AUS-QLD-WESTERN-L Archives

From: "Des. Crump" <>
Subject: Re: [AUS-QLD-WESTERN] William BIRD/BURD
Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2008 23:18:17 +1000
References: <000501c84b48$9174f970$0201010a@MainComputer><4778F576.14418.2E0636C3@tony-moore.bigpond.com>
In-Reply-To: <4778F576.14418.2E0636C3@tony-moore.bigpond.com>

Hello Tony

I was in at the State Library today and it looks like it was originally
spelt Biran or Birran - it was a block of 85 acres adjoining Welltown,
Goodar and Tarewinnebar.

Also found an article from the Brisbane Courier 1861 describing William's
visit to the Colonial Secretary regarding his request for land. In the
following month, there was a letter to the editor from a Goondiwindi
Correspondent who while suggesting that William was enterprising in seeking
status in 'white society', also warned/reminded the reader that Aborigines
could not be trusted and that the Government should not be contemplating any
favours.

Funny you should mention Currawillinghi as my family ended up in Dirranbandi
following the shearing.

Also William was buried on Tarewinnebar Station which seemed unusual for an
Aboriginal Stockman - now the next task is to arrange a visit to the
property to see if there are any signs of a grave marker.

Cheers,

Des.


-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Moore [mailto:]
Sent: Monday, 31 December 2007 12:58 PM
To: Des. Crump;
Subject: Re: [AUS-QLD-WESTERN] William BIRD/BURD

Dear Des,

If you go to
http://www.ga.gov.au/map/names/
put ... Byron ... in the box you will get these places listed, all in the
same
area.

If you suspect it's Queensland then the following fit:
There is a Caboolture map: number # 9443 listed

BYRON CREEK
STATE: QLD
CUSTODIAN: QLD
FEATURE CODE: STRM (Water Courses)
STATUS: Official
LATITUDE: 27º 08' S [Decimal Degrees -27.133º]
LONGITUDE: 152º 38' E [Decimal Degrees 152.633º]
EASTING: 464000 [UTM zone 56, GDA 94]
NORTHING: 6999000
FEATURE NUMBER: QLD5591
100K MAP No.: 9443

BYRON GULLY
STATE: QLD
CUSTODIAN: QLD
FEATURE CODE: STRM (Water Courses)
STATUS: Official
LATITUDE: 27º 07' S [Decimal Degrees -27.117º]
LONGITUDE: 152º 39' E [Decimal Degrees 152.650º]
EASTING: 465000 [UTM zone 56, GDA 94]
NORTHING: 7001000
FEATURE NUMBER: QLD5592
100K MAP No.: 9443

BYRON
STATE: QLD
CUSTODIAN: QLD
FEATURE CODE: PRSH (Administrative)
STATUS: Official
LATITUDE: 27º 04' S [Decimal Degrees -27.067º]
LONGITUDE: 152º 41' E [Decimal Degrees 152.683º]
EASTING: 469000 [UTM zone 56, GDA 94]
NORTHING: 7006000
FEATURE NUMBER: QLD5590
100K MAP No.: 9443

Byron Park is in the heart of cattle country near Longreach
If you think it's NSW then follow the Byron Creek NSW links to the map east
of
Lismore on the map Ballina# 9640

Note another spelling variation which seems to be the current spelling and
may
help you locate places on a map

TAREWINNABAR
STATE: QLD
CUSTODIAN: QLD
FEATURE CODE: PRSH (Administrative)
STATUS: Official
LATITUDE: 28º 04' S [Decimal Degrees -28.067º]
LONGITUDE: 150º 00' E [Decimal Degrees 150.000º]
EASTING: 205000 [UTM zone 56, GDA 94]
NORTHING: 6892000
FEATURE NUMBER: QLD33347
100K MAP No.: 8841

