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James Gormly was born on 24 July 1836 in Elphin, County Roscommon, Ireland and arrived with his family in Sydney as a bounty immigrant in February 1840. Four years later the family moved to Nangus, along the Murrumbidgee, and later settled at Gundagai in 1849. In the 1852 Gundagai flood, most of the Gormly family perished, except for James and his brother Thomas. The following year the Gormly brothers enjoyed some success, selling stock at the Victorian markets and finding gold on the Victorian goldfields.

James Gormly settled at Wagga Wagga in 1854, met and married Margaret Jane Cox at Holbrook in 1858 and successfully operated a government mail run until 1872. Margaret was born the daughter of Jospeh and ? Cox of "Livingstone Gully" on 26 November 1838. The Gormly family's pastoral interests continued when James bought land at The Rock in 1873, leased "Coronga Peak" in the Bourke district in 1875, then selling and taking up "Wilga Downs", at West Bogan. After selling "Wilga Downs" for a nice profit, he returned to Wagga Wagga in 1882, bought urban real estate and led an active political life.

After serving as a Wagga Wagga Town Alderman (1883-1885) and Mayor (1884-1885), James entered State politics as the Member for Murrumbidgee in the Legislative Assembly (October 1885 - June 1894). He was subsequently re-elected in the seat of Wagga Wagga in July 1894 until he resigned in June 1904. He then served in the Legislative Council from August 1904 until his death in May 1922. A member of the Public Works Committee (1894-1895) and strong advocate of the protectionist cause, James' career included representation in the Wagga Wagga Free Selectors' Association, the Mechanics' School of Arts, the Murrubidgee Pastoral and Agricultural Association, the Murrumbidgee Turf Club, the Wagga Wagga and District Horse Breeders Associaton and the Library Association of Australia. He had a great love of horses and was one of the marathon jockeys who participated in the infamous "Ten Mile Race" held at Wagga Wagga on 20 November 1868. Before his death in Wagga Wagga on 19 May 1922, James wrote many articles on the district's history, which were then gathered together in the publication "Exploration and Settlement on the Murray and Murrumbidgee" (1909). He was also the author of "The Discovery of Yass Plains" (1921), "The Flea-bitten Grey" (1921) and "Exploration and Settlement in Australia" (1921).

His son, Richard Joseph Ernest Gormly, was born in the family home at Marshall's Point, Wagga Wagga, on 12 June 1868. The third son in a family of six boys and three girls, Richard was educated at St. Ignatius' College, Riverview, but spent most of his early life in Wagga Wagga. An avid sportsman and chess player, Richard also took an interest in the public affairs of the town. He served two terms as alderman on the Wagga Wagga City Council (1900-01, 1922-25). After his first term, Richard relocated to Cootamundra and then to Wallendbeen, but returned to Wagga Wagga after World War One. An officer of the Department of Lands, Richard worked for approximately 30 years, before retiring at Pymble in 1925.

Like his father, Richard enjoyed researching the local and district history of Wagga Wagga. He published many articles in Riverina newspapers, and was planning to publish his own history of Wagga Wagga. Richard's extensive card index is currently held in the Mitchell Wing of the State Library of New South Wales, where, after his retirement, he spent an average of 50 hours a week on his research. Richard died in Sydney on 23 August 1961 at the age of 93. The Gormly Avenue in Wagga Wagga was named by Richard in memory of his family's contribution to the local area.

The McLean family arrived at Yandembah around 1902.

Alexander McLean (c.1861-1931) married Sarah Helen Horton (c.1868-1937) in 1897. They had 4 children:

• Edmund JA McLean (born 1898), also known as "Jack".
• Florence M McLean (born 1903), also known as "Florrie"; later married Jack Carr of 'Wilga', Hillston.
• Elsie M McLean (born 1904);
• Lachlan H McLean (born 1906), also known as "Loch"; took over the management of Yandembah after his father.

Florence Marion McLean was born in 1903 to Alexander and Sarah Helen McLean of 'Yandembah', Hillston. She married Henry John "Jack" Carr of 'Moolbong' in 1933 and they had two children. The Carr Family lived at 'Wilga', Hillston. Jack died in a shooting accident on 30 May 1942, and Florence took over the management of 'Wilga'.

