" Harry rose from his seat and said, "I do."

Harry sat down again and the ceremony continued. Harry had custody of the wedding ring; at the appropriate time he handed it to Rev. Anderson The ceremony continued and reached its conclusion. Rev. Anderson introduced Mr and Mrs Frederick Taylor to the congregation. After a round of hand clapping, the newlyweds walked down the aisle and the congregation followed them outside. Everyone formed an avenue of well wishers to the waiting carriages. Frederick and Annie walked slowly to their carriage conversing with their well wishers along the way. They boarded their carriage and moved slowly away to their reception at the Caledonian Inn. The wedding guests followed them.

Amanda and Annie had liaised with John Park as to how they wanted the function room set up. All was in readiness. Harry was honoured to be the Master of Ceremonies and soon had the reception underway. A sumptuous dinner, interspersed with toasts and speeches was enjoyed. Music, singing and dancing followed. The afternoon was hot and the drinks flowed freely. Harry had booked the best room at the Inn for Frederick and Annie to spend their nuptial night together. By late afternoon, the festivities wound down to their conclusion. The guests packed up and went home. Frederick and Annie retired to their room.

Next day Harry and Amanda's new maid Gladys Yarrow moved in to begin her duties. Gladys was a bright 16 years old lass; the daughter of a local fisherman. She fitted in well and was well spoken of in Robe Town. When she was given time off she was able to spend it with her family.

Father Julian Tennison-Woods in Penola was growing more concerned about the lack of education for children in the Guichen Bay District. He was particularly concerned for the children of Irish immigrants in his Parish. He decided to invite Mary MacKillop, and her sisters Annie and Lexie, to come to Penola to open up a Catholic school. Mary was an experienced teacher and knew the Penola area well.

Mary had taught at her uncle and aunt's farm at Penola as a governess in 1860. At the farm she taught her cousins and other farm children. It was during this time she met Father Tennison-Woods. After two years Mary left to teach at the Portland school in Victoria.

Mary MacKillop answered Father Tennison-Woods call for assistance and moved back to Penola. On 19-Mar-1866 in Penola, under the guidance of Father Julian Tennison-Woods, the Order of the Sisters of St Joseph was inaugurated by Mary MacKillop; as the first Sister and leader. The Sisters' charter was to go wherever they were required. There would be a dependence on God for their needs; and no ownership of personal belongings. Meanwhile, Father Tennison-Woods looked for a suitable block of land to build a school.

On Thursday, 12-Jul-1866 the telegraph station at Port Robe received news that George Ormiston's former ship the Ant had been wrecked at Barwon Heads in Victoria. George Ormiston was relieved that he had sold the Ant in 1864. Whist he was sorry to hear about the tragedy; he was happy the financial loss was not his to bear.

On Friday, 3-Aug-1866 Father Julian Tennison-Woods bought a block of land in Penola for a school. The land had a rundown stable on it. Sister Mary MacKillop asked her brother to renovate the stable and make it suitable for a school. As soon as the renovations were done, the MacKillops started to teach children. Over 50 children were enrolled in their school. Plans were made to build a stone school house on the site. Father Tennison-Woods was called to Adelaide by Bishop Shiel to become the Director General of Catholic Education in the Province.

In Adelaide, Lindsay Gordon was thoroughly fed up with Parliament and its goings on. On Tuesday, 20-Nov-1866 he resigned from Parliament; much to the dismay of his constituents.

He decided to buy sheep and start a sheep run in the Colony of Western Australia. Conditions in South Australia convinced him to look elsewhere. So he formed a partnership and negotiated to buy several thousand sheep and transport them by ship to Western Australia.

Conditions in the Guichen Bay area were not good. The price of wheat fell and many farmers could not afford to cart their wheat all the way to Port Robe. A new port opened at Port MacDonnell to service the Mount Gambier area. Ports at Beachport (Rivoli Bay) and Kingston S.E. (Lacepede Bay) also increased their export tonnages. Port Robe was the loser from these changes.

Lindsay Gordon chartered a sailing ship to transfer over 4,800 Corriedale sheep to Western Australia. His plan was to land at Bunbury, muster his sheep and walk them overland to Manjimup; about 68 miles away. He landed at Bunbury on Tuesday, 11-Dec-1866; after a soul destroying trip. Most of his sheep died on the voyage from Port Robe; only a few hundred survived the sea voyage. To make matters worse the area around Manjimup was heavily wooded and unsuitable for sheep.

