Wanderings in Wetern Queensland and Around Coopers Creek
(no 2)by LOUVAIS
		NAPPA MERRIE STATION
Nappa Merrie home station is beautifully situated on the large
waterhole in Cooper's Creek of the same name. This waterhole is
permanent,and in the severest droughts can be relied upon, as it
is at summer level fully two miles long, and 12 chains wide, and 
from 60 to 80 feet deep, with beautifully clear fresh water.
The house is splendidly situated and commands a most extensive
view of the surrounding country.  It is built of a kind of light
pink freestone, of very fair quality, with a very wide verandah
all round the building, forming splendid shade in the hot weather.
It contains six rooms, an office and detached kitchen of iron.
The rooms are all most elegantly furnished, and give one a foretaste
of the civilisation of the west. Mr Conrick has had erected an
'iron turbine' windmill that draws the water up the mill from the
river- fully 60 feet - and gives a splendid supply of water both
for the house and the garden.  The garden contains several fine
young trees and plants, all doing well, and the beautiful bahama
trees - along the margin of the river - lend a charm to the scene
seldom to be equalled in any part of Queensland. Certainly one
visiting Nappa Merrie can never forget the beauty of the place.

The stockmen's quarters are built of stone; there is also a fine
stone store and a kitchen that would do credit to any station
in the best part of Victoria.  Everything is in good order and 
great care and attention have been shown in laying out the
improvements on this splendid property, and as the situation is
good, many beautiful sketches could be taken from different points.
It would be hard to find scenes of more perfect loveliness any
where. The horse paddocks are large, and capable of depasturing
from 100 to 200 head of horses all the year round.  A large stud
paddock has just been finished.  It is for stud cattle, and
contains fully 20,000 acres.  The stock-yards at the home station
are large, and are built for every convenience for working a
large herd of cattle - drafting yards, pound, and branding pen,
roofed over, and Mr Conrick, with three stockmen and three black
boys, can cut and brand from 250 - 400 calves per day. This is
considered good work, but it has been done every season here. Mr
Conrick allows no fuss,noise, or bustle, but goes through his
work,both with cattle or horses, in a thorough business-like
manner, which reflects credit upon his skilful management.  There
is another large mustering and drafting yard, some eight miles
further down the Cooper, at a waterhole called 'Merkinjillie'.
It is certainly of the most substantial and well-planned yards
that I have yet seen in all Western Queensland, and cattle are
worked in it with such ease and comfort, both to the animals 
themselves, and, which is the first consideration, and to the
stockmen working the cattle in the yards. They can yard from
2,500 to 3,000 head of cattle if required, but on any well-
managed cattle station does the necessity arise for yarding
such a large number at a time. But all conveniences for
drafting, cutting, and branding are here,and that is of the
first importance.

It is but two miles below Nappar Merrie Home station that Bourke
and Wills 'depot' stands. It now consists of but about a dozen
upright posts, indicating the spot where the brave and noble
little band of explorers established their first and last main
'depot' and such are the ravages of time assisted by the vandal
hands of ruthless over-landers and prowling "niggers' that
soon all trace will be for ever removed of the landmarks of
the brave and devoted band of Victoria's great explorers. Some
monument should be erected to mark this spot. Under the beautiful
and outspreading shady branches of the bahama trees that shelter
this spot, one can, in imagination, see the dark-visaged and
bearded men, reclining after their weary march across the dark,
and at times unknown, lands of Central Australia, and surely
something could at once be done, so as to for ever commemorate
the deeds done by these brave men, by some lasting monument
erected upon the very spot which witnessed so much of their
great sufferings, and their devotion to the cause of Australian
exploration. Mr Conrick promised me that he should erect a
substantial fence around the fort, and the tree with Burke's
marks cut deply into the sap.The situation is very pretty - 
a lovely bank,with the Bulli Bulli waterhole behind, and a
level swamp in front, Coolabah and Acacia,Bahama and Sandlewood,
forming a picture of peace and contentment, with cattle
resting and feeding, where the erstwhile aboriginal chief and
his sable warriors stalked proudly fort to demand why the white
invader dared come into his dominions.
But such is the difference made by the onward march of European
civilization, that though only 27 years have passed by,yet in 
that short time the native warrior is completely reduced to a
condition of abject submission, and is fast disappearing under
the baneful influences of the white man's worst vices, and
the exterminating power of Queensland's fiery rum - the old
are dying out fast, and few of their children are taking their
place. The white man's greed and cruelty is doing this work
of extermination surely too well. The past shootings and 
flayings have cowed the poor blackfellow, till now, he is the
abject slave of the squatter's managers, and sadly too, often
of the brutalized and 'flash' stockman. The blacks were a kind
hearted race, till the whiteman's arrival made them cunning,
cowardly and vicious. Cruelty has made them what they are,
but I must say, that many of the squatters and their ladies
are most kind to them, and whereever is found to be the case,
the blacks are contented, and make most useful servents,and
the boys splendid stockmen. No wages are paid to them, and 
they are bound to remain upon the stations, except at certain
times, they are allowed to 'walk about' as they term it, and
thus they trade in 'pitchirie' a narcotic plant, that they 
chew like tobacco, and (to be continued......")

