Mr George (1st) Shelley

Tumut

Mr. R. M. Shelley, the erstwhile squire of Tumut Plains, is leaving Mosman and has decided to spend his future in the fertile Valley of Tumut, the home of his nativity.- (Ref- Cootamundra Herald (NSW : 1877 - 1954)(about) Previous issue Wednesday 3 October 1917 Next issue Previous page Page 1 )

Run details Extended from the east side of the river from Goobrangandra down to Killamicat. He established a Home stead site on the opposite side to the junction of the Gilmore Creek. His run also extended up the Gilmore Valley to the source of Gilmore Creek.

153. Shelly Wm. estate of (per Susannah M Shelley.) Name of run, Bumbowlee. Estimated area, twenty-seven thousand acres. Estimated grazing capabilities, one thousand two hundred ares

Bounded on the west by the Tumut River, commencing half a mile below Mundongaldgee hut, extending along the Tumut River to the lower end of Cockatoo; then by a tier of ranges running over to a creek called Kilmacat, crossing that creek one mile below Shelly's Kilmacat sheep station; on the north by the Pine Mountain and Wianga Range; on the east by two miles of the Brangle Creek, commencing at the Black Swamps; then by a tier of ranges extending to a flat called the Spring Sheep station; on the south a line of hills, and ranges, which separate the run from Broughton's and Whitty's runs.

George (1st) Shelley was born on the 12th October, 1812, in Parramatta, NSW. His parents were William (1st) SHELLEY & Elizabeth BEAN.

George (1st) Shelley died on the 1st May, 1852, in Melbourne, VIC.

In 1852, whilst travelling on horseback to Melbourne with Dr. Large, George (1st) Shelley contracted typhoid fever and soon after his arrival in Melbourne he died, leaving his widow Amelia at Tumut Plains with eight children. - (Ref- http://nomorebandaids.homestead.com/Untitled.html).

On the 1st September,1835, Mr George (1st) Shelley married Miss Amelia Matilda WADDY in (CB) St John's, Church of England, Parramatta. - (Ref- NSW BDM V18351111 19/1835). Amelia Matilda WADDY was born in 1817 at Sea. She was christened in December, 1817, in St. John's Church of England, Parramatta, NSW.

In 1829, Mr George (1st) Shelley settled on the "Bombowlee Run" a more extensive description of the area of land is described as: "27,000 acres bounded on the west by the Tumut River half a mile below Mondongaigee Hut, extending along Tumut River to lower end of Cookatoo, then by a tier of range running over a creek called Killamicat, crossing that creek one mile below Shelley's Killamicat Sheep Station, on the north side of the present township and the site for the church".

In 1839 George (1st) sold a half share of the land to his brother William (2nd) SHELLEY and purchased the property on the southern boundry known as Tumut Plains Run from Mr Rose.

This rural run was on the visiting list of Dr George Bennett who was naturalist doing a tour of the area. He had already called in at the Warby property at Darbarala and then at the Brungle Run and saw John Keighran on the way to the Bombowlee Run where he saw Mr George (1st) Shelley on the 9th December, 1832. That would have made it a long hard days riding as he had travelled from Darbalara. He would have only stayed a short while and rode on to the Tumut Plains Run and stayed with James Hannibal Rose.

In 1839 the two brothers purchased the neighbouring "Tumut Plains Run" from Mr Rose. Then after George's death in Melbourne his son-in-law Edward George Brown JP became the Property Manager before he and another son-in-law of George's Mr Hamelyn L Harris purchased "Wermatong" a southern section of the property.

The Shelley's built CAMELOT home stead on the property.

Proof of this purchase is in the Government Gazette dated February, 1840, where reference is made to the Shelly Brothers as owners.

Then in 1847 George (1st) submitted a set of plans to build a church, unfortunately these were never acted upon. It was ignored and in 1857, as a temporary measure, an 'Episcopalian barn' was constructed to serve the community.

