Obituaries Australia

John Wagner, n.d.

from Australasian Pastoralists' Review, 15 February 1901

Mr. John Wagner, who died at his residence, at Malvern, near Melbourne, on 27th January, at the age of seventy-four, was not, strictly speaking, a pastoralist, but he was a large owner of pastoral property, and was intimately connected with pastoralists and pastoral development. A native of Canada, where he still, at the time of his death, owned an estate granted to his grandfather for services rendered to the Royalist side during the American War of Independence, he came to Australia via California in 1852, and brought with him a number of American "waggons," with which he immediately started a carrying and coaching business to the Bendigo and other diggings.

As manager for Hewitt and Watson, and then as partner in Robertson, Wagner and Co, he became widely known. Robertson, Wagner and Co. invested their coaching profits mainly in station properties, and in this capacity Mr. Wagner became part owner of Perricoota and a large holder in the Mt. Morgan mine. Perricoota was sold last July to Messrs. S. Falkiner and Sons for £250,000, but Mr. Wagner, at the time of his death, held an interest in Gumbardo, and also owned Midkin and Auburn Downs Stations.

Mr. Wagner was a first-rate whip and a sportsman. At one time he owned a few racehorses, including Welcome Jack, and for many years his coursing kennels were celebrated.