Obituaries Australia

Allan McFarlane, n.d.

from Pastoralists' Review, 15 April 1908

By the death of Allan McFarlane, of Wellington Lodge, South Australia, early in March, Australia has lost one of the oldest and most enterprising of its flockmasters. The deceased gentleman was born at Caithness, Scotland, and arrived in South Australia with his parents in 1839. The family settled at Mount Barker, but in 1842 land was taken up on the shores of Lake Alexandrina, and the late Mr. McFarlane, with his elder brother—afterwards Sir Donald Horne McFarlane, who sat in the House of Commons —went to manage the property. He remained in possession of the same country for sixty-six years. He experienced all the ups and downs of the pioneer, Wellington Lodge being for many years far removed from the "circle of civilisation." From year to year the area of land in occupation was extended, until eventually Mr. McFarlane obtained the freehold of the greater portion of it. In addition to being an enterprising pastoralist the deceased gentleman was a self-taught engineer of considerable ability. Among other inventions, he designed a new woolpress and had a good deal to do with the introduction of a compressed-air shearing machine He was also one of the first to build levees along the Murray to control the flood waters, whilst by means of pumping plant and pipes he carried water to his back country. In company with the late Mr. Thomas Seymour, Mr. McFarlane went on an exploring trip to Lake Eyre, and named Oakden Hills. He was a keen sportsman, and while in England in 1861-2 he won several prizes for rifle shooting at Wimbledon. When contingents were being sent from South Australia to South Africa, Mr. McFarlane gave liberal donations, and presented the Government with six picked horses. In addition to Wellington Lodge Estate, the deceased was interested in pastoral property in the Young district in New South Wales. Mr. McFarlane has left a widow, four sons—Messrs. Allan, jun. (of Wellington Lodge), John (N.S.W.), Donald (N.S.W.), and Gordon (Wellington Lodge)— seven daughters—Mrs. Jervois (Wellington Station), wife of a nephew of the late Sir William Jervois, a former Governor of the State; Mrs. A. E. Bowman (of Bethanga Park, V.), Mrs. M. S. Hawker (Aldgate), Mrs. A. G. Lamb (Sydney), Mrs. A. B. Henderson (Tourable, N.S.W.), Mrs. E. Gordon (Young, N.S.W.), and Miss Agnes McFarlane. There are also twenty grandchildren.