Obituaries Australia

Thomas Benson, n.d.

from Pastoral Review, 16 September 1916

One of the pioneer pastoralists of South-west Queensland passed away last week in the person of Mr. Thomas Barker C. Benson, manager of Brenda station on the northwestern border of New South Wales (writes our Warwick correspondent). In the very early days Mr. Benson pioneered in the Balonne country and helped to open up that part of Queensland for pastoral occupation. He spent many years in the Balonne, and had numerous adventures with the black fellows, who at that time were always ready to resent by force and treachery the intrusion of the white settler. Mr. Benson subsequently moved over the border and 15 years ago took on the management of Brenda station where he resided up to his death. He was 73 years of age and he contracted his last illness, an attack of pneumonia, while driving to Walgett to attend a court case. Mr Benson, who was born in England, was a first cousin of the late Archbishop Benson of Canterbury. All the residents about Brenda station, where deceased was very popular, attended the funeral, and the interment was at the Goodooga cemetery. The deceased is survived by a widow and eight children, one of whom is Mr. Thomas J. Benson, of Braeside, Dalveen.