Obituaries Australia

James Peacock, n.d.

from Pastoral Review, 16 August 1917

By the death of Mr. James Peacock, which occurred last month at Combogolong, Coonamble, New South Wales, there has been removed a highly respected and well-known pastoral identity.

Born at Penrith, N.S.W., eighty years ago, Mr. Peacock spent practically the whole of his long life in connection with pastoral affairs, owning Combogolong sheep station, Coonamble, and a cattle station in Queensland.

Going to the Castlereagh with his parents when only eight years of age, he was one of the pioneers of that district, and saw it develop from a practical wilderness into what it is now. His life was an exceedingly strenuous one, and although he took no active part in public affairs, he did a great deal to further the interests of the pastoral industry.

Mr. Peacock was the first man to build a sheep-proof fence in the district, and to turn his sheep at large without shepherding, and he did this at a time when he had to pay £40 per ton for wire.

He used occasionally to relate incidents in connection with his early life, when Sydney was in the making, and recalled having driven a bullock team up George Street and having camped with it at the Haymarket.

Mr. Peacock leaves six sons and two daughters, his wife having predeceased him two years ago.