Lindsay Gordon in Manjimup was depressed. His sheep run venture had failed! His wife Maggie was expecting a baby and wanted to be back in Robe Town. They returned to Robe Town and landed at Port Robe in March 1867; having suffered a severe financial loss. On Friday, 3-May-1867 Maggie Gordon gave birth to a baby girl, Annie Lindsay Gordon.

The railway debate continued. A further meeting was held in Robe Town. This time the proposal was for a railway from Penola to Robe Town. The citizens of Robe Town generally supported its claim by stating that £1,500,000 worth of produce had been exported from Port Robe in the last 12 years. However, there was a 'fly in the ointment'. George Ormiston was opposed to the railway idea; maintaining that the sea lanes served Port Robe better and that there was no ongoing maintenance costs involved. Thus, another round of controversy started.

When baby Annie was a few months old the Gordons moved to Ballaarat in Victoria. Lindsay Gordon, in partnership with Harry Mount rented Craig's livery stables; behind Craig's Hotel. He continued to ride in horse races and steeplechase events. By now his writings were becoming more accepted. He was recognised as an accomplished, published poet. His poetry was highly regarded in country Victoria. Melbourne on the other hand continued to ignore his poetry.

Back in South Australia, the Province was agog with excitement. His Royal Highness, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh was expected on a Royal visit. Adelaide would be his first port of call on the first Royal visit to the Colonies in Australia. Stops were planned for Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and other places along the route. His Royal Highness was expected in Adelaide at the end of October. Preparations were made for a grand occasion in Adelaide. The whole city entered into the spirit of the occasion.

It was only 31 years since the Province of South Australia had been proclaimed; and now they were to have a Royal visit by Queen Victoria's second son, Prince Alfred. What a great honour! Residents from other places in South Australia made their own plans to be in Adelaide for the grand occasion.

Thursday, 31-Oct-1867 was the big day. Prince Alfred's ship the 'Galatea' was moored at Glenelg. Promptly at 2:00 pm the 23 years old Prince came ashore; and stepped into his waiting carriage. When others of his party were seated in their carriages, the procession set out for the city. The procession consisted of Cavalry, and carriages containing Parliamentarians, Adelaide City Councillors and other 'big wigs'. It made its way slowly along the seven miles route into the city.

Along the route hundreds of well wishers waved and clapped. At the south western corner of the city an arch 30 feet wide and 35 feet high had been erected. The arch was covered in green boughs and garlands of flowers; interspersed with bunting and flags. The procession made its way under the arch and proceeded to King William Street.

Hundreds of well wishers lined the city streets waving, clapping and cheering. Shopkeepers had done up their premises with flags, bunting, lanterns and flowers.

The procession made its way up King William Street to Victoria Square (named in honour of Prince Alfred's mother, Queen Victoria). At the entrance to Victoria Square was an even larger arch. This arch was 90 feet wide and 40 feet high. It was festooned similarly to the smaller arch.

The procession went under the arch and proceeded to the Town Hall. An enormous star, 25 feet across lit up by gas highlighted the Town Hall. The whole city entered into the occasion. Even on streets not on the Royal route, shopkeepers had decorated their shops. The official reception was held in the Town Hall with much pomp and ceremony. Mayor Fuller in his address to Prince Alfred made mention of these sentiments, "Though separated from Great Britain by many thousands of miles, we have lost none of our attachment to the mother country." Ties with mother England were still keenly felt.

News of the reception arrived in Robe Town. When Harry Medcroft read about it in the newspapers he thought, 'Oh well it's another occasion for the Chief to show off his cocked hat.' Harry and Amanda were pleased about the Royal visit. It was a grand event for the Province.

The Royal visit was the talk of all the Colonies. Pride in mother England was at an all time high. Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane had grand civic receptions planned for Prince Alfred. Colonial pride was uppermost on people's lips.

As 1867 drew to a close Harry Medcroft reflected on the changing fortunes of the area around Port Robe. In 1865 a total of 8,000 bales of wool were shipped out of Port Robe. By the end of December 1866 only 7,600 bales of wool were shipped from Port Robe.

Lacepede Bay, Rivoli Bay and Port MacDonnell were becoming serious contenders for the annual wheat harvest, and wool clip. On the other hand, work had commenced on a third jetty to replace the poorly constructed Government owned jetty at Port Robe.

Chapter 13 - 1868 to 1869

The controversy surrounding the proposed railway to Port Robe reached a stalemate. Without George Ormiston's support the proposal seemed doomed for failure. Exasperated by the indecision, one of the pastoralists was heard to say, "The south east has become a place of stagnant development, stagnant water, stagnant pastures, stagnant stock and stagnant thought."

