Matilda Wallace

Matilda Wallace
Wallace c. 1880
Born	Matilda Hill (1838-11-00)November 1838 High Ham, Somerset, England
Died	21 January 1898(1898-01-21) (aged 59)

Matilda Wallace was a 19th century pioneer Australian pastoralist. Born in High Ham, Somerset, England to Sarah and George Hill. She emigrated to Australia departing Liverpool on 31 October 1858, joining members of her family in Coromandel Valley, in the Colony of South Australia. She was a twenty-year old (dairy maid) sponsored by brother, Robert Hill. Wallace and her husband Abraham were for many years frontier sheep and cattle farmers, which she documented in a memoir.

Her early life and journey to Australia

In 1831 the Parish of High Ham, Somerset, had a population of 1,027. Matilda’s father, worked Wishiel Farm, Lot 812, in the Northeast of the parish. His farm consisted of a stone cottage, garden and 2 acres. In 1841 the rent paid to the Rector of High Ham was 7 shillings and 4 pence. George also had 10 acres in Henley, about a mile from Wishiel. He was listed as farmer in the censuses of 1841 and 1851. It is likely that he had dairy cows, sheep and possibly some crops along with peas and beans. Matilda was baptised in St Andrew’s Church of England at High Ham on 11th November 1838 a short time after her birth. She attended the village school attached to St Andrew’s until the age of 11 and at the age of 12 she was employed as a glove maker, or glover. Most glovers at the time were outworkers in their homes where they hand-stitched together the pieces they received from a manufacturer. According to the 1841 census, all five of George Hill’s children were living at Henley. In 1851 only Robert, scholar, and Matilda, glover, were at home with George and Sarah at the time of the census. Robert Hill, baptised 26/10/1834 at High Ham, stayed at school until he was 16, and then worked on the land. Matilda led a sheltered life on the farm and helped with milking. When Matilda emigrated, she was described on the passenger list as a dairy maid. Matilda Hill was the youngest child in her family. When she was born her siblings were Mary 13, Susan 12, Robert 4 and Jeffrey 1. Later she kept in touch by post with her three siblings who had migrated to Australia. After 1850 letters posted to and from England to Australia the time taken was reduced to less than 100 days. She knew why her siblings had left Somerset and how they fared in the Colony of South Australia. She decided to follow them. Prime reasons for leaving Somerset were the consolidation of farm holdings and the subsequent lack of employment opportunities. Matilda’s father’s landholding, recorded in the 1851 census, was only 10 acres, an area insufficient to support an extended family. The size of his property shown in the 1851 census was smaller than in the 1841 census. The increase in farm size resulting from consolidation decreased the number of small landholders and led to substantial poverty in the West Country, a region that includes, some, or parts of the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Bristol. Between 1840 and 1900, 434,806 people left Britain through seeking a better future. Elsmore, B.(ed) posted 14th July 2018. Many were destined for Australasia as was the case for Matilda. She travelled from High Ham to nearby Taunton to board the train to Liverpool days before she was due to embark. Family members who had previously emigrated had made the same journey in earlier years. By 1860, it wasn’t a strict custom for young women to be accompanied on rail travel, but it was common practice. Victorian society had strong expectations about female propriety and respectability and young women travelling alone, were seen as vulnerable. While chaperonage was a social norm, it was often a practical necessity on long journeys. It seems very likely that Matilda was accompanied by her father when travelling to Liverpool by train. As she later wrote in her memoir, I was the youngest of five, and always considered delicate, and the one who must be taken care of.

Matilda’s sister, Mary Elliot Hill, married Samuel Bartlett, a farm labourer. They migrated on the ship Himalaya to the Colony of South Australia in July 1849 with their daughter Emma, aged two, and a baby son, Arthur. Both children died of disease at sea. A list of the diseases onboard was reported in the Adelaide Times on the 19th November, two days after the ship had arrived. Their daughter, Sarah Emma, was born on 2nd October 1850, followed by Ann Matilda Bartlett on 27th September 1853. Once Mary and Samuel Bartlett had settled in the colony other members of the family also decided to emigrate from Somerset. Samuel’s brother, James Bartlett, and his wife Elizabeth arrived later on the Nimroud on 7th October 1852. Matilda’s brother, Robert Hill, and his wife Mary (married 29th May, 1855) also travelled on the Nimroud, arriving in February 1856. In 1857 Matilda’s other brother, Jeffrey Hill, and his wife Mary sailed on the Tantivy to join them. The families settled in Coromandel Valley, less than 20 km from the centre of Adelaide, then a town of about 15,000. Robert and Jeffrey were both sheep farmers. Emigrants were generally not allowed on board their ships until the day before, or the actual day of sailing, so this meant staying several days in a Liverpool lodging house. Matilda left Liverpool on 31st October 1858. She was listed as a nominated emigrant with her brother Robert being nominator.

