A Land Fit for Heroes?

Hugh Murray applied for his Advance on 10 January 1920.[1]  His block of 664 acres was a Homestead Farm No. 1919.8 – at Tinonee on the Manning River in the Land District of Taree, Parish of Tinonee, County of Gloucester.  He wanted to use the land for dairying and grazing taking up residence in June 1921.[2] He requested that supplies be obtained in Sydney for corrugated iron etc, instead of from a local supplier because it was cheaper to do so.  This was approved and the supplies were sent to Tinonee by the North Coast Steamer.[3]

 By 30 December 1920, Murray wasn’t living on his holding but was residing on his father’s property.[4]  On 3 December 1921, he stated that he hadn’t been aware that he was in arrears with his interest payments.  ‘It is impossible for me to pay my debts unless I know the amount of same’[5].  He was also unable to pay a survey fee of £5.10.0.  He believed that as the survey covered a small area of only 20 chains, the amount was too high.[6] On 22 December, 1922, Murray paid £25 of his overdue payments –  all he could afford at the time.  He still owed the same amount again and requested an extension of time to pay.[7]  On 29 March 1926, he applied for a revision of his indebtedness, ‘I had to put my cows away to save their lives, so things are at a standstill’[8] By 1 April 1926, as he was considered ‘a good worker and steady with good prospects’ an extension of time was recommended until 31 August 1926.  The District Inspector reported that,

 It is only the hard knocks through the dry seasons that have kept him back. Due to these conditions, he abandoned his holding temporarily and took up sleeper getting for a living.[9]

 On 21 May 1929 he applied to convert the Homestead Farm into a Conditional Purchase which was initially declined.[10]  This appears to have been put in place by April 1930 and the Homestead Farm was converted to CP 1929.55 and CL 1929.9.  On 23 May 1928, Murray applied to transfer part of his holding to Charles Isaac Chapman.[11] His advance was repaid in full on 4 June 1930.[12]

 Footnotes

[1] SRNSW:  Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files; [12/6901 No. 3046] Application for Loan 10 January 1920.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid, W.A. Miller to Deputy Commissioner 5 September 1920.

[4] Ibid, Report 4 February 1921.

[5] Ibid, Hugh Murray to the Director Soldier Settlement 3 December 1921.

[6] Ibid, Inspection Report 1 October 1924.

[7] Ibid, Hugh Murray to Under-Secretary for Lands 22 December 1925.

[8] Ibid, Inspection 29 March 1926.

[9] Ibid, District Surveyor Returned Soldier Settlement Branch to the Under-Secretary for lands, 10 April 1926

[10] Ibid, Memorandum Acting Officer in Charge of Securities, 16 May 1929.

[11] Ibid, Report  RSS Branch, April, 1930.

[12] Ibid, Under-Secretary to District Surveyor, 8 July 1930.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW:  Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files;  [12/6901 No. 3046] Hugh James Denham Murray.

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (Hugh James Denham Murray) online: http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=7990475