The railway proposal to Port Robe was defeated by one vote. Kingston S.E. became the preferred option for a railway terminus.

In March 1868 news was received from Ballaarat that Lindsay Gordon had been thrown from his horse, head first into a gate post. He sustained a bad head injury; however he was recuperating at home.

On Thursday, 12-Mar-1868 the Province was shocked to its core. His Royal Highness, Prince Alfred had been shot by a crazed gunman in Sydney! Prince Alfred was attending a Sailors' Picnic at Clontarf Beach in Sydney. A man came up behind him, took out a revolver and shot him in the back. The beach-goers were so enraged they grabbed the man and nearly lynched him on the spot. The police arrived and intervened, arresting the man. The gunman was a known alcoholic and had just been released from a mental asylum. Henry James O'Farrell, an Irishman, was violently anti-British and anti-Royal.

Prince Alfred was fortunate that the bullet missed his spine. It entered his back to the right of his spine. The wound was not fatal; however it was of major concern. Prince Alfred was in hospital for two weeks; nursed by six nurses trained by Florence Nightingale.

A wave of anti-Irish sentiment swept through the Colony of New South Wales. The day after the shooting a crowd of 20,000 people went to a meeting to protest about "yesterday's outrage". O'Farrell was brought to trial on Monday, 30-Mar-1868. His defending barrister cited O'Farrell's mental instability and record of mental illness; however O'Farrell was convicted and sentenced to hang. Prince Alfred being a compassionate man tried to intervene to save O'Farrell's life. Prince Alfred recovered from his gunshot wound and returned home to England in early April 1868.

On Tuesday, 14-Apr-1868 Lindsay and Maggie Gordon's baby girl Annie died. She was eleven months old. Lindsay Gordon was still recovering from the severe head injury he sustained in March. It was a particularly distressing time for the Gordons.

On Tuesday, 21-Apr-1868 Henry James O'Farrell was hanged for the attempted assassination of Prince Alfred. Anti-Irish feelings surfaced again throughout the Colonies. The whole sorry affair was a deep embarrassment to the Colonies, particularly to New South Wales.

Back in Port Robe construction of the new jetty was moving at a good pace. It would be at least 985 feet long on completion. Harry Medcroft and his men were looking forward to its completion. The Government jetty it was replacing was in need of constant maintenance to keep it in service. Maintenance issues held up the flow of transhipping goods to and from the various ships in the harbour. Impending winter storms would also have a bearing on the progress of the new jetty.

News of Lindsay Gordon's misfortune reached Robe Town; first the news of Lindsay's head injury, then the death of their daughter Annie. In May more bad news was received; fire had destroyed the livery stables behind Craig's Hotel in Ballaarat. What a run of outs for the Gordons!

In June 1868 the new Institute Building was opened in Robe Town to cater for the Arts and for literary occasions. It was a proud day for Robe Town; something to boast about.

Robe Town was still riding high on its boom times, but the prosperous times were on a steady decline. The new jetty was expected to be in service by early spring 1868. This would allow ships to moor at the end of the jetty, facilitating loading and unloading cargoes. It looked like Robe Town had missed out on being a railway terminus. Current haggling favoured Kingston SE at Lacepede Bay. This would definitely be to the detriment of Robe Town. Farmers would be able to ship their wool and wheat on the proposed railway from the Penola, Naracoorte and Mount Gambier areas directly to waiting ships at Kingston SE, bypassing Port Robe entirely.

In early September the new jetty was officially declared open. The old jetty was immediately declared unfit and demolition began. Harry made arrangements for a shed to be constructed on the side of the new jetty to house the Port Robe lifeboat and its equipment. The new jetty extended 1,020 feet out into Guichen Bay.

The South Australian Parliament was in upheaval again. On Thursday, 24-Sep-1868 the Premier, Sir Henry Ayers was ousted and John Hart Snr. became Premier. His time as Premier was very short; he lasted only 20 days until Tuesday, 13-Oct-1868. Sir Henry Ayers again took over the reins; but lasted only 22 days until Tuesday, 3-Nov-1868. Henry Strangways became Premier on Tuesday, 3-Nov-1868.

Harry and Amanda received news that Lindsay Gordon had sold his interest in the livery stables in Ballaarat and the Gordons had moved to Melbourne. Lindsay had resumed horse racing and steeplechase riding. He was also heavily involved in his poetry and had published a couple of books of poetry.

