Notes from the Country 18 August 1903

BOTHWELL

One of the oldest settlements in Tasmania is Bothwell, which is situated on the Clyde River, and just 45 miles from the capital. The immediate country is very level and open, but a few miles in any direction from the post office the hills rise, and practically appear to hem in the whole place. The land is very good, being for the most part dark, loamy soil, but there is very little difference, if any, in the formation of the hills, to those existing in the Midlands. The majority of the pioneer settlers were Scotchmen, and at present their descendants have a large stake in the district. Bothwell is a grazing centre, but a good deal of agriculture is carried on, especially of late years.

The largest holding in the district is Dennistoun Estate, which is owned by Mr J G Wood. It was taken up by his father, the late Captain Wood, about 80 years ago and was acquired, at first, by grant, and afterwards by purchases of blocks in different places. Captain Wood, by his will, devised his lands in various lots to his five sons, all of whom were minors at his death. Only two of them, the youngest and eldest, now survive, and these two are in possession of all the country that was formerly owned by their father and deceased brothers. The youngest living son is Mr Alexander Wood, who resides in England, and has never yet visited the Commonwealth. His land is rented by Mr J G Wood, and comprises 3,254 acres in the vicinity of Bothwell, 2,072 at Spring Hill, between Bothwell and Hamilton, and 5,900 at the locality known as the Den. The areas owned by Mr J G Wood are 6,287 acres in Dennistoun proper, 2,643 at Lake Crescent, 3,500 at the Den, and 11,600 on the Hamilton side of Bothwell. These lands collectively are spoken of as the Dennistoun Estate, but from the foregoing figures it will be seen that Dennistoun proper is not a very large area.

Grazing Merino sheep is the staple industry adopted by Mr Wood, the number of sheep annually shorn being about 21,000. He does not cater for prize sheep.

Within the last few years a good deal of agriculture has been followed on Dennistoun on the share system, but no estimate could be formed of the quantity that will be cropped this year, as the weather, up to the time of my visit, had proved a great obstruction. The residents of Bothwell have hailed with satisfaction the action of Mr Wood in setting apart a large area for agricultural purposes. The owner of Dennistoun only grows fodder crops himself.

When Captain Wood was alive he imported some Fifeshire bulls, but the breed died out, and for many years past the cattle bred on the estate have been Polled Angus. In 1900 Mr Wood imported two Angus bulls from New Zealand. One of them, Monarch II, took four first and champion prizes in that colony, and won the first prize in his class at the Hobart show in October, 1901.

The Dennistoun homestead is situated about five miles to the north of Bothwell township, and is 1,150ft above the sea level. Mr Wood took up his permanent residence there in 1898, and since that time he greatly improved the place by adding a wooden building to the old stone one. The homestead possesses a lovely drawing-room and library.

Mr Wood was educated in Scotland, and soon after being called to the English bar, settled in Melbourne at a time when that city was nothing but canvas. He practised his profession with success, and after a few years became a member of the Legislative Assembly, and was Solicitor-General in the first O’Shanassy Ministry, Attorney-General in the Nicholson Ministry, and Minister of Justice in the third O’Shanassy Ministry. Upon the death of his brother William, he abandoned his professional practice at the Melbourne bar, and after more than two years spent in travel, settled in London, where he practised at the Privy Council bar. In 1889 he returned to Melbourne, and ten years later settled at Dennistoun, as stated above, Mr Wood holds the position of Warden for the rural municipality of Oatlands, and the residents are very fortunate in having a gentleman with such legal knowledge for the post of chief magistrate.

From the homestead there is a grand view towards the west of a range of mountains, culminating in such peaks as Frenchman’s Cap, 4,756 feet high, and Mount Field, which is about the same height. To the north is Wood’s Quoin, rising 3,033 feet above the sea level.