		No 3. Nappamerrie and Cullumurra
Messrs Conrick and Ware occupied this country under a lease
from the Queensland Government some 14 or 16 years ago, but
through some mistake in the first boundary survey, Mr George
Ware lost the Inniminka portion, which now belongs to the 
Hon.W Campbell, they having only secured Nappa Merrie, but
in this they were most fortunate,as it consists as I have
said before, of some of the best country on the Cooper.
They have a splendid herd of shorthorn cattle, well selected,
and bred from some of the best strains in Australia, including
cows and bulls,bred by Neil Black, the Messrs Robertson, 
Joseph Ware, of Minjah, Andrew Tobin of Yallock and Tozer,
of Warrnambool.  One can wander over a large part of Queensland
ere they meet with such a splendid herd, as it is to be found
on Nappamerri. The prices obtained for bulls sold in the
district testify to their excellent quality and breed, and as
the herd consists of some 5,500 head of magnificient well-bred
cattle, I feel satisfied that in the near future, Mr Conrick
will obtain a name for his cattle second to none in Queensland,
and considering the class of country, one need not be surprised
at this, as it consists of magnificent rolling downs, with 
splended creeks running through at intervals of every four or
five mils, and with hills and valleys clothed with the richest
pasture that nature has blessed this land with. 
THe future must be hopeful to squatters who are happy possesors
of such a splendid stretch of country. It is within easy distance
of the southern markets, and only 300 miles from Farina or
Hergott springs, and if a railway should be built to Cullumurra,
as there seems to be a likelihood of, it would place the stations
upon the Lower Cooper in such a position, that they would be able
to send cattle to Adelaide, Broken Hill, or any of the Victorian
markets at a week's notice. 
The horses upon this station lack nothing in breeding and quality
of the best description, and the blood horses are famous for
their high lineage,and as the demand for India remounts is now
considerable, Messrs COnrick and Ware should be able to furnish
a large number of colts, fit for such service ,as they have fully
500 horses running upon the station. i saw some beautiful Arabs
and it was certainly a great pleasure to view the antics of
these creatures.  Several splendid pairs could be secured,suitable
for the Melbourne market, and in blood stock both the mares,
fillies and colts must claim careful and marked attention. I shall
not go into the details of pedigree and descriptions,as mine is
but a wanderer's hasty glance and descriptions,but I feel assured
that what I speak of is a correct description, asf ar as I go,taken
from actual and careful observations.
There are some find and highly-bred horses of the pure Clysdale
breed, which are in great demand, and as great care has been 
bestowed upon this class of stock, a large margin of profit must
be the outcome of the sales of these splendid stock. Suffice to
say that the horses bred on these downs are considered by all the
great buyers as the best adapted for the wear and hard work of
great cities and towns, both as lorry horses and general draughts,
and if the owners of this fine run should ever turn their attention
to the raising of sheep, I feel fully satisfied,that they will not
be disappointed with the results ,as the country in eminently 
adapted for sheep and wool growing.

The Queensland rabbit proof fence has been pushed along the boundary
line between South Australia and Queensland, which will still further
enhance the value of runs out west.  There is a township just being
established along the boundary of the two colonies. It is called
"Oontoo". The situation is pretty fair, but no so good as to justify
anyone in speculating in properties there, as there is a site
some 12 miles lower down, that cannot be surpassed in any part of
Australia for situation and position.  It is upon the Cullumurra
waterhole, which is six miles long, 80 feet deep at summer level,
and 20 chains in width, certainly one of the most splended waters
in Central Australia.  Splended water, magnificient land, and
the surroundings are the most romantic and grand that I have seen
anywhere, in fact, it could not be surpassed in Australia as a site
for the future Federal City, embracing,as it does, the colonies
of South Australia and Queensland, and is only about 200 miles 
from Milperinka, in New South Wales, and surrounded by the best
pasture lands in Central Australia, with every indication of
immense mineral wealth.  

A full description of Cullumurra and Inniminka, I shall give in 
my next, as they require to be dealt seperately with. Cullumurra 
was always esteemed by the aboriginal blacks; the gathering place
of all the tribes; the resting place of the 'Great Spirit' and
the burial place of all the great chiefs and the place where the
brave should muster to their great corrobories."



further reading..Nappa Merri today

note from J.Fawcett: These are newspaper articles,and should only 
be used as a general reference. Original sources should always
be accessed for family history purposes and information authenticated.
copyright,2001 J.Fawcett-Genseek 
WS.25061888(no2) & 29061888(no3)