Harry Medcroft was thoughtful; he wondered what 1869 would be like. The goings on in Parliament, the indecision about a railway, the steady exodus of pastoralists, the unsettled state of the pastoralists' leases and the downturn in the economy in the south eastern part of the Province did not bode well for the future. He particularly did not like the prominence given to Kingston SE of late. Kingston at Lacepede Bay had recently been given the suffix SE to distinguish it from Kingston on the Murray River; which was now known as Kingston-on-Murray.

Even though Robe Town was the official centre for Government administration, that was about to change. The Guichen Bay District was to be split up into various District Councils who would administer their own areas.

The early months of 1869 saw life continuing on as usual at Port Robe. In April 1869 Harry Medcroft received a telegram from his Chief in Adelaide. The message stated he was to come to Adelaide on the next available steamer; and to notify his Chief of his departure time and estimated arrival in Port Adelaide. No hint of what it was about was contained in the telegram.

"Amanda, I received a telegram today from the Chief today. I have to go to Adelaide on the next steamer to report to him. I don't know what it is about. The 'Barnstaple' is leaving for Adelaide tomorrow. I have booked a passage on it."

"Oh Harry, I hope there isn't a problem. I will get Gladys to pack your trunk."

"Thank you, Amanda. I wonder what the old boy has in store for me."

Next morning Harry boarded the Barnstaple for the trip to Port Adelaide. The weather was fine with a good sea breeze. The Barnstaple had a full cargo for the voyage. It was a nice change for Harry not to worry about work, and he enjoyed the voyage.

Some of his colleagues met him at Port Adelaide. The Port had gone ahead in leaps and bounds. Large sandstone warehouses were in abundance. The river had been dredged and deepened. New wharves had been built. It was a busy place. It had long since lost its tag of 'Port Misery'. After greetings were exchanged and a quick chat Harry was driven in a Customs' wagon; drawn by two draught horses to Trinity House. Upon arrival at Trinity House in Adelaide city; he left his trunk in the coat room and proceeded to his Chief's office. A clerk informed the Chief Collector, Sir William Bradshaw that Sub-Collector Medcroft had arrived.

"Send him in, Wilkins."

Harry tucked his Customs' cap under his left arm and walked into his Chief's office.

Sir William Bradshaw sat in a large leather office chair. In front of him was an ornately carved mahogany desk; with a green, leather, inlaid writing panel. The office was furnished with quality fittings; befitting Sir William Bradshaw's tastes for pomp and splendour. Sir William Bradshaw came from a very wealthy family in England.

Sir William was a big man, obviously used to a wealthy, privileged life. His manner and tone was pompous and slightly overbearing.

"Come in Mr Medcroft. Please be seated."

Harry sat down in one of the plush visitors' chairs.

"I suppose you are wondering why I have brought you to Adelaide."

"Yes, Sir William the telegram you sent did not give any indication as to the purpose of this visit."

"Well Mr Medcroft, Trinity House has been closely examining the situation in the whole of the south east of the Province. It has not escaped our attention that Port Robe is on a slow decline.

A man of your skills and experience can be put to use in other areas. It seems likely that the proposed railway to Lacepede Bay will go ahead in the next few years."

Sir William stopped and looking directly into Harry's eyes said, "I am going to transfer you to Port Caroline at Lacepede Bay. I need a man of your skills and experience in place when the railway comes to Lacepede Bay. I know that you are the right man for the job."

Harry assimilated this information. This was the first time his Chief had actually acknowledged Harry's contribution to his Customs' portfolio.

"Thank you, Sir William it is good to know that you appreciate my contribution to the Customs' Department. I am happy to be posted to Port Caroline on behalf of the Customs' Department."

"Very good Mr Medcroft; now I want you to give me your opinion on one of your Customs' officers. In your reports you have mentioned the merits of Joseph Moore. Do you think he is capable of taking over from you when you leave for Port Caroline?"

Harry was reflective for a moment. "Sir William, Joseph Moore has been with me through the 'Chinese Invasion', through the shipwrecks and has kept the service going when I have been called away to other areas. He is a fine Customs' officer and will be a very capable replacement for my position at Port Robe. Some additional training at Port Adelaide will stand him in good stead."

"I am pleased to hear that Mr Medcroft. We could offer the position to others here at Port Adelaide, but they won't have the local knowledge of the Guichen Bay District."

"Captain Stradwick is an old 'sea dog'. He is not interested in the Customs' side of things; however when you leave for Port Caroline, I will make him the Harbourmaster and Receiver of Wrecks for Guichen Bay.