She had applied for one of the assisted emigrant schemes, where the SA government financed her passage. Such schemes were designed to populate the colony and provide much needed labour. Of the 156 young women on the passenger list most were domestic servants in their early twenties, so Matilda would have had companions with a similar background.

The Liverpool dock area was a busy hub for maritime activity. It dominated global trade by the early 19th century and was by far the busiest port in the UK. The Albert Dock Opened in 1846 and the speed with which ships unloaded and turned around was cut in half. It was an area in which emigrants were often a target for various types of crime and probably the main reason why Matilda was escorted. Emigrants, like Matilda, travelled in the cheapest accommodation, known as the steerage. This was similar to a dormitory with bunks down the sides and tables in the centre. Cabins were usually situated in the rear of the main deck. Steerage passengers were housed below decks in cramped, noisy, damp conditions. Single women were housed in one area, single men often had hammocks towards the back of the ship and married couples and families were accommodated in-between. It was frequently overcrowded with poor ventilation. The journey to Australia was long and often monotonous. Passengers were encouraged to get plenty of exercise and spend as much time as possible on deck. inclement weather meant that passengers were often forced to spend much of their time below deck. Emigrating in a sailing ship could be unpleasant, particularly during a storm. Seasickness was a particular problem on the early part of the journey when passengers were as yet unused to sea travel. Diseases such as cholera and typhus frequently reached epidemic proportion as infection spread through the confined decks. Each morning passengers were required to rise early and stow their bedding. Because of the risk of disease, and the need to keep all areas dry, they were required to clean their quarters thoroughly. Even so, there were four deaths during Matilda’s passage out to Australia. Meals were regulated at different times throughout the day. The diet for steerage passengers was very plain and included ship’s biscuits, bread, oatmeal, fresh meat from livestock slaughtered on the ship and salted beef, rice, potatoes, tinned carrots and dried peas.

A general description of the journey taken in 1839 by John Archibald Little, later related to the Hill family by marriage, follows: The journeys long, dangerous and challenging, especially for children. The Littles lost their baby, Isobel, on the voyage out to Australia. Even in calm weather sailing ship might take as long as four months. Sailing through the equatorial waters of the Atlantic, passengers experienced hot and humid conditions. Ships sailing around the Cape of Good Hope encountered high winds and rough seas. The trip across the Indian Ocean is powered by the roaring forties that have strong, and often gale-force, winds throughout the year. Passengers lived in cramped, crowded, unsanitary and uncomfortable conditions with poor food. For steerage passengers, life aboard ship, was characterised by poor hygiene and a lack of privacy for ablutions with limited access to fresh water and open toilet facilities. Washing facilities were also communal and basic, often involving buckets of seawater and limited access to fresh water.

