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From: Thelma <>
Subject: [AUS-VIC-West] Bostock Diary...No.84
Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2003 07:34:49 +1000
References: <00c101c3b312$fbab32f0$4a838b90@home><000201c3b597$44608050$d7858b90@home> <000301c3bc6f$6a27a280$62838b90@home>


These extracts are from the diary of Augustus Bostock
of Grasmere, near Warrnambool. He wrote faithfully
about his family and people of the district including
those who worked on his property from 1854 to 1920
when he died...

In APRIL 1863 Gussy wrote thus,

Wed 1 - DREW (Mr.) and Boy took lambs as
far as EDDINGTON'S DAM for TOM
(Thomas Edward Bostock - brother).
To Warrnambool in afternoon. W. sharp showers.
Thu 2 - Stayed in Warrnambool to Show. Paid bill
due to AITKIN & BOSTOCK (- now J.Wm.M.Aitkin
& Ernest Bostock -after death of George Bostock
in 1858). Stayed in town all night. W. showery.

Fri 3 - Came home to breakfast. MacKENZIE (Anthony)
and two EDDINGTONS (Campbell & ?) came with me
and left for home after. Went to Lake (Woolongoon
at Hexham) and brought home three cows bought
at TOZER'S SALE (Francis Tozer). W. fine & cloudy.

Sat 4 - Went into Warrnambool to attend a meeting
of the ROAD BOARD, but got in too late - returned
home late. MARGETTS (Edward) came out part of
the way with me. Weather fine.

Sun 5 - PALMER (Octavius Frederick Wm.) came out
and spent the day with me. (Octavius m.1867 to
Rachael Emily, dau/of Margaret & Francis Doveton.
Margaret Bostock was sis/of Augustus Bostock).

Mon 6 - PALMER (O.F.W.) and myself went
down to STAINES SALE (John Staines). Stayed at
WOODFORD and saw the races. Wthr. very fine.
Tue 7 - Dr.HARRINGTON (R.H.) came down
from BOORTKOI (Hexham) before breakfast.
Returned Punch. Went round cattle and went
to FOSTERS FLAT to see EVERITT (Charles)
& WRIGHT about their rent. Agreed to give them
some timber to repair their hut. DREW (Mr.)
working at the drain for the fence. Wthr.very fine.

Wed 8 - Went to SPRING CREEK and brought home
two white poley bullocks. Brought cows with calves
from PURNIM. DREW (Mr.) working at the drain.
Went to DOYS (Mr.) in evening to see about
heifers. Counted all cattle on PURNIM.
Weather very fine - frost in morning.

Thu 9 - Deliver heifer sold to DOY (Mr.). DREW
(Mr.) finished digging drain as far as log.
Commenced putting up fence. Went to see
BLACKSMITH to order BRAND and to see
KEILLAR (William) about coming. W. very fine.

Fri 10 - Finished putting stuff already split. Took a
cow up to PHINNS (Thomas) to kill. Went round
cattle at PURNIM. Commenced splitting again for
fence. JIMMY (Bostock) came down. W. very fine.
Sat 11 - Went to W'bool to see about bank account.
but could not get anything done. Went over to
ERNEST'S (Bostock) and stayed all night.
MANIFOLD (Thomas) came down by the
steamer. Weather. very fine.

Sun 12 - Went for a ride to Mr.RUTLEDGES (Wm)
and from there to MacGREGORS (Samuel). Stayed
at ERNESTS (Bostock) all night. W. rather warm.
Mon 13 - Got my business settled. ERNEST
(Bostock) came down from PURRUMBETE
(Manifolds of Camperdown). The bullock dray
came down from COOMETE (Hexham - Gussy
is to move there soon). JIMMY (Bostock) and
myself returned home late in the evening.
Weather very fine.

Tue 14 - Went to JONES (John) to look at cattle he
had for sale. Killed a bullock to go to COOMETE by
the dray. Went to Warrnambool to see the CIRCUS. Stayed all night.
Weather -very fine.

