Gympie and District Farming and Grazing – 1905- Widgee Crossing and Chatsworth Part 2

This is the second in a three part series featuring the articles published in the The Gympie Times and Mary River Mining Gazette in 1905 and it covers Widgee Crossing and Chatsworth.  The names mentioned in this story are: Mulholland, Horan, Clapperton, Hillcoat, Dean, Rodney, Wadel/Waddel, Vasey, Freeman.  You will find Part 1 here and Part 3 here.

“Gympie and District Farming & Grazing.
NO. VII. WIDGEE CROSSING AND CHATSWORTH ROADS.
(By Our Special Reporter.)

“Mr. Adam Mulholland, of Widgee Crossing Farm, used to successfully cultivate the largest area about this part. On his land were over 50 acres under crops, and when the prices of produce were low the hay sheds were full and the maize was stored in tanks in the barn. His motto was “hold the pro-duce until the price is remunerative,” and therefore he made money. Every farmer should follow his example as far as possible. When prices are low in good sea-sons, such as the present, only sell just enough to pay the necessary expenses and store the balance until a dry season comes round. Then better prices will be realised and good profits made. Mr. Mulholland has 300 acres around the house at Widgee cross-ing, and just across the river there is an-other 100 acres of a good cleared paddock, in which is a cement plunge cattle dip with the necessary yards. At Scrubby Creek on the Glastonbury road, he has about 600 acres with good frontage flats and ring-barked ridges, the latter badly overgrown with bushes and saplings. Here there is a neat new cottage in which Mr. James Mul-holland lives, and on this land he is carry-ing on dairying, milking 18 to 20 cows, 8 or 10 acres have been fenced in for culti-vation.

On Glastonbury Greek between the Rev. Father Horan’s and Mrs. Clapperton’s properties, Mr. Adam Mulholland owns 500 acres, which are devoted to horses, and next to Mr. Hillcoat’s, at the upper part of Widgee creek, he has another 1000 acres. The latter land is at present unstocked, as all the cattle died of redwater. But to return to the farm he resides on. Now there are only four or five acres under the plough, and the crops are only grown for feed on the farm : but it was quite refresh-ing to hear of some of the prices realised before the railway was opened. Just fancy, hay was sold on the field at £17 per ton. and maize brought 14/ per bushel. No wonder Mr. Mulholland and others that were farming in those days made money.

Mrs. Mulholland presides over the dairy, and is most particular about the cleanliness of the utensils and separator.  About 21 cows are being milked twice a day, and with these cows was running a red Suflolk polled bull, sired by the bull brought up from New South Wales by Mr. G. J. Booker, of Woo-looga.  For very many years the gentleman whose property is under review, was well known as a horse breeder and dealer, but he has now pretty well given up these lines and sold his horses : now he has only about 35 head. Practically he has gone out of stock raising, and, therefore, all the land is lightly stocked. “Lord Kitchener,” the last heavy draught stallion he had, was sold in 1904 to Messrs. Archer Brothers, Rockhampton. A large number of buildings stand near the house, among which are three large hay-sheds, barn, workshop, &c. The milking yards and pig sties are also close handy. 18 pigs are in the latter. There is also in the barn a 12 h.p. portable engine, which provides the power to drive the large Richmond “Chandler” chaff-cutter, corn cracker (capable of cracking a bag of maize in eight minutes), corn sheller, &c. Among the implements I noticed a sulky spring tooth cultivator and a disc harrow that covers 10 feet.

Mr. Mulholland expressed himself very strongly as to the injustice and damage he has suffered from the immense quantity of tailings being dumped into the river. He invites the directors of the mining compan-ies, and anyone else interested, to visit his farm and study the “Tailings Question” on the ground. In one place a fence that was erected some years ago is nearly covered by the sand. About 40 to 50 acres of land that have been under cultivation (and may again be wanted for the same purpose) have been covered. This land is now under grass but the next flood will probably deposit an other covering of sand. The grazing on the banks of the river is destroyed in a great measure and wherever the tailings are de-posited “devil grass” takes the place of the better native couch. There is no doubt the value of the land that is liable to a deposit of tailings is greatly reduced either for graz-ing or farming purposes.

When returning from the Widgee Crossing it is necessary if one wishes to get on to the Chatsworth road to turn to the left in front of Mr. Dean’s. We then pass a pro-perty containing 87 acres which, one can see at a glance has been made the home of the owner, Mr. James Rodney. Trees have been planted on each side of the track leading from the gate to the house, which will, when grown, add much to the picturesque-ness of the approach. About three years ago a new comfortable dwelling was erected, and since then a garden has been laid out and hedge planted. The other buildings includ-ing stables with loose boxes, dray shed, barn, milking yard with three bails, horse yard are all substantially erected. The pad-dock has been cleared of all timber but a few shade trees, and there are two patches of well cultivated land. Our friend said, “I am not a farmer,” but many a larger farmer can with advantage copy his ex-ample, by cleaning up the droppings in the milking yard, carting the manure to enrich the arable land, and thereby increase the crops. The cross road emerges on to the main one just opposite.

Mr. M. Wadell’s house, which is surrounded by a cleared paddock while a little further from town stands the well known “Two Mile” Hotel, where host Geo. Waddell dispen-ses liquid comfort to all that call on him. Mr. Vasey, who lives in the next house, is an old and respected identity, who, on account of a fire that occurred about eighteen months ago, has built a new house. Although engaged in a store in town he is rearing some nice White Leghorn fowls; unfortunately no one was at home when I called, and therefore the whole of the flock could not be inspected. Then comes the State School that has a very good attendance of scholars, and where Mr. David Freeman, one of the senior masters in the Education Department has for many years taught the young ideas how to learn.”

 This story was compiled by Kathy Punter.

Sources:  Trove; GFHS Record Collection; Bing Maps: