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...do YOUR families link back to first South Australian wheat growers?
Christina and Donald McLEAN from Scotland 1837
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 1863 - 1949 (86 years)
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| Name |
James Thomas GEMMELL |
- James Thomas Gemmell
BIRTH 27 Jul 1863
Strathalbyn, Alexandrina Council, South Australia, Australia
DEATH 14 Aug 1949 (aged 86)
Adelaide, Adelaide City, South Australia, Australia
BURIAL
Centennial Park Cemetery
Pasadena, Mitcham City, South Australia, Australia
PLOT General, Path 6 Grave 305
MEMORIAL ID 151188125 · View Source
MEMORIAL
PHOTOS 0
FLOWERS 0
ll of his education was at the Hahndorf Academy. Elder brother Bill took him in a horse and dray as far as Mt Barker and left bags of wheat for grinding at Dunn's Mill. When Jim Gemmell came home, he walked and hoped that the dray would not be too far down the track.
School finished, Jim worked for Harrold Brothers merchant and shipping agents in Hindley Street. However, he soon left for outdoor work on Peter Waite's Far North properties, 'Mutooroo' and 'Paratoo' near Cockburn. Later, young Gemmell managed 'Mundi Mundi' belonging to Strathalbyn pioneer Edward Stirling whose merino stud 'Highland Valley' adjoined 'Springfield'. Jim also oversaw Arcoona Station, before buying three neighbouring properties north of Pt Augusta - 'McDouall Peak', 'the Tiers' and 'Mt Eba'. Together, these reputedly formed the largest sheep run in South Australia. Jim Gemmell retired various to Adelaide, Oakbank and Swan Reach. An experienced JP, he often heard interesting cases at the Woodside local court after Oakbank race meetings.
THE ADVERTISER 12 NOVEMBER 1945
SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE
JIM Gemmell is of hardy stock. When the hills country was opened for selection, his father. Thomas Gemmell, walked in 1850 from Kapunda to a place which he named Gemmells, six miles from Strathalbyn. He went twice to Bllarat diggings, got a bit of gold, and returned and farmed at Gemmells. At the start be reaped 40 bushels of wheat to the acre, and got 18/ a bushel for it. The property is now owned by his grandsons; their father, William Barr Gemmell, died last year. Young Gemmell left school to go into Harrold Bros., in Hindley street. Adelaide, for half a crown a week, but he did not stay there long. He was a boy when he went to Elder and Waite's Paratoo Station, when It extended from the other side of Terowie to near Cockburn, and included Mutooroo. Panaramitee was also part of Paratoo, "They shore 400,000 sheep then," Mr. Gemmell told me. "There were three sheds with 64 shearers in each, and in a good year the clip was 10,000 bales. I have seen some big rains at Paratoo?seven inches in a night. Jack Binney and I were sleeping in a room at the bachelors' hall when John Angus came over and told us to get out. I was sheep overseer at Mutooroo before Broken Hill was" discovered."
ON MUNDI MUNDI
MR. GEMMELL said my recent notes about Mundi Mundl brought back old memories, because he left Mutooroo to go there as sheep overseer for Stirling, Bart and Go, and eventually became manager. He had always been under the impression that Mundi Mundi was a Greek name. The blacks called it Oondalinna (salt water in a creek). "Ned Whiting ran cattle only on it," he went on. "He had a terrible bereavement there. One of the children got diphtheria, and he made for the nearest doctor at the Burra. When he bad gone 70 miles along the track the child died. He turned back, and when be got home two others were lying dead. They were all buried at Mundi Mundi. There were no flying doctors then. Years later Hart and Horn bought the place and converted it into sheep. Some of their friends sent them a Christmas card, with a heart over a pair of bullock's horns, and the owners registered this as their brand, a very striking brand, too. Then Stirling joined them, and Christie Wade, who had been general manager of Paratoo, became travelling manager for Stirling, Hart & Co.
