Obituaries Australia

William Butler, n.d.

from Pastoral Review, 16 July 1917

The late William Butler, of Kilcoy, Q., who died last month, was born in Cambridgeshire, England, on 11th November, 1831. He came to Australia in one of the early East Indian tramp sailing ships engaged in trading with this country, and arrived in Sydney in February 1854.

Mr. Butler had his first pastoral experience on Rannes Station, in the Port Curtis district of Queensland, and in 1856 was in charge of a droving trip, overlanding a mob of sheep from Moreton Bay to Melbourne. Whilst in Victoria he went to Bendigo and followed the various gold rushes.

In 1861 he managed the well-known Cressbrook Station, Queensland, for Mr. D. C. McConnel, and at a later date Durundur for Mr. John McConnel. In 1867 he managed Albinia Downs for the Hon. Louis Hope, and in 1870 took the management of Kilcoy for the same gentleman, holding that position till 1907, when the property was sold to the Government. The late Mr. Butler, however, continued to live at Kilcoy House until the time of his death.

Everyone who knew William Butler loved and admired him. He leaves several sons and daughters. One son, Lieut.-Col. Graham Butler, a Brisbane doctor, who left Australia with the A.A.M.C., received the D.S.O. for gallantry at Gallipoli, and since joining the A.I.F. had been promoted from Captain to his present rank. He is still at the front. Another son has been invalided home, and received his discharge after being seriously wounded.