George Frederick Hutchings (1870-1951) married Margaret Wilson, nee Hansen (1868-1940) in 1899. They moved to 'Dalrye' at Yerong Creek in 1909 from Rupanyup in Victoria. This property of approximately 4,500 acres had been purchased by Hutchings at a Grubben Station auction in September 1909.

In 2024, Dalrye was situated at 109 Seeliger's Lane, Yerong Creek.

William Scott Rayment (born 10 July 1893) attended Wagga Experiment Farm from 30 June 1910 until December 1911 [1]. He married Joyce Rolfe in January 1925 [2]. They owned a property called "Coo-in-oo" near Ardlethan. They had a daughter, Deirdre Rayment (born 16 December 1925), who married Donald Knight in February 1951 [3].

[1] Student Admissions Register, Wagga Experiment Farm Collection, SA1634/83.
[2] The Daily Telegraph, 29 Jan 1925, page 2, National Library of Australia (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/245272287)
[3] The Daily Telegraph, 2 Feb 1951, page 10, National Library of Australia (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/248510796)

Groongal, including Wyvern and Bringagee, was acquired by the Learmonths in 1865. The properties were split three ways in 1893. Bringagee was sold in 1910 to Albert Austin, Groongal was sold in 1911 to Ralph Falkiner, and Wyvern in 1924 to Sims Cooper and later in 1947 to T. A. Field.

Groongal Station has been owned by the Merrylees family since 1924; the records held by the Regional Archives relate to their ownership.

Groongal and neighbouring Benerembah (much of which now comprises the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area) were taken up in 1839 by Henry O'Brien of Yass. In 1848 Groongal comprised 60,000 acres. Subsequent leaseholders included members of the Guise, Alleyne, Harvey and Cockburn families. In 1865 the Learmonth brothers bought the lease, and between 1868 and 1875 built an imposing two storied brick homestead on a commanding site overlooking the Murrumbidgee River. They steadily acquired freehold title to some 300,000 acres embracing Groongal, Wyvern (the eastern part of Groongal) and Bringagee. In 1893 these three runs were carrying 45,000 breeding ewes. Ralph Falkiner purchased Groongal in 1911 and by 1921 held some 124,561 acres. He subdivided and sold the property in 1924, when W.A. Merrylees & Sons of Charlton, Victoria acquired the frontage portion of 37,470 acres.

Groongal has a long history of riparian irrigation; Somerville Learmonth obtaining a license in 1898 under section 12 of 1896 Water Rights Act. In 1916 Falkiner obtained a new license under the 1912 Act to water 100 acres, and this license was taken over by the Merrylees family. They would probably have followed the lead of most of their neighbours and used their pumped water for stock and domestic purposes, with a limited amount of irrigation of natural pasture to provide drought insurance for their stud sheep. However, Dr W.A. Merrylees (1900-69) was eager to diversify production and from 1928 encouraged his father, sister and two brothers to acquire increased water rights. Bill Merrylees' decision in 1935 to resign from the University of Melbourne, where he had been a senior lecturer in philosophy, was followed by the partition of Groongal between himself, his brother Joe and his sister Bell, and the creation of the new partnership of Merrylees & Co. Bill's brother Tom and their parents returned to Victoria, where Tom took over management of the family's Charlton properties. Bill meanwhile pressed on with his plan to convert Groongal into a huge mixed farm-a scheme that alarmed Joe, who wanted to concentrate on establishing a merino stud. Undeterred by his brother's opposition and their bankers' misgivings, Bill and his wife Annie formed a separate partnership in 1938 to irrigate the western portion of the property, known as Coonara (amounting to some 14,750 acres). In 1940 Bill and Annie withdrew from the partnership of Merrylees & Co.; Joe Merrylees and his sister, now Mrs Wilf Diss, formed the partnership of Merrylees & Diss to run the balance of Groongal. In 1951 Joe and Bell divided their stock and movable property, Joe forming the new partnership of J.E. Merrylees & Co. between himself and his wife Rose.

Records in this accession include the annual accounts of W.A. Merrylees & Sons (1923-36), Merrylees & Diss (c. 1941-51) and J.E. Merrylees & Co. (1951-57). The records also document the distribution of assets between Mrs Diss and her brother in 1951 and have entries relating to employees' wages, stock numbers, sheep crutching and shearing tallies, and pumping hours for Groongal (last entry 1962).

