Obituaries Australia

George Mulholland, n.d.

from Pastoral Review, 15 January 1913

One of the old pioneers of the Murrumbidgee, Mr. George James Mulholland, died at Brisbane Water, N.S.W., last month. Born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1848, he came to Australia in 1856 with his parents, who settled for some years in the Picton district, N.S.W.

In the early sixties, the family moved to the Wagga district, and took up Rosewood Park, on the Murrumbidgee. Later on Mr. Mulholland occupied Overdale, six miles from Junee, on the northern end of Oura, then owned by Messrs. W. and J. Rand, and from whom he purchased it in 1880.

Oura was then a cattle station, but Mr. Mulholland, recognising even then in its unimproved state the suitability of the property for raising high-class Merinos, purchased some ewes from Round Hill Station, and rams of pure Bayly blood from Havilah Station. In 1891, to increase density, some Coonong stud sheep were purchased, and the success of the Oura sheep at the Sydney, Melbourne, Wagga, Albury, Cootamundra, Junee, and Gundagai shows testifies to the soundness of his judgment and the success that attended his efforts.

Early in 1905, Mr. Mulholland's health failed. He purchased some property in Manly, near Sydney, and lived there for four years, then buying another property on Brisbane Water, Woy Woy, resided there up to the time of his death. His faith in Merino sheep as the most certain means of wealth production was unbounded, and one of his last requests to his two eldest sons was that they should continue to maintain the stud flock.

In politics he was conservative, and the soundness of his views was borne out by the respect and regard in which he was always held by his employees. Mr. Mulholland was a prominent member of the Wagga Show Committee for many years, and was keenly interested in all matters likely to improve pastoral conditions.

He was twice married, and his second wife survives him. He leaves four sons and one daughter, amongst whom he five years ago divided Oura.