Dennistoun has witnessed one or two thrilling events, which were not unusual in the early days. When Captain Wood arrived he put up, in the first instance, a row of huts, built with turf, with thatched roofs, earthen floors, and hung blankets up at the entrances to serve as doors. Here he and Mr P Russell, a relation, of the well-known pastoralists of that name in Victoria, whom he engaged in Scotland and some servants, resided for a time. Mrs Reid and her two children, who, with her husband had been fellow passengers of Captain Wood, were staying there (Mr Reid being on his way from Hobart) until Mr Reid could put up a habitation of some kind on the land lower down the Clyde, now known as Ratho, when a man armed with a gun made his appearance, saying that he was a constable, looking for bushrangers, and took up his station at the door. An accomplice then went to where Captain Wood and Mr Russell were at work, and told them that Mrs Reid and the women were terrified by some bushrangers. They ran to the hut, and were seized by a gang of about 14, and had their arms bound with cords. The robbers remained until morning, occupying themselves all night in turning out the stores of clothing and other things. When they did leave they took as much as they could carry in sheets. Some of the men were afterwards arrested in the streets of Hobart wearing shirts with Mr Reid’s name on. As there was then no court in Van Diemen’s Land before which they could be tried, they were taken to Sydney, whither Captain Wood had to go to prosecute them. They were found guilty, and several were hanged. In a little burying ground on the estate is a tombstone which tells of another risk to which settlers in the early days were liable. The inscription thereon reads as follows- “Here lie Mary wife of Richard Daniells, and her two children, who were murdered by blacks at the Den in the year 1831.”

The Meadsfield Estate is another large property, comprising about 19,500 acres. It is situated six miles to the west of Bothwell, and was taken up about 1830 under a grant, by the late Mr E C Nicholas, whose executors are the present owners. About 16,000 sheep are shorn annually, 7,000 of them being high class Merinos. On an average 600 head of pure Hereford cattle are grazed on the estate for the greater part of the year. Though no show stock is bred, none but the best sires are used, the bulls being from the Winton strain. Rape is the chief crop grown on Meadsfield, 100 acres being cultivated every year with this fodder, which is used for fattening purposes. The management of the estate is in the hands of Mr H R C Nicholas.

Adjoining Meadsfield on the north is Selma. The area is 7,000 acres, and the owners are Messrs McRae Brothers. About 400 acres are cultivated annually, principally with wheat. As cropping country, it is very superior. One paddock of 40 acres has been cropped continuously for the last 23 years without being manured, and the average yield of wheat has been 26 bushels. The same paddock will be sown again this year but at present it cannot be worked owing to the ground being too wet. Selma is the only part of the district where potatoes can be grown to perfection, but through a railway station being so far away the industry cannot be followed with success financially. The proprietors have a standing flock of about 5,000 sheep, and three years ago a start was made to improve the breed by introducing rams from the celebrated Winton flock. About 150 head of pure Hereford cattle are also grazed on Selma.

There are several other large properties in the Bothwell district, and as they are all similarly engaged in practically the one industry, grazing, it is hardly necessary to outline them individually. The acreage, however, of some will serve to convey what an important pastoral centre Bothwell is.

Nant, owned by the executors of the late Mr W Nicholas, is 15,000 acres in extent and rented by Mr T C Newnham.

Ratho is an area of about 10,000 acres, and the owners are Mr A A and the Misses M and A Reid.

Ibbott Vale is owned by Messrs G W and A Ibbott and comprises about 16,000 acres.

Cluny, managed by Mr S Porter, is an area of about 25,000 acres.

Hunterson is owned by Messrs Allison Brothers and is 7,000 acres in extent.

Southernfield is 8,200 acres. The owner Mr W P Dobson is a son of the late Chief Justice of Tasmania.
Mr F McDowall is the owner of Katrine Vale, an estate of about 5,000 acres. Mr. McDowall’s father was police magistrate for the district before it was proclaimed a municipality and for nearly 20 years was Warden for Oatlands, though not in continuous periods.

The township of Bothwell is nicely laid out with surveyed streets supported by substantial and commodious dwellings and business places. In the street facing the Church of England and State school is a narrow strip of land fenced in and planted with ornamental trees which give a pleasing appearance to that part of the town.
The principal business places are those of Messrs White and Bowden, H W Ellis and Son, Mrs J B Evans, and W H Sealy, all of whom conduct general stores. Mr Sealy is the local agent for “The Tasmanian Mail.” There are three hotels, the Castle, White Hart, and Crown, the respective licensees being Messrs R Bowden, T Best and H N Nichols. Bothwell at one time possessed a brewery but it is now like industries referred to in previous articles.

The Town hall is a fine building capable of holding 500 people. It was only erected in October last at a cost of £1,389. As a sounding hall it has few rivals and everyone who has visited it and is competent to judge, congratulates the residents on having such an excellent hall in their midst. The old council-chambers are close to the bridge over the Clyde River and from present appearances the new hall was not erected before it was required as the old one was certainly not in keeping with the district’s progress or surroundings. It is proposed to repair the discarded hall and use it as quarters for the resident sub-inspector of police. The council clerk is Mr A C Hirst.