Wed 15 - Returned home. Dray started for
COOMETE and JIMMY (Bostock) left.
Mr.PARKER (Samuel) came to breakfast.
Went with PARKER (Sam) to lay road from
IDEN'S BRIDGE toward HEXHAM. Mrs.
SNOW (w/o Henry Snow, butcher)got sheep.

Thu 16 - Went over to see the KEILLARS (Wm.)
about rent of allotments. DREW (Mr.) sawing logs
ready to split for the division fence. MARGETTS
(Edward) called down. Weather rather warm.

Fri 17 - Split fence posts. Mr.& Mrs.MacARTHUR
and Mr.& Mrs.PATERSONcame. (Robert Brand
Paterson m.1861 to MARY JANE AITKIN (d/o
James & Mary 'nee Manifold' AITKIN.)
MANIFOLD (Thomas) came before breakfast.
Went round farm with him and went into W'bool
in evening. Found TOM (Bostock) and wife JANE
(Catherine Jane Mackersey) in town and stayed
in town all night. Weather very fine.

Sat 18 - Attended meeting of the ROAD BOARD.
DREW (Mr.) splitting posts and putting up some
fence. TOM (Bostock) and Mr.MANIFOLD (Thos)
came out with me. Weather very fine.

Sun 19 - Went up to BOORTKOI (Hexham) with
TOM and MANIFOLD. Mr.BUSH overtook us
on the road. Weather fine.
Mon 20 - Stayed at TOM'S (Bostock) all day.
Went out to see some of the sheep.
DREW (Mr.) putting up the fence. W. fine.

Tue 21 - Returned home. TOM and MANIFOLD
came down with me. Called at COOMETE (Hexham)
on the way. DREW (Mr.) finished putting what
stuff was already split. W. very close and warm.
Wed 22 - Went down to sale of cattle and sheep
at COILS (Mickey). Went from there to ERNESTS (Bostock) and stayed all
night. DREW(Mr.)
sawing more logs for the fence. W. very warm.

Thu 23 - Branded all unbranded sheep.
TOM (Bostock) called on way home. Went to
CAMPBELL EDDINGTON'S BALL and stayed
all night. Weather fine.
Fri 24 - EDDINGTON (Campbell) left for W'bool
before breakfast. Took one cow to PURNIM.
Had in horses as one had a bad eye. Went round
farms belonging to DOVETON (late sister's family)
to see about getting in the rents. Called at DOY'S
on way over. Weather dull.

Sat 25 - Went to Warrnambool. Settled with
WILSON (John) for sheep. DREW (Mr.) splitting
stuff to keep in pigs. JIMMY (Bostock) came
down. MARGETTS (Edward) rose out with me.
Sun 26 - JIMMY (Bostock) and myself stayed at
home. Walked up as far as MARGETTS (Edward)
in the afternoon. Weather fine.

Mon 27 - JIMMY (Bostock) left for home. Put
some tobacco in a heap. DREW commenced
securing the river to keep the pigs. Went into
W'bool in the evening and stayed all night. Fine.

Tue 28 - ERNEST(Bostock), ATKINSON (Mr.)
and myself went up to see MAILOR'S FARM
(Robert -of 'Merri Farm') and the GREENHILLS.
Returned home in the evening. DREW (Mr.)
finished opposite side of the river. W.very fine.

Wed 29 - ERNEST(Bostock) & ATKINSON(Mr.)
left. Worked at fence to secure pigs. PALMER
(Octavius Fred Wm.) came in evening and
stayed all night. Moved some of the tobacco.

Thu 30 - PALMER (O.F.W.) left. Went with him
as far as PURNIM to see if Creamy ? had come
over and to see my cattle. Went over to see
DOY (Mr.) about a heifer with a young calf.
Marking fencing - pig proof. Finished the
division fence. Weather fine.

I hope you have all shared some measure of
happiness and contentment over this Christmas
Season.... Best Wishes for 2004..
Thelma (Bostock) Birrell at Maroochydore.

"Do not follow where the path may lead.
Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."



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