TO THE NOKTH-WEST
JIM Gemmell left Mundi Mundl to manage Arcoona. north west of Port Augusta, for the Queensland Mortgage Company, an English concern. The leases expired, the company withdrew from the country, he applied for them and got them?nearly 2,000 square miles. The company shore up to 75,000 sheep. He sold Arcoona to John Pick, and bought Mount Eba and McDounall Peak, which went out to take Phillipson (2,000 square miles). "Price Maurice used to shear 80,000 sheep at Mt. Eba, but wild dogs came in and settled them," he said. "I saw 2.5 in. of rain fall there in 25 minutes once. I had 5,000 cattle on the place, and have seen them live for 12 months on the squashy parakylia without having any water. It does not seem to grow very much south below Oakden Hills. I sold Mt. Eba to Bill Jacob, of Kadina, and his sons got it when they came back from the war. I then bought the old Johnston home at Oakbank, lived there for seven years, and then sold the property to Roy Kidman. Barry Slade brought an English contractor up to Oakbank one Sunday, and after walking round the homestead he declared that it was built as well as any he had seen in Australia.
HE RACED HORSES
MR. Gemmell was always food of a good thoroughbred. He raced Frannac, Sweet Ella, Narjiu, Tully. Mt. Eba, and Lord Lenhut; his trainers were Tom Kelly, Peter Timmens and Jack Cody. One of the oldest Justices of the Peace in SA, he often sat on the bench at Woodside, and heard some interesting cases after the Oakbank races. He sat on the bench for 15 years at Swan Reach.
GOOD OLD DAYS
JIM Gemmell would like to live again the good old days of bit holdings and small taxation when squatters and men were all happy. "It is no good cutting low rain fall country into small holdings, because you cannot make a success of it." he said "If Sir Sidney Kidman had not had the sense to get a string of stations from the gulf country to Cockburn be probably would have been ruined.
Contributor: Doug Hooper (47401292) ? d.hooper@internode.on.net
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| Suffix |
Justice of Peace |
| Born |
27 Jul 1863 |
Long Valley SA  [1] |
| Gender |
Male |
| Biography Notes |
1880's |
Port Augusta SA [2] |
GEMMELL, James McDouall Peak was taken up in the early 1880s by H. J. Richman north of and adjoining Mount Eba station. On the property was a peak named in honour of John McDouall Stuart, the explorer who made it through the large dry countryside from south to north. W.F. McArthur was the first manager and like so many, took up the first most vital task of well sinking, with success which enabled him to run cattle. The next manager was W.J. Bowman (nephew of James Bowman), Richman?s general manager. Sheep were run on McDouall Peak, but due to the low price of wool, distance and cost of carting and the wild dogs a great many losses were incurred. ?Just before the expiration of the leases, [1888] J.W. Kingsmill bought all the cattle and travelled them down to Port Augusta and disposed of them to John Brennan. ?Richman abandoned the place and for several years a Government caretaker was the sole occupant. About 1912, David Fulton obtained a lease of the place and stocked it with cattle, but he only held it for a short time, then sold his stock and country to James Gemmell, who subsequently bought the Mount Eba country from Collins Brothers. Thus McDouall?s Peak and Mount Eba became amalgamated and Gemmell lived at the latter place for some years. A few years ago, he sold to Jacob Brothers ? four returned soldiers, three of whom are still in occupation.
Observer, 29-3-1924, p. 18. ?North and North-West of Port Augusta
SOURCE; KINDLY provided with permission from Judy Johnson of Murrum SA 04.03.2022 |
- Observer, 29-3-1924, p. 18. ?North and North-West of Port Augusta
SOURCE; KINDLY provided with permission from Judy Johnson of Murrum SA 04.03.2022
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| Biography Notes |
1924 |
Mt Eba SA |
SOURCE; KINDLY provided with permission from Judy Johnson of Murrum SA 04.03.2022 GEMMELL, James
Mount Eba and McDouall Peak. James had been manager of Arcoona Station prior to taking up his own stations around 1924. Observer, 29-3-1924, p. 18. ?North and North-West of Port Augusta? |
- SOURCE; KINDLY provided with permission from Judy Johnson of Murrum SA 04.03.2022
Observer, 29-3-1924, p. 18. ?North and North-West of Port Augusta?
