River Farm

DESCRIPTION

NameRiver FarmAlternative NamePanuaraTypeFarmResidenceDescriptionSir William McMillan was one of the ‘fathers’ of Australian federation. He was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1887, elected to the Australasian Federal Convention of 1897-98, knighted in 1901 for his work on this committee, and elected to represent the federal seat of Wentworth, in the House of Representatives at the first federal election in 1901.

In 1900, McMillan bought 590 acres of land, a short buggy ride away from Albion Park, for £6000, and named the property 'River Farm'. The property was bordered on the south by the Macquarie Rivulet.

McMillan’s daughter Constance, married Wollongong Solicitor Ernest W Owen in 1910. They became the parents of famed gun inventor, Evelyn Owen, whose Owen Submachine Gun saved thousands of Australian lives during the Second World War. As a young man, Evo lived in a hut at the foot of Macquarie Pass and worked on the prototype for his famous Owen Gun at Brewster’s Garage, Albion Park.

In 1922, Sir William suffered great tragedy, when his son Gibson, for whom he had bought 'River Farm', died of Dengue fever while in New Guinea. Gibson’s death deeply saddened his father who was 72 years old at the time.

In the book Good Iron Mac by Peter M Gunnar, Sir William McMillan’s granddaughter Chloe described her Grandfather, Sir William, at 'River Farm' -

‘He used to set off early in the morning for the river – about a mile away – turned out rather like an old fashioned safari hunter, complete with riding breeches and leggings, a linen jacket, solar topee around which was draped (this is the touch which always fascinated me) a cotton-mesh fly veil. Gold rimmed pince-nez glasses, secured by a fine black silk cord to the button of the upper pocket on his jacket, completed the picture as he made off for a day’s fishing, ‘far from the madding crowd’. He always settled down at the same spot, isolated amid great clumps of maidenhair fern, rod in one hand and a volume of the works of Plutarch in the other…I never remember his ever having brought back to the house even the tiniest fish. That was not, I imagine, his ambition.’

‘Although the troubles of his later years would have embittered a more ordinary character, his optimism and his faith kept him full of charity and goodwill and he never lost the saving grace of wit and humour, and through these he could irradiate the most depressing conditions. It was always a pleasure to have him come home and hear his cheerful voice, and whoever was in the house ran to greet and welcome him’.

John Stubbs was the coach driver for the McMillan family, and drove Sir William to and from the station at Albion Park Rail, on his trips to and from Sydney for work. John’s son Lew Stubbs, recalled the annual McMillan Christmas party, when Sir William organised races and games for the children all day, and at night dressed up as Santa Claus and handed out presents to the 'River Farm' workers and families, on the verandah of the home. When Lew was a boy, it was his job to collect the mail each morning from Tongarra Post Office, and take it to Albion Park on his bike. Lew supposed Lady McMillan and her girls’ mail kept the post office open for business at Tongarra.

George Langely managed 'River Farm' for the McMillan family. He took milk from the farm to the ICCD factory at Albion Park Rail each day for payment. One day he noticed a group of men at the railway station, each holding a suitcase; they had come to work on dairy farms in the area. Samuel Horton was one of the workers, and his allocated farmer didn't arrive at the station to pick him up, so George brought him back to work at River Farm.

George and his wife Florence treated Samuel as a working member of the family. Samuel enlisted in the World War One, and married his childhood sweetheart from England while serving. They returned to Australia in 1919 and lived at Stockyard Mountain, where they had three boys. In 1923, Sam suffered a fatal illness, and died in hospital with George at his side. With the help of the Langley’s, Sam’s widow Jenny, was able to set up a small shop in Terry Street, and carried on the business for 50 years, until her death aged 84.

'River Farm' was later renamed 'Panuara', and farmed by Mrs E Manion.

External LinkA Model Farm 1904Fodder Conservation 1935Panuara, Residence of ME Manion, Tongarra 1936Woman Competition Twice Runner-up in Championship 1937Solidly Built Silos 1937Mrs Manion Repeats Success of 1936Her Hair - A Story Beneath the Christmas Bush 1936

'River Farm' c.1920.

CONNECTIONS

CollectionPlacesFamilyMcMillanHortonLangleyStubbsOwenLocalityTongarraPersonWhitfield, Thomas Daniel SweenyRelated Item'River Farm' Cash Book No. 1, Tongarra, Albion Park Last edited by: Will Chittick

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River Farm