TAREWINNABAR
STATE: QLD
CUSTODIAN: GA
FEATURE CODE: HMSD (Built Structures)
STATUS: Unofficial
LATITUDE: 28º 06' S [Decimal Degrees -28.100º]
LONGITUDE: 150º 10' E [Decimal Degrees 150.167º]
EASTING: 222000 [UTM zone 56, GDA 94]
NORTHING: 6888000
FEATURE NUMBER: O7869
100K MAP No.: 8941

Using the above search engine you can also locate Kooroon


If William BIRD (BURD) was born in the Lake Macquarie area, this would
suggest
that culturally he had salt water dreaming / salt water law (lore). If he
had
been through adult law (full initiation) then he would be well aware of the
requirements and obligations. He was obviously someone who was able to walk
in
both cultures.
Perhaps as he grew older, he saw the opportunity to culturally get closer to
a
"salt-water area" if the (coastal) "Byron" block was available yet still
maintain his association with cattle and sheep which he had experienced for
much of his life.This theory all depends on the the fact that the "Byron"
was
the ones I have guessed at. It wouldn't be for another 130+ years that those
of
aboriginal descent were able to "select" or purchase staions or properties.
My great grandfather's properties of Mogila (near Goodooga) and
Currawillinghi)
passed back to aboriginal title less than 10 years ago. I think that if
William
and Jane had got title then, the history of Australia might have been very
different.

1861 was less than two years after Quuensland achieved statehood.
1861 was still very much the age of the sqatters and they themselves were
also
trying to get legal title to their "squatters runs", no matter what state
they
were in, NSW or Queensland. It wasn't until about 20 years later that the
laws
changed and "selectors" were able to get full title.

Other than the above I can't really offer lots of suggestions, but I hope it

helps a little.

Cheers & Happy New Year,

Tony Moore
(Castle Hill, NSW)

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

On 31 Dec 2007 at 11:00, Des. Crump wrote:

From: "Des. Crump" <>
To: <>, <aus-qld-
>
Date sent: Mon, 31 Dec 2007 11:00:24 +1000
Subject: [AUS-QLD-WESTERN] William BIRD/BURD
Send reply to:

> G'day
>
> I am seeking any information on my Great-Great-Great Grandfather William
> BIRD (aka BURD) - an Aboriginal of Lake Macquarie, NSW born about 1828.
>
> At some stage in the 1850's he journeyed to South-West Queensland working
on
> properties on the Macintyre/Moonie Rivers - including Goodar, Retreat,
Weir
> River, War War, Kooroon, Tarewinnebar/Tarawindaba as well as Welltown.
These
> properties were/are located between Goondiwindi-Toobeah-Talwood and north
to
> Moonie/Westmar.
>
> On 4th June 1857, married Jane WITHEROW/WITHERELL of Somerset, England at
> the Church of England Parsonage in Drayton via Toowoomba. Following this,
> they settled in the Goondiwindi region and worked on sheep properties.
Their
> children were:
>
> *Charles William BIRD born 20 March 1858 (married to Theresa WIGHTMAN
> aka 'Tweezer')
> *Annie Bella BIRD (my Great-Great Grandmother) born abt 1862
> (marriages to William WIGHTMAN and William LANG), died 12 October 1894 in
> Mungindi, NSW
> *Louisa BIRD born abt 1861 (no further details)
> *Mary Jane BIRD born 21 September 1863 (no further details)
> *Jack BIRD born 1864/5? (no further details)
>
> In 1861 William attempted to obtain a block of land known as
"Byron's/Byron
> Waterhole" - do any list members know where this is located? I have seen a
> reference to Kooroon Waterhole which is in the area.
>
> William died on Tarewinnebar/Tarawindaba Station (between Moonie and
> Goondiwindi) on 1 March 1871 from Consumption (TB).
>
> Any information that can fill in the gaps on William and his family would
be
> appreciated.
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
>
>
> Des.
>
>
>
> Toowoomba Dead Persons Society
> www.audps.com
> -------------------------------
> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to
with the word 'unsubscribe' without the
quotes in the subject and the body of the message
>

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• Re: [AUS-QLD-WESTERN] William BIRD/BURD by "Des. Crump" <>