On the opposite side of the river to the old council chambers is Wentworth Fort, which was used as barracks for the soldiers in the convict days. It now serves as the local watch house.

There are three churches, viz, the Church of England, Roman Catholic and Presbyterian, all freestone buildings and close to each other. There are some beautiful stained glass windows in the first named, and a costly communion rail. The cost of the latter was borne by the employees of the Nant Estate in 1888. It may be mentioned that this church is regarded as one of the best outside the two cities. The minister is the Rev W J Dodson who has only been in charge for a short time. The Rev Father Murphy, of New Norfolk, officiates at the Roman Catholic Church. In the Presbyterian Church there is a striking clock that was a gift from the present Warden Mr J D Wood. The minister is now out of the State on a visit.

Although Bothwell has a population of nearly 400 people, yet it is minus the services of a resident doctor. At present, if medical assistance is required it has to be brought from either Hamilton or Oatlands, a distance of 20 miles. A strong local feeling prevails to obtain a doctor and to this end the municipality has agreed to guarantee one a salary of £100 a year as health officer, whilst £150 will be guaranteed privately. No doubt if this were known generally some medical man might feel disposed to commence practice under such conditions.

One of the district sights is the Clyde Falls, about two miles down the river from the township. They are fully 50 feet in height and when the river is running pretty full the locality is a favourite visiting place among the residents. The river abounds with trout, and in the season some large catches are made. The fish vary in size, some of them turning the scales at very creditable weights. Mr R Bowden has a photograph of a catch made by three rods last year, a glimpse of which would be sufficient inducement for any ardent angler to make a trip to Bothwell in the season.

The leading sporting institution is the Racing Club. The course is quite close to the township on the Dennistoun Estate and is fairly well improved. A race meeting is held on the 17th March in each year, when about £120 are given away in prizes. The golf links and tennis court are popular places of amusement.

There is at present residing in Bothwell a Mr S W F Taplin who is one of a New Zealand family of five sons, all of whom had seen active service in the late South African war. Mr Taplin went as a trooper with the second New Zealand contingent and was discharged on the expiry of his term of service, but returned to South Africa and joined the Imperial Light Horse and was rather badly wounded at Fraserburg after being appointed a sergeant. The oldest brother T K Taplin, who was living in New South Wales, went to the front as sergeant with the second Mounted Infantry from that State, returned home, discharged, and reenlisted in the first Commonwealth contingent, but, unfortunately, he was killed in action at Klerksdorp. Stanley R S Taplin joined the Peninsular light Horse in South Africa, and the fourth son, Sergeant Wm K Taplin, went to the front with the sixth New Zealand contingent and after serving obtained his discharge at Capetown and formed one of the Coronation contingents. Burton B W Taplin was given a commission in the eighth New Zealand contingent, and after peace was declared he started business in Johannesburg where he still resides. They all left good situations to go out on active service and it is believed that the family hold the Australasian record for having the most representatives in the field. The father is a native of Borley, in Hampshire, and bore arms himself as a colonial volunteer during the Maori war.

MONTACUTE
This is the name of a locality about 10 miles on the Hamilton side of Bothwell but there is no habitation beyond that on Montacute Estate to attract the notice of strangers. The road leading from Bothwell to the estate is now in very bad condition and on those portions that are not metalled the horses attached to vehicles cannot be driven any faster than at walking speed. The Montacute Estate comprises about 5,500 acres and was first taken up by the late Mr W Langdon. A large portion offers every advantage for agricultural pursuit, a fact recognised by the present tenants Messrs Hallett Brothers who cultivate on an average about 500 acres annually. Wheat is the principal cereal grown. A fair acreage is set apart for growing rape to feed the stock when the natural supply is at a minimum. With the exception of between 200 and 300 head of cattle the remainder of the estate is grazed by crossbred sheep. The tenants are noted locally for the splendid teams of horses they possess. Close to the homestead is a neat little freestone building that was erected by the original owner of the estate as a Church of England. Services still continue to be held in it, the minister journeying from Bothwell. As may be imagined the congregation is not a very large one but several of the adherents attend from Hollow Tree, some few miles distant. In common with many other parts of the district the rabbit industry is giving employment to trappers on Montacute. The rabbits are collected by a Bothwell resident on behalf of a Hobart firm for freezing purposes.