Obituaries Australia

Mr. Benjamin Henry Beaven, of Booboorowie, S.A., died at the Burra on 31st July, after a long illness. Mr. Beaven was born at Calne, Wiltshire, England, and in 1875, when only a boy of 18, came to South Australia to seek his fortune. He immediately went inland, and his first position was gaining colonial experience at Edeowie Station, in the Far North, at that time managed by the late James London. He remained there for about two years, and then went south to Strathalbyn, with the late W. L. Marchant, owner of Edeowie, where he remained for six months, and then went to Booboorowie, in charge of the rabbiting gangs. At that period rabbits were very plentiful, and the late Dr. Brownie employed a large number of men destroying the pest. After remaining at Booboorowie for two years, Mr. Beaven was appointed manager of Wallelberdina Station, 80 miles north of Port Augusta. After managing this property for several years he purchased it, and remained there until 1905. During this time he had the usual run of misfortunes that overtake the Northern pastoralists, rabbits, dingoes and droughts, all battling against the owner. In 1905 he was appointed manager of Booboorowie for Mr. A. S. Browne, on the decease of his old friend, Jim London. Mr. Beaven remained in charge until the estate was cut up for closer settlement in 1912. He then purchased the homestead with a considerable area of the surrounding country. However he sold the largest portion of this after a couple of years to Mr. R. M. Hawker, reserving for himself the homestead and 74 acres of land. Owing to ill-health, Mr. Beaven sold this portion to Mr. I. J. Warnes, about six weeks ago, but before he left for Adelaide where he was going to live, the last illness overtook him and he passed away.

Mr. Beaven was widely known and was an excellent judge of Merino sheep. He was a man of great integrity of character, and his genial disposition made him many friends. He married Miss Laura Wigley, who survives, and there are two sons, Cran Beaven, of Mannanarie, and Noel, of Western Australia, both of whom fought with the A.I.F. in Egypt. Mr. Beaven was a brother of Mr. Chris Beaven, of Walkerville, and the Bishop of Southern Rhodesia, and of one sister in England, all of whom survive him.