Mr Moore will come to Port Adelaide for eight weeks training in his new portfolio. You can make the necessary arrangements for him upon your return to Port Robe. When he has finished his training he can take over from you and you can proceed with your family to Port Caroline."

"Very good, Sir William do you want me to stay in Adelaide for any other business?"

"No Mr Medcroft, I assume you are lodging with your in-laws tonight."

"Yes, Sir William I will make arrangements to travel back on the next available steamer. In the meantime I will help out at Port Adelaide."

"Well and good Mr Medcroft; don't say anything about Mr Moore's appointment at this time. I will announce it myself. You may tell your colleagues about your impending transfer to Port Caroline, if you wish. I look forward to hearing good things from you at Port Caroline."

Sir William rose from his chair and walked with Harry to the door of his office.

"Goodbye Mr Medcroft." Sir William nodded to him and Harry took his leave.

Harry was thoughtful; he had come here expecting some sort of problem. Instead, he was being transferred to Port Caroline and Joseph Moore was being promoted. What an unexpected turn of events! 'So the old boy was taking notice of us all the time.'

Harry went straight home from the ship to tell Amanda the news. "Amanda, guess what, I am being transferred to Port Caroline and Joseph Moore is taking over here. The Chief wants me at Port Caroline when the railway is set up."

"Goodness me, after all these years we are being transferred. This is a bit of a shock."

"We have at least eight weeks to organise the transfer. Joseph will have to go to Port Adelaide for further training. We can't leave until he completes his training. I am going up to Customs' House to tell him."

Harry walked up to the Customs' House. Joseph Moore was not there; he was down at the jetties. Harry walked down to the jetties and signalled him to come and see him. The two men walked back to the Customs' House together.

"Joseph I want to fill you in on the purpose of my trip to see the Chief. The Chief is transferring me to Port Caroline."

Harry watched Joseph's amazed expression.

"Now here is the good bit. He is promoting you to take over from me here at Port Robe. You will have to go to Port Adelaide for eight weeks training. When you return, I will transfer to Port Caroline."

Joseph Moore was in a bit of a daze. The Chief wanted him to be Sub-Collector of Customs' here at Port Robe.

"Why did he pick me, Harry? Surely there are more qualified fellows at Port Adelaide."

"But, none of them have your local knowledge and experience. You can do it. You are a fine Customs' officer."

Harry could see that Joseph was finding it hard to believe.

"Look Joseph, the Chief has chosen you on my recommendation. We are both confident you can do it. You won't have to worry about harbourmaster duties; Captain Stradwick will become Harbourmaster and Receiver of Wrecks. You will be able to concentrate on Customs' work. Now, we need to speak to Captain Stradwick and Owen Morrison. After that, I will arrange your passage to Port Adelaide."

The steamer 'Rowland's' was scheduled to depart for Port Adelaide in two days time. Joseph Moore was booked on it. Joseph's wife Anita and their two children Jessica and Andrew were thrilled about his promotion. Owen Morrison was also pleased about Joseph's promotion. It meant he would become 2nd-In-Charge of the Customs' work. He and Joseph worked well together.

Harry sent a telegram to His Chief informing him of Joseph Moore's passage on the 'Rowland's'. Harry then set about making a trip on the coach to Kingston SE to look at housing. Amanda and Gladys began to pack up clothing and items they did not currently need.

The news swept through Robe Town. Everyone congratulated Joseph before he left on the 'Rowlands'. They would miss the Medcrofts who were pillars of the community. Harry Medcroft had been Sub-Collector of Customs' for 14 years.

The two months sped by for the Medcrofts; Gladys decided to go with them to Kingston SE. If she got too homesick she could always come home to Robe Town. Harry had already arranged lodgings in a fine, limestone block house overlooking Lacepede Bay. He was happy with his choice. 'Amanda will love this place, and the views are a bonus.'

Joseph Moore returned at the end of July 1869. Harry had to make a choice. Either the family travelled by coach and their belongings by bullock dray to Lacepede Bay, or they went by ship. Either way there was some risk involved.

Travel by land could be held up by heavy winter rains and lowland flooding. Travel by sea was always risky due to severe winter storms at sea. Harry was not unmindful of the shipwrecks he had attended. However, he decided the sea voyage was probably the best option; he did not fancy being held up for days in local floods. The sea voyage to Lacepede Bay was fairly quick and hopefully the weather would be good on the voyage.

