Obituaries Australia

Edward Roberts, n.d.

from Pastoral Review, 16 January 1917

The late Mr. Edward Roberts, who died last November, was one of the band of pioneers who made Western Australia what she is to-day. Born in Perth in 1844, he went to Yathroo in 1855 with the late Mr. Walter Padbury, and resided in the district for the rest of his life. In 1868, when only 24 years of age, he was authorised to proceed to the De Grey Station to bring the whole of Mr. Padbury's stock overland to Berkshire Valley, a distance of 1200 miles. He left the De Grey on 11th April, 1868, and arrived at Berkshire Valley in November of the same year, having journeyed for seven months.

In 1869 the late Mr. Roberts, while still in the service of Mr. Padbury, bought 700 acres of land, the nucleus of what is now known as Kayanaba, and in 1892 purchased the well-known Yathroo Estate. For fat cattle Yathroo has a very high reputation, and as a breeder of racehorses, Mr. Roberts was equally successful, having on two occasions won the Western Australian Derby with horses of his own breeding.

He was a man of iron will, and his great love of justice and ever-ready sympathy with those in trouble won him a very general affection. He married in 1871, and leaves a widow, four sons and four daughters.