Obituaries Australia

William Hann, n.d

State Library of Queensland, 33396

The account of the melancholy death, by drowning, of Mr. William Hann, of Maryvale station, at Townsville, will have been read by many old colonists, both in Queensland and Victoria, with sincere regret. Mr. Hann arrived in Victoria with his parents about thirty five years ago, his father having settled on a small squattage in Western Port near Schnapper Point. Mr Hann joined Mr R. McMicking on Mann's station, near Tumbarumba. During the stampede of Victorians to the Queensland "New Country". Mr Hann joined the late Mr Daintree, geologist, in taking up country in the Kennedy district. In 1872, at Mr Hann's suggestion, the late Hon. W. H. Walsh, then Secretary for Works in the Palmer Government, fitted out a party to explore the Cape York district. Mr Hann was the leader of the party, and the result of the expedition was the discovery of the Palmer and Walsh Rivers, and it was this party that first reported the existence of auriferous country on the Palmer, and their report was afterwards verified by Mulligan. During the trip Mr Hann announced the discovery of a tree climbing kangaroo. The statement was received at the time by naturalists with derision, which for long caused him much annoyance and, indeed, up to the time of his death he felt chagrined that he had not recieved credit for having been the first discoverer of this marsupial curiosity. Soon after his return from the expedition he purchased Maryvale station, which he has ever since continued to occupy. During the year of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition he, in company with the Hon. W. Aplin, paid a short visit to England. As an all round judge of live stock Mr. Hann had few equals in Queensland, and his homestead was always a model of neatness. Though somewhat brusque in manner, a kindlier or warmer-hearted man never existed, and the name of William Hann will long be held in affectionate remembrance by the many who were privleged to be counted among his intimate acquaintances.