A proper church was started in 1875 with the laying of a foundation stone in TUMUT Tumut "All Saints" Church of England

1. on the 1st September, 1836. Amelia Matilda SHELLEY was born to parents GEORGE (1st) & AMELIA M, in Parramatta, NSW. - (Ref- NSW BDM V1836649 20/1836)

2. 1838 Elizabeth Jane SHELLEY was born to parents GEORGE (1st) & AMELIA M. in Parramatta, NSW. - (Ref- NSW BDM V18381970 162A/1838). In 1857 she Married Mr Lawrence ROSE in Tumut. (Ref- NSW BDM 2685/1857).

3. In 1840 Georgina Frederica SHELLEY was born on the 5th July, 1840, in Yass, NSW.

4. In 1841 Florence SHELLEY was born in NSW.

5. In 1843 Tumut George (2nd) Waddy SHELLEY was born to parents GEORGE (1st) & AMELIA M. - (Ref- NSW BDM V18431413 27A/1843). Then in 1907 SHELLEY GEORGE (2nd) W born to parents GEORGE (1st) & AMELIA M died in PARRAMATTA. - (Ref- NSW BDM 6155/1907).

6. In 1844 William John SHELLEY was born to parents GEORGE (1st) & AMELIA Matilda WADDY - (Ref- NSW BDM V18441979 30A/1844). - Then in 1922 he died in PARRAMATTA. - (Ref- NSW BDM 4322/1922). GOLDEN WEDDING - 1918 - MARRIAGE - SHELLEY — MARTYR. — January 9, 1868, by the late Rev. C. J. Byng, at the residence of the late E. G. Brown, Esq., Blowering, Tumut, William John Shelley, Woonoona, Tumut, to Sara Maria, daughter of the late George Martyr, Esq., Goulburn. Present address: Rath-macknee, Smithfield. - (Ref- The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950)(about) Previous issue Wednesday 16 January 1918).

7. In 1847 Rowland (2nd) M SHELLEY ROWLAND M born to parents GEORGE (1st) & AMELIA M. - (Ref- NSW BDM V18471876 33A/1847). Then in 1933 Rowland M SHELLEY died in HORNSBY. - (Ref- NSW BDM 2057/1933).

Mr Rowland Mansfield Shelley, who died recently near Sydney, was the youngest son of the late Mr George Shelley, who was one of the first squatters in the Tumut district. He was born on July 15, 1847, at The Old Cottage, on the banks of the Goobraganbra River, Tumut Plains. Soon afterwards his parents moved to a new home on higher ground known for many years as The Plains, but now known as Camelot.

Mr Shelley was educated at Dr Wood's school, Parramatta St. Marks Collegiate School. Macquarie Fields and The King's School, Parramatta. He entered the services of the Australian Joint Stock Bank, and held positions at Wagga Wagga and Deniliquin. He then went on the land, and later became the owner of The Plains, where he lived until 1907. He was one of the first aldermen of Tumut, and was Mayor for two years. He was returning officer for 18 years, magistrate for 25 years, licensing member on the Bench for 20 years, president of Agricultural Society and Farmers' and Settlers' Association, a member of the school board, a warden at All Saints' Church of England for 25 years, and secretary and treasurer for 20 years, and Past Master of Tumut Unity Lodge of Masons. He leaves a wife and one daughter and four sons. - (Ref- The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954)(about) Previous issue Friday 13 January 1933 Page 10).

8. In 1849 Jane Antoinette SHELLEY was born to parents GEORGE (1st) & AMELIA. - (Ref- NSW BDM V18492066 34A/1849).

9. In 1851 Emily Lucy Louisa SHELLEY was born to parents GEORGE (1st) & AMELIA. - (Ref- NSW BDM V18511972 38A/1851). She married Mr Hamlyn L HARRIS in TUMUT - (Ref- NSW BDM 3586 in 1872).

1905 - Disastrous House Fire & Death at Tumut Plains. -

This report is submitted in good faith. All endeavours have been made to make all entries authentic and correct. For any corrections and additional valuable information, maps and photos you may have please contact John

154. Shelley George Name of run, Tumut Plains. Estimated area, twenty thousand acres. Estimated grazing capabilities, nine hundred cattle, or four thousand sheep. Bounded on the north by Goubaragandra Creek for eight miles; on the west by the Tumut River to where the Blowering Mountain comes into the river; on the south by Blowering Mountain, which separates my run from Whitty's ; on the east by the Bongong Mountains. - (Ref- The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954)(about) Previous issue Monday 16 October 1848).