Compiled by : Don Boadle.

Sources : Merrylees, Caroline, Brave Beginnings: A History of the Carrathool District Hay, 1983, pp.16-18, 30; Boadle, Donald 'William Andrew Merrylees (1900-1969) in John Ritchie (ed.), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 15, Melbourne, 2000, pp. 361-362; Client files 11779/81 (1935), M18 (1938), M297, M298, M299 (1940-41), Blake & Riggall records (University of Melbourne Archives); WC&IC license files (NSW Department of Land & Water Conservation).

Oliver Septimus Baker had a farm called "Gumly Park" on the Tarcutta Road, Wagga Wagga. He held it as a Returned Soldiers Settlement Holding (RSSH 18/6) from 1918.

Dorothea June Graham was born in 1924 to John and Elizabeth Graham of Wagga Wagga. John was the Honorary Secretary and an organiser of the 1931 Riverina Movement. In 1944, June married Private William Robert "Bill" Dunn, the son of Robert James and Florence M Dunn of Wagga Wagga. June and Bill lived at Uranquinty for many years. In 1977, June became a Member of the Order of the British Empire (Civil Divison) for services to the performing arts and community. June Dunn died on 15 May 2009.

John Shephard of Wagga Wagga - dancer, monumental mason, heating installer and newspaper proprietor of "Wagga Wagga Progress".

Mr. Harry ("Tay") Lockett, Junior
The death occurred at his residence, Derry-street, Ganmain, after a long illness of a highly respected resident of Ganmain Mr. Harry ("Tay") Lockett at the age or 39 years. Mr. Lockett, who followed the occupation of storekeeper, was born at Ganmain, and was married to Miss Alma Boyle, of Blackville, who survives, also a family of one son and one daughter, Bruce and Judith Lockett, both of Ganmain. Mr. Lockett is also survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lockett, and one sister, Retta Lockett, all of Ganmain.

Dr Egbert Florance, a well-known member of the Cootamundra community, spent 25 years looking after the health concerns of the residents of his adopted district. He arrived in Cootamundra about 1893 and ran his practice there until his death in 1928 at the age of 84 years.

Egbert was born in Chester, England, on March 19, 1845, the son of Dr William Florance, the Medical Officer for the Chester and Hollyhead Railway Company in England. William emigrated from London to Australia and arrived in Melbourne aboard the “California” in October 1853. Egbert and his seven siblings arrived in Geelong with their mother Eliza aboard the “Maria Hay” on 17 August 1855, two years after his father arrived in Victoria.

In 1861, at the age of sixteen years, Egbert stowed away on a small brig headed for Dunedin, New Zealand. He later claimed his medical career began when he billeted with Dr W Jackson. Prior to a 50-bed wooden hospital being built in 1863, Dr Jackson started a tent hospital, the first in Dunstan in the Otago Region of New Zealand. Egbert looked after patients and assisted in operations.

In 1863, Egbert volunteered during the Maori War and was appointed to the 3rd Regiment, Waikato Militia, Company No.8. In 1864, Cambridge on the Waikato River was founded and Egbert remained there seventeen months before he resigned from the Regiment having taken part in a number of confrontations with the Maori people.

Egbert returned to Australia at some point and married Leila Gertrude Paton in 1874 at Geelong, Victoria, and went to Avenal, then Mooroopna, to work as a doctor. In about 1881, Egbert and his family went to the United States where he enrolled in the School of Medicine at Pennsylvania University. He graduated as a Doctor of Medicine on 1 May 1884 with an Honourable Mention, having written a thesis on Snake Bite.

The Florance family returned to Australia and Egbert opened practices in Bungendore [1884], Cooma [1885-1887], Bungendore again [May 1888-1890], and Braidwood [1890-1893]. He went to practice in Cootamundra from 1893 until his death in 1928.

Compiled by June Dietrich.

References:
The Florance Family Collection, RW253 at CSU Regional Archives;
The Australian Medical Pioneers Index;
The Victorian Gazette Pharmaceutical List;
The University of Pennsylvania, catalogue and announcements, 1884-1885.

The Quilter family owned properties called 'Claris Park' and Yaralla' in the Junee area from the late 1800s.