A Land Fit for Heroes?

George Kennedy in uniform - photograph kindly donated by his grand-son Richard Kennedy.

George Kennedy took up a Western Land Lease No. 2853 consisting of 17,142 acres. The property named Yelty was in the County of Manara, Balranald Land District. The lease was gazetted in the NSW Government Gazette 6 August 1920.[1] It was approximately 150 miles from Balranald and was considered to be a home maintenance area.[2] Because of the distance between the property and the township, someone from Ivanhoe was asked to report on George Kennedy’s proposed improvements on his property, as Ivanhoe was closer to Yelty than Balranald.[3] The Manager of Kilfera Station, Mr. A. N. Butler agreed to undertake the inspection of the Lease.

SRNSW: Western Lands Commission, Western Land Lease, K257446 WLL 2853

In a letter dated 26 July 1920, George Kennedy stated that he required the £625 Advance for water and fencing. ‘Kindly send someone to report as soon as possible as I am idle in the mean time and losing time and money’.[4]

George Kennedy’s loan was approved by 22 December 1920.[5]

By November 1926,  George Kennedy was behind in his repayments and requested an extension of time for six months so that he could catch up. He wrote, ‘I am just making a start with some sheep of my own which has made me very short of money’.[6] By July 1927, it was reported that he had not repaid any of his principal Class A Advance money amounting to £442.4.0 plus £64.2.7 interest.[7] He was given an extension of time to meet his debts. According to the file, the Western Lands Board was critical of his management of the property. Permission was given for him to sell his Lease by Auction.[8]

In December 1928, transfer to M.C. & W. Wilkinson was proposed with the Contract of Sale being prepared.[9] Once the sale was settled the overdue RSS Advance was then to be repaid in full – this was done on 30 October 1929.[10]

George Kennedy's grave site - Condobolin Roman Catholic Cemetery - Members of the Kennedy family paying their respects to their grand-father when the RSL placed the marble head-stone on the grave - photograph kindly donated by his grand-son Richard Kennedy.

Footnotes

[1] NSW Government Gazette No. 143, p. 4681.

[2] SRNSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers Settlement loan files; [12/7047 No. 4821], Department of Repatriation to Director of RSS Branch, 20 July 1920.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid, George Kennedy to Secretary Department of Repatriation, 26 July 1920.

[5] Ibid, Department of Repatriation to Director of RSS Branch Abt. 21 March 1921.

[6] Ibid, George Kennedy to RSS Branch, 5 November 1926.

[7] Ibid, RSS Branch, annotation on Letter from Western Land Board Office to Under Secretary for Lands, 18 July 1927.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid, Western Land Board to Under Secretary for Lands 12 December 1928.

[10] Ibid,  Department of Lands Memorandum 8 November 1929.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers Settlement loan files; [12/7047 No. 4821] George Kennedy.

SRNSW: Western Lands Commission, Western Land Lease, K257446 WLL 2853.

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (George Kennedy) online: http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=6950509&I=1&SE=1