Harry booked passage on the Rowlands for himself, the family and all their belongings. The Rowlands was due in Port Robe mid August. The Rowlands did a regular service between Port Adelaide and Melbourne; calling into ports along the way to unload and load cargo and passengers. Winter storms sometimes disrupted her schedules. She was due into Lacepede Bay on her way to Port Adelaide. Her skipper Captain Peters was well known to Harry; they had been friends for several years.

Harry stood at the end of the Government jetty and looked back at Robe Town; it held 14 years of memories for him. He allowed his mind to drift back to a hot summer day in February 1855; the day he and Amanda arrived in Port Robe for Harry to take up his position as Sub-Collector of Customs.

Harry remembered being rowed to the old Government jetty and climbing up the steps on to the rough wooden jetty. Ahead of him lay the small township of Robe. Harry had been here before; when he was a mounted Police trooper. Harry's mind drifted back to his days as a mounted Police trooper. He had been in Governor Robe's overland escort party in 1846. Governor Robe had sailed down from Port Adelaide in the Government cutter 'Lapwing'. As a result of Governor Robe's fact finding exercises, Robe Town was officially proclaimed Port Robe; an international sea port in February 1847. Since then export trade had increased to the point that Harry had been appointed to take over the Customs' Service at Port Robe.

Harry remembered their first day at Port Robe. James Brown the Postmaster had been waiting for them at the end of the jetty; to greet them and then show them their lodgings. Harry and Amanda had followed James Brown to their lodgings in Mundy Terrace. One room of the house needed to be used as the Customs' office.

They had passed by the Royal Circus; a huge roundabout built to turn the bullock teams around. Some of the bullock teams were waiting along Mundy Terrace to offload their cargoes. James Brown showed them their lodgings and handed over the door keys.

Harry and Amanda looked around their lodgings. It was a three bedroom house. An annex at the rear contained the kitchen and laundry. The toilet was up the back yard. The wooden house was constructed of slab sided logs; with wooden floors and the roof was tiled with wooden shingles. Each of the three bedrooms had a window and a fireplace.

Harry converted one bedroom for use as the Customs' office; fortunately it had a door opening out on to the street. Those lodgings had to do until a more permanent solution was found for the Customs' office.

Mundy Terrace was on the waterfront; unfortunately sand dunes partially blocked the views of Guichen Bay. However, the sea could be seen from one of the windows.

Harry left Amanda and the children and returned to the jetty to supervise the transfer of their belongings to their new lodgings. Harry had then set up the furniture. Next morning Harry set up his Customs' office and commenced business.

Harry was musing over these events when a loud noise, and cursing, jolted him out of his reverie. A large wooden crate had been dropped on to the deck of a ship moored at the end of the jetty.

The Rowlands was due in port tomorrow. All their furniture and belongings needed to be brought to the ship early tomorrow morning for their departure. The Rowlands was due about mid morning. Harry had men and wagons organised to transport all their belongings down to the Government jetty. Cargo from Melbourne would be unloaded; then their belongings would be loaded on to the Rowlands.

Next day a large crowd of people gathered to see them off. Harry, his family, and Gladys stood and waved from the port side of the ship. The Rowlands slowly steamed away from the jetty and headed towards Cape Dombey and out to sea.

Women were crying, and there were lots of sad faces back at the jetty. It was a sad time for the residents of Robe Town; the Medcrofts had been an integral part of their community.

With mixed emotions Harry and Amanda watched Port Robe slowly fade into the distance. A large part of their married life had been played out at Port Robe. A new chapter in their lives was just beginning. It was nostalgic leaving but on the other hand, a time of excitement; as they contemplated a new life at Lacepede Bay.

###

About the Author

The idea for this novel originated on a trip to South Australia in 2002. I was fascinated by the history of Port Robe and subsequently thought, 'This is the setting for a good historical novel.' In June 2010 my wife and I went back to Port Robe and Adelaide with the express intent of doing research for the Port Robe novel. This book has evolved from that research.

I am a retired male nurse, married with three sons, who have grown up and left this area. I live with my wife at Innisfail in tropical North Queensland, Australia. The main agricultural crops of the region are sugar cane, bananas and paw paws. Innisfail is situated at the confluence of the Johnstone and South Johnstone rivers.

I am a committed Christian and I fellowship with like minded Christians at a Gospel Hall in Innisfail. I enjoy writing and reading my Bible and Christian books. I also enjoy reading other non-fiction books in my spare time, particularly biographies and autobiographies. I also blog on my two blogs:

Biblical Perspectives blog http://www.jon-peasey.blogspot.com

Words of Life blog http://www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com

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