Obituaries Australia

Mr. William McDowall, a veteran North Queenslander, died recently at the age of 71. He was born in Tasmania in 1847, and when fifteen years old joined his brother Archibald, who was surveying about Brisbane, and who later became Surveyor-General of Queensland. After a short time surveying, William McDowall found his way north, and his first leasehold was Welcome Downs, a large portion of what is now Cashmere. He then took up Lake Lucy, and later sold Lake Lucy to Fenwick and Ramsden, from whom he bought Kangaroo Hills. Later he sold Kangaroo Hills to Micklem and Atkinson, and bought Greenvale. About this time he had a half interest in Pandanus Creek with Mr. A. B. Calcott, a half interest in Lucky Downs with Mr. Wade, and also owned Southwick, which he had purchased from the late Hon. W. Aplin, and finally sold to J. Malone. Mr. McDowall sold Greenvale to Atkinson Bros., and purchased Abingdon Downs from Curr Bros., only to resell to them later. He also acquired Carruchan, near Cardwell. When Mr. McDowall purchased Christmas Creek he sold Carruchan to Mrs. J. Cooper. He also sold his share in Pandanus, to his partner, Mr. Calcott, and Lucky Downs was sold when Greenvale was disposed of. From this out, Mr. McDowall did not deal in stations, residing at Christmas Creek until he retired and went to live in Townsville four years ago, Christmas Creek passing to his relatives. Mr. McDowall was one of the earliest breeders of mules, if not the earliest, in North Queensland, and as an experiment he introduced a Brahmin bull, and bred some Zebu cattle, which were undoubtedly heavy, and said to be tick resistant.