During severe storms in the Southern Ocean passengers were confined below, sometimes for days, sick and tossed around, often in complete darkness, and fearing for their lives, as water swept across the decks. Anne Grafton, who migrated from England in the same year as Matilda, wrote: Our water barrels were rolling from side to side and our cans, teapots and cooking utensils were adding to the confusion by bouncing one after the other down the area between the bunks. Journeys to Australia. The barque North, owned by Boyd and Company, was built in Quebec in 1855, dimensions 192.6’ x 36.6’ x 22.9’. Its first trip from Liverpool to Adelaide departed from Liverpool on November 1 1858. It arrived in Adelaide on January 28, 1859. The 1,238 tons North carried a full complement of passengers, including Mrs. Boyd and Dr. D.B. North, with the surgeon-superintendent in the cabin and 51 young married couples with 34 boys and 49 girls including 15 babies, five of whom were born on ship, 74 single men, 156 single women. . Captain Boyd junior logged the 87-day journey as follows. On Monday, the 1st November, she was towed by the Resolute, steam-tug, down St. George's Channel, and in 23 hours was clear of the Tuskar Lighthouse, and fairly upon her passage; and, while in the British waters, Captain Boyd had several opportunities of noticing the benefits derived from the introduction into the mercantile marine of the new Admiralty signal-lights for sailing vessels, as, on seeing a vessel's lights at night, by their colour or position they indicate the tack the vessel was on, as well as the course she was heading, sufficiently well to avoid collision. The first seven days of the passage were favourable, but unfortunately an interval of 14 days then occurred in the Bay of Biscay with scarcely a breath of wind to give the vessel steerageway. On Saturday, the 21st, made the island of Fuerteventura (located 97 km from the coast of North Africa), and in the same day passed the grand Canary Island and the Peak of Tenerife, the latter of which was seen at a distance computed to be 100 miles. While passing between those islands and the African coast a very handsome land bird, very similar to a canary, flew on board, was secured, and in company with two others now graces the ship's cabin, being quite as tame as its companions. No incident of importance occurred until the 21st, when the N.E. trade winds were entered on. On December 1 overtook and passed a smart looking American whaling barque and a very taunt brig, but neither of them having signals, their numbers were not procured. The Equinox was crossed on the 3rd December, with strong trade winds, in 24°10'west longitude, and on the 10th the island of Trinidad was sighted, distant, about 12 leagues. Next day passed the tropic in 28°10'west; and the following day in lat.24°59', longitude 26°13'west, saw the ship New Union, from Valparaiso, homeward bound; but from the distance the ships were from each other, it was impossible to communicate by signals, although Captain Boyd was anxious to be reported. On December 20th, in 35°3'south, 13°6'west, spoke a very fine American vessel named the Juan Fernandez, bound from New York to Melbourne, 52 days out; and on the same day a Dutch barque hove in sight, with sailing qualities so nearly a match for the North that the vessels were within signalling distance for several days, although ultimately the North left her behind, bound to Valparaiso. On December 26th, in 37°53'south lat,1°1'east long, saw a very long vessel, but could not ascertain her name, although it was supposed to be the Lady Clarendon. On January 1st the Cape of Good Hope was doubled, and since that time a favourable run was made to near the Kangaroo Island, when, from the inferiority of the charts and their not indicating a strong northerly set from the Great Australian Bight, the vessel's passage was protracted at least two days longer than it would have been had Captain Boyd been furnished with charts corrected to Captain Douglas's late surveys. On nearing the island, the Cape Borda light (from the lighthouse, built in 1858, located on Kangaroo Island to guide ships travelling along the Roaring Forties trade route heading into the Investigator Strait towards Port Adelaide) excited the admiration of all on board who saw its brilliance, and it was affirmed that it was equal to any light on the coast of Great Britain. Register 31/1/1859 Matilda Elliot Hill arrived in Port Adelaide on 28th January 1859 and was met by her brother, Robert, and went to Coromandel Valley less than 20 km from the centre of Adelaide, then a town of about 15,000, to meet her sister Mary, brother-in-law Samuel, and her nieces, Ann Matilda and Mary Elliot. She stayed with her sister Mary and brother Robert. While in Coromandel Valley, Matilda became acquainted with Australian farming on the sheep properties of Robert and Jeffrey. Matilda travelled around the colony for about two and a half years and finally settled in Mt Gambier in early 1861 where she met her future husband. Abraham Wallace, the youngest son of Jeremiah and Anne Wallace, was born in 1828. At the age of sixteen he emigrated from Ireland with his parents and two brothers, Jeremiah, and John, arriving in Australia on 24th November 1850 on the Joseph Somes. The Wallaces kept a shop and were well known in Mt Gambier. Abraham first settled at Mt Gambier but went to the Victorian goldfields before returning to the Southeast where he met Matilda. Matilda and Abraham were married at Weshill, the residence of Anne Wallace, on 9th December 1861 by the Reverend J. Sheldon. The couple stayed in Mt Gambier for 18 months. During that time Matilda helped in the Wallace’s shop and the couple suffered the loss of their first child, a boy. .

From this time, they may be regarded some of South Australia’s earliest European settlers and pastoralists (Nicholas, 2000, p.3). In her memoir Matilda later reflected on her arrival: I, then a girl of twenty-one, having left my native land (Somersetshire), father and mother. What for? I used often to ask myself.

Sheep and cattle farming

In 1863, Matilda and her husband, Abraham Wallace, departed from Mount Gambier with a wagon, two horses, bedding, and provisions to search for land in Queensland. Their journey led them to Mount Murchison, 16 kilometres from Wilcannia on the Darling River, where they briefly opened a store. Due to governmental entry restrictions for livestock into Queensland, they returned to Adelaide. A year later, they returned to the Barrier region of the Colony of New South Wales with two men, 25 horses, 1,400 sheep, and supplies for 18 months. They intended to settle at the frontier of white settlement. In early January 1864, they squatted on land in New South Wales to the north east of Boolcoomatta. They entered a nomadic phase, moving throughout the Fowlers Gap area to meet their livestock's need for water and feed. Despite the arid climate, wool production proved economically viable.