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| Biography Notes |
14 Aug 1949 |
Adelaide SA |
ACTIVE PASTORAL LIFE
After having enjoyed that wonderful pageant which went through Adelaide on Saturday, I went to the Botanic Hotel to see Mr. and Mrs. James Gemmell. I was pleased to see our old pastoral friend looking so well at 81. Fifteen years ago he bought from Mr. Richard Dawes "Kooloola" a Swan Reach property of 8,000 acres, with four miles of frontage to the River Murray. He has leased this to Mr. Edwin Rogers (brother of Syd, of the SA Farmers' Union). 'I have got too old to knock about the outside country now, because I cannot get about too much," said Mr. Gemmell, whose memory is as good as ever it was. "It took me a long time to get over the water business. In all the dry country I had lived in, every bit of water had to be drawn out of deep wells. What a marvellous stream the River Murray is. Adelaide will never have a reliable water supply until they bring it from the Murray. After all the years of drought, I would sooner have tea made from the river water; than from water out of a galvanised iron tank." Mr. Gemmell declares that the river country is healthy for man and beast. It grows good wool too. Before he sold his sheep three or four years ago, they cut 13 lb. of clean wool. |
- SOURCE; KINDLY provided with permission from Judy Johnson of Murrum SA 04.03.2022
Observer, 29-3-1924, p. 18. ?North and North-West of Port Augusta?
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| Died |
14 Aug 1949 |
Strathalbyn SA [3, 4, 5] |
| Buried |
15 Aug 1949 |
Strathalbyn SA |
| Person ID |
I-8549 |
Christina and Donald McLean |
| Last Modified |
4 Feb 2022 |
| Father |
Thomas GEMMELL, b. 1819, Scotland UK , d. 9 Jun 1897, Strathalbyn SA (Age 78 years) |
| Relationship |
-2702 |
| Mother |
Elizabeth b1831 INGLIS, b. 1831, Scotland UK , d. 22 Feb 1904, Strathalbyn SA (Age 73 years) |
| Relationship |
-2702 |
| Married |
1855 |
Woodside SA [6] |
| Family ID |
F-2702 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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| Documents
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Adelaide Newsprint Sudden death-:-17 Jun 1941 UNA GEMMELL wife of James Thomas Gemmell |
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TROVE; THE CHRONICLE 19 Jun 1941 page21 FaAMILY NOTICES:-On 17 June at Adelaide (suddenly) Una beloved wife of James Gemmell Kooloola Swan Beach. |
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James Gemmell in the Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950 Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950No Name:James Gemmell Marriage Date:16 Jun 1891 Marriage Place: Res of Rev Reynolds Adelaide, South Australia Registration Place:Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Father:Thomas Gemmell Spouse: Mary McCormack Spouse Father: John McCormack Page Number:1178 Volume Number:167 |
| Headstones |
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HS In loving memoryof Una beloved wife of James Gemmell Died 16 buried 18th June 1941 aged 65 years also James beloved husband of above died 15th buried 16th Aug 1949 aged 84 years |
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| Sources |
- [S-75] BDM SA, https://www.genealogysa.org.au/index.php?option=com_search&Itemid=32, 16 Jun 2017 Researcher Lorna McLean.
James Thomas GEMMELL Birth Date: 1863, July 27
Father: Thomas GEMMELL Mother: Elizabeth INGLIS
Birth Place/Residence: Long ValleySA Book/Page: 29/263
- [S-75] BDM SA, 04.03.2022 Researcher Lorna Mclean.
