Obituaries Australia

Frederick Donkin, n.d.

from Pastoral Review, 15 August 1914

Mr. Frederick William Donkin, of Meteor Downs, Queensland, died rather suddenly last month at the age of seventy-five. He was born in London in 1839, and was the eldest surviving son of the late Rev. Thomas Donkin, who lived for many years at Prospect, near Parramatta, N.S.W.

He came to New South Wales with his father in 1853, and shortly after his arrival entered the office of Messrs. John Beit and Co. He remained with this firm for about a year, and then entered the Colonial Secretary's office, where he remained until 1858. Deciding, however, to take up squatting pursuits, he went to Queensland, and on Franklin Vale Station gained his first pastoral experience.

In 1860 he was joined by his brother, Edwin Davis, now of Mandamar, Barmedman, N.S.W.. and together they went out west to the Warrego. In those days fences were a very unknown quantity, and with about 1000 ewes, they travelled out westward for about four years, before Mr. Donkin succeeded in getting a station of his own. He obtained the ewes from Weranga Station (since overrun with prickly pear), and the first year got as far as Wallumbilla, where the flock was shorn, and the second year at Deepwater, adjoining Mt. Abundance Station. The third year they were shorn at Mitchell Downs. After four years' travelling, he sold all but 1000 maiden ewes, and settled on Langlo Downs in March of 1863. This property comprised an area of 400 square miles, and before Mr. Donkin sold out to Sir William McCulloch, in 1881, his flock had increased to 30,000 sheep. After the sale of Langlo Downs. Mr. Donkin spent some years in England and New Zealand, and in 1886 purchased Goomburra, on the Darling Downs. This property the Government bought in 1901, and the next year Mr. Donkin purchased Meteor Downs.

In 1879 he married Alice, the daughter of the late Rev. Colin McCulloch, of Brisbane, and leaves a family of three sons.