The Wallaces were some of the earliest settlers in the region, with a pastoral run, Sturts Meadows, located approximately 110 kilometres north of Broken Hill. The property was formally leased in September 1869 and the prior occupant, squatter George Raines, displaced.

The main water source at Sturts Meadows was the intermittent Caloola Creek, thus the Wallaces had to frequently relocate during droughts, seeking water at locations such as Cobham Lake returning after it rained. Matilda managed the property independently during her husband's frequent absences, relying on Aboriginal people and others such as the teenage Blore brothers, Fred and George, for assistance. Frederick Blore and family had migrated from England in 1851 and were among the first to move to the Barrier Region. Matilda tells of her stay on the opposite side of the lake to where the Cobham Lake Hotel was later built by George Blore. There is still evidence of where she was at the site, including a well formed spherical underground tank. The lake was also home to the Malayngapa people. In her memoir, Matilda noted the serious threat dingoes posed to the sheep she shepherded. They target the outliers from the flock, chase, panic and kill them.

The carrying capacity of Sturts Meadows was about one sheep per 50 acres (20 ha).The vegetation is mainly saltbush (Atriplex semibaccata) and bluebush (Mariana sp.) with scattered mulga (Acacia aneura) and belah (Casuarina cristata), river red gums (Eucalpytus camaldulensis) along ephemeral creeks and a variety of low growing grasses. The climate is typical of an arid region with fairly mild winters and hot summers and low and variable rainfall, averaging about 10 inches (250mm) per annum.

Wallace gave birth to a daughter, Mary Ann Sarah Wallace, on January 28, 1871, at Menindee. Pregnant again, she travelled to Adelaide late in 1872 for family support, giving birth to Alfred Abey Tom Whitfield Wallace, on January 24, 1873. Both children were baptized at Holy Trinity Church, the first Anglican Church in Adelaide. After her son died, she began writing her memoir, "Twelve Years' Life in Australia, from 1859 to 1871", which was typeset and posthumously deposited in the Adelaide Public Library.

Abraham Wallace secured a lease for a cattle-run in the Northern Territory, establishing Elsey Station in 1881.

After retiring in 1884, Wallace re-joined his wife and bought a substantial home at Reynella, The Braes, designed by the eminent Adelaide architect, Sir Charles S Kingston, and built in 1868. Shortly after, he died by his own hand after an accident.Abraham had died intestate and Matilda was appointed administratrix. Matilda was left to oversee two properties, Elsey River Station and Sturts Meadows, each having a resident manager. The Elsey property was sold several years after Abraham's death but Matilda still owned property in NSW in 1891.

In 1892, Matilda sold her home and moved to a rented cottage at Port Adelaide to be closer to family. Following a period of illness, starting in 1896, she moved in with her daughter, living at Largs Bay, South Australia, where she died on January 21, 1898, at the age of 60. She was buried in St. Jude's Cemetery, Brighton, with her husband and granddaughter in Section A, Grave No106. Probate for her substantial estate was granted in Melbourne on 15 August 1898.

Matilda is a recognised Barrier region pioneer settler. A silhouette statue stands near Sturts Meadows Station and a Matilda Wallace Barrier Ranges Lookout is located at Lat: -31.386975 Lng: 141.611988.

Memoir

In 1922, A. T. Saunders, with the help of John Lewis who had met Matilda at Mingary, South Australia in 1867, identified her as the author of an anonymous memoir previously posthumously deposited in the Adelaide Public Library. Mr Lewis also paid a tribute to the wonderful pluck of the woman. It is a big thing to say, but it is questionable whether the annals of the Australian bush reveal a more courageous character among the women pioneers, than was Mrs Abraham Wallace. Her self-told story is indeed an inspiration. Her memoir recounts her experiences since arriving in Australia and was retold and later reprinted in the Mt Gambier South Eastern Times in 1927. Her biographical account has been included in various collections and cited in publications. The original booklet is held at the Holdfast Bay History Centre, Brighton SA together with local history relating to Abraham and Matilda. Although Matilda attended school only until the age of eleven, her memoir is articulate. She wrote: Five days after we had a delightful thunderstorm and rain, which I may say saved our lives, for the extreme heat and privations were telling on us and our animals. The rain filled all the water holes, but was not sufficient to make the feed grow, though it freshened up the dry bushes. She is recognised in the Pioneer Women's Room of the Milparinka Courthouse and History Centre and a photograph archived in the South Australian library collection. A studio photograph of Matilda, her daughter Annie and husband Abraham was taken by Townsend Duryea, Adelaide, about 1877.