The Tumut Country. , . (FROM OUR REPORTER.) The Tumut country is known as one of the most fertile regions of New South Wales. Situated in a mountain district, it has usually an abundance of grass and water when the less favored districts of the lower country and plains are suffering from a lack of these necessaries. In dry seasons, like the present, multitudes of sheep and cattle are driven from the lower country, and from the plains, to pasture in the abundant verdure of Tumut, and to quench their thirst at her ever-flowing streams. The prolonged drought of the present season has, however, scorched the pastures of even this district, and left her hill sides brown and sere. The seerching heat and the rainless days of the past few weeks have brought about this state of affairs, as up to that time grass was fairly abundant. The scarcity of to-day can, however, bear no comparison with the unfortunate desolation of other parts of the colony. This description is only appropriate to the hill country around Tumut, as her plains and valleys are still covered with fair pastures ; and so fertile are their soils, and so abundantly watered, that it would be hard to conceive the drought whioh would render them otherwise.

TOBACCO. CULTURE - is now the great industry of the district; and, as this crop is practically in the hands.of the Chinese, the benefits accruing to the country from the development of this industry are not as great as if white labor was employed in the business. Why the Chinese are employed so extensively in this business, is. a question I an unable to answer. The Chinaman can certainly, pay more rent for an acre of land (and, make a living out of it than a white man. A Chinaman, as a genera, rule has no family to shelter, feed, clothe, and educate; no literary tastes to satisfy; no religion to support; no political or social clubs to patronise; and attends no race meetings, balls, or parties.

He lives in a shed; works incessantly from sunrise to sunset, Sunday and Saturday; is clothed in the cheapest garments; and lives on the poorest food. Competition with such a one is beyond the power of a white man; and, therefore, the Mongolian pan afford to give more rent for his tobacco land than a white man, and, as a matter of course, drives the white man out of the field. This is, however, only one view of the ease, and does not answer my question, because there are white men (of whom Mr. E. M. Shelley is one), who will not rent to Chinese at all, and will and do rent to white men at a cheaper rate than Chinamen can obtain land.

There are others who reluctantly rent to Chinamen, and who would rent more cheaply to white men could they be obtained. And then there are thousands of acres of land in the hands of white men, which are in every way fitted for the production of any crop, but are simply used for pasture. Chinamen frequently pay as high a rent as £3 per acre for tobacco land at Tumut. Much of the land is let on the share system; and in that ease as high a price as £6 an acre is annually paid to the owners of the land as their share.

It is gratifying to be able to record that outside of the Tumut district (notably about Adelong) numbers of Europeans are entering upon the cultivation of tobacco, with every prospect of success. Indeed, why should it not be so The Chinese brought no BMH other than that acquired in this country to bear on the tobacco question; and why should not the white man learn the business as well as the Chinese? Mr. E. G. Brown (of Messrs. Brown and Harris beforenamed) buys most of the tobacco produced in the district. He considers that the total yield of tobacco in the Tumut district for the past year was about 400 tons, and that the present crop will amount to about 800 tons. About 2000 acres are at present under cultivation in the Tumut district alone and the areas in and around Adelong, Tarcutta, and the neighborhood may bring the total area up to about 3000. Speaking of

THE PRODUCTS OF TUMUT, - Mr. Brown says that they cannot be excelled. The maize of the district tops the Sydney market. But maize must touch 4s per bushel before it will pay to send it to Sydney. A considerable supply of fresh fruits would be sent to the Sydney market from the district if the railway rates permitted this to be done. But under the present arrangements the railway freights are so high as to preclude the possibility of sending fruits by this means at a profit. As an illustration of this a resident of Tumut on a recent trip to Sydney brought a small lot of apples container about four dozen as a present to a friend, and on that small quantity had to pay 6s hr freight on arrival in Sydney. That this should be the case is simply ridiculous, and calls for immediate investigation on the part of the railway authorities.