GEMMELL, James
McDouall Peak was taken up in the early 1880s by H. J. Richman north of and adjoining Mount Eba station. On the property was a peak named in honour of John McDouall Stuart, the explorer who made it through the large dry countryside from south to north. W.F. McArthur was the first manager and like so many, took up the first most vital task of well sinking, with success which enabled him to run cattle. The next manager was W.J. Bowman (nephew of James Bowman), Richman?s general manager. Sheep were run on McDouall Peak, but due to the low price of wool, distance and cost of carting and the wild dogs a great many losses were incurred. ?Just before the expiration of the leases, [1888] J.W. Kingsmill bought all the cattle and travelled them down to Port Augusta and disposed of them to John Brennan. ?Richman abandoned the place and for several years a Government caretaker was the sole occupant. About 1912, David Fulton obtained a lease of the place and stocked it with cattle, but he only held it for a short time, then sold his stock and country to James Gemmell, who subsequently bought the Mount Eba country from Collins Brothers. Thus McDouall?s Peak and Mount Eba became amalgamated and Gemmell lived at the latter place for some years. A few years ago, he sold to Jacob Brothers ? four returned soldiers, three of whom are still in occupation.
- [S-75] BDM SA, https://www.genealogysa.org.au/index.php?option=com_search&Itemid=32, 14 Oct 1027 Researcher Lorna McLean.
GEMMELLGiven Names:James Thomas Date of Birth:27-Jul-1863 Gender:M Father:Thomas GEMMELL Mother:Elizabeth INGLIS Birth Residence:Long Valley District: Strathalbyn SA Book/Page:29/263
GEMMELL First Names:James Thomas Death Date:15-Aug-1949 Age:84 Marital Status:M Place of Death: Adelaide Residence:Adelaide Book/Page:744/4269
- [S-111] DIGGER DISCS Births SA 1842-1906, (SAGHS), DIGGER South Australian Births 1842-1906 (c) SAGHS, 05.02.2022 Researcher Lorna Mclean.
confirmed on both Digger records and SAGHS
Surname:GEMMELL First Names: James Thomas Death Date:15-Aug-1949 Age:84 Gender: M Marital Status: M Place of Death: Adelaide SA Residence:Adelaide
Relative:Not Recorded District:Adelaide SA Book/Page:744/4269
- [S-10] Headstone detail transcription, Headstone detail transcription, 05.02.2022 Researcher Lorna Mclean.
Engraving on headstone indicates (with no other reference until we identified her maiden name) her death date as 14 Aug 1949
- [S-75] BDM SA, https://www.genealogysa.org.au/index.php?option=com_search&Itemid=32, 11 Oct 2017 Researcher Lorna McLean.
MARRIED;1848 RegNo:7/157 GROOM:GEMMELL,Thomas BRIDE:INGLIS,Elisabeth at AdelaideSA
- [S-75] BDM SA, https://www.genealogysa.org.au/index.php?option=com_search&Itemid=32, 14 Oct 1027 Researcher Lorna McLean.
James Thomas Gemmell In MyHeritage Family Trees Name James Thomas Gemmell Birth July 27 1863 Long Valley, South Australia Marriage June 16 1891 Res of Rev Reynolds Adelaide, South Australia Death Aug 16 1949 Adelaide, South Australia
- [S-111] DIGGER DISCS Births SA 1842-1906, (SAGHS), READ TO ME OVER THE PHONE, 04.02.2022 Researcher Lorna McLean.
Details read to me over the phone of BDM dates and places-I have entered them directy to the cells. With the exception of Mary nee McCormacks fathers name being John McCormack//choosing not to add another profile with so little content
Regards to Mary Una and John James GEMMELLs marriage DIGGER DISCS 1842-1906 OFF THEY WERE MARRIED IN THE RESIDENCE of Revd Reynolds 16.06.1891 they were both listed as single at the time.
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