| 4. |  WALTER Ambrose Willcock, JP was born 11 Apr 1833, North Blatchborough, Bradworthy DEV (son of WALTER William and VINSON Grace); died 14 Jul 1915, 'Oakleigh Park', Noradjuha VIC; was buried 16 Jul 1915, Noradjuha Cemetery, Noradjuha VIC. Other Events:
- Occupation: Butcher/Farmer/Grazier
- _UID: 57A89F883965408BA748F80BA987F70FB7B5
- Baptism: 7 Aug 1833, Bradworthy DEV
- Census: 6 Jun 1841, North Blatchborough, Bradworthy DEV; : 8y
- Emigration: 30 Apr 1853, Plymouth DEV; : 20y
Notes:
Barrabool Hills Book at GHRC
1861 AWW as tenant on 8 acres of the Strathlachlan Estate in section 15.
1862 AWW named as trust member of the Blue Ribbon Society, Ceres Temperance Hall erection.
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Hamilton Spectator, Advertisement ? 1862
Important to Farmers in the vicinity of Hamilton
We, the Undersigned, beg to inform the Farmers of Hamilton, that we shall be in attendance during the threshing season, with Tuxford & Son's latest improved patent Threshing, Winnowing and Dressing Machine with Tuxford and Son's 8-horse Engine, to thresh and clean, fit for market, all kinds of grain, at a moderate price. Parties concerned will please send their orders to Mr. T. BROMELL, Hamilton.
N.B. The same machine took first prize at the Geelong Exhibition last year.
SMALE & WALTERS Barrabool Hills, Geelong.
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The Barrabool Shire Council's Jubilee, compiled by Cr. W. Ham. [RHSV]
AWW listed as councillor for one year only - 1870. [sic]
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Geelong Advertiser, 5 Aug 1870, Town Talk column.
Mr. Piper could not be prevailed upon to offer himself for re-election as councillor for the Ceres riding in the Shire of Barrabool, and Mr. A.W. Walters was then asked to come forward, and was elected without opposition.
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Geelong Advertiser, 19 Feb 1873, Advertisement.
PRELIMINARY NOTICE
On the Premises, Barrabool Hills, Early in March.
W.S. HOWELL has received instructions from Mr. A.W. Walters (in consequence of his leaving the district) to sell by auction as above.
The whole of his stock consisting of- Fat Cattle, superior Dairy Cows and young cattle, good Farm and Heavy Draught Horses, Sheep, Pigs, Farming Implements, Grain, Hay, Straw, Dairy Utensils, &c., &c.
For full particulars, see future advertisements
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Geelong Advertiser, 4 Mar 1873, Advertisement.
WEDNESDAY, 12th. MARCH,
At 11 o'clock sharp.
On the premises of Mr. A.W. Walters,
Barrabool Hills.
Positive and Unreserved Clearing Sale
OF
CATTLE, HORSES, SHEEP, PIGS, HAY, STRAW, GRAIN, FARMING IMPLEMENTS, &c., &c.
W.S. HOWELL has received instructions from Mr. A.W. Walters (who is leaving the district) to sell by auction as above,
The whole of his valuable stock, &c.,
Comprising -
65 head of superior well-bred cattle,
Consisting of -
Fat cattle, milch cows, springers, steers, and heifers.
8 head of first-class draught horses, broken-in.
3 good saddle and harness horses.
2 two-year old draught colts.
1 do. do. filly.
2 well-bred ponies, broken-in to saddle and harness.
200 fat wethers.
300 good store wethers.
35 fat pigs, 20 store pigs.
2 sows and suckers.
6 tons of hay, stack of straw- about 30 tons.
800 bushels of wheat.
500 do. peas.
300 do. barley.
Double-seated buggy.
Spring waggon, with shafts, pole, and tilt.
2 first-class farm waggons.
3 horse drays.
Corn-crusher (by Richmond and Chandler), for steam or horse power.
Henderson's back delivery reaping-machine.
Robinson's mowing-machine.
Weighing-machine (Avery's).
6 sets of harrows, 1 dray harrow.
Scarifier, 4 ploughs, 2 rollers.
Mangold pulper, 2 horse hay rakes.
2 corn trucks, 2 tarpaulins.
2 400-gallon iron tanks.
Quantity of other farming implements.
Harness of all descriptions.
Lot of cornsacks.
Dairy utensils, and
A large lot of sundries.
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Geelong Advertiser, 11 Mar 1873, Advertisement.
The above Clearing Sale advertisement was repeated with the addition of a extra final line:
Luncheon provided.
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Geelong Advertiser, 1873
Article stating that Ambrose Willcock WALTER's term of office as a councillor for the Ceres Riding, Barrabool Shire Council terminated 14 Aug 1873.
[Supposed to be in W.J. Morrow Index, cannot find!]
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Geelong Advertiser, 19 Nov 1873
Mr. Walters, of the Barrabool Hills, who has just returned from a visit to the Wimmera district, relates that a very large tract of country has been taken up in that part of the colony by selectors. Most of these hail from South Australia, where the land is generally of inferior quality, and rapidly getting worked out. Not a few are farmers from Mount Gambier, where the soil originally of first-class quality, has also been thoroughly impoverished by continuous cropping. He states that a large area of new soil has been turned up this season and placed under wheat, which is at present, as a rule, looking most promising. The soil is generally a blueish clay, mixed with sand and well adapted for wheat growing. Timber is plentiful and fencing cheap. A large amount of dummying is carried on, the selectors finding that the limit allowed of half a section, or 320 acres, is altogether inadequate to enable them to combine grazing with agriculture and make their holdings renumerative in the face of the disadvantage from which they suffer in consequence of their distance from market and the seaboard.
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Geelong Advertiser, 4 May 1874
LAND SELECTING IN THE WIMMERA DISTRICT
A well known farmer from the Barrabool Hills who has just returned from a visit to the Wimmera District, gives a very interesting account of the way in which settlement is progressing in that neighborhood. He states that the town of Horsham is the centre of the new territory, from whence the homes of the selectors radiate in every direction for distances of 15 to 20 miles. The town itself is progressing rapidly. Buildings are going up in every direction, and there is a great scarcity of tradesmen, particularly bricklayers, who he believes, would be able to earn as much as 20s. per day. The buildings already constructed and in process of erection are of timber, brick and stone, the former largely predominating. The town is situated on the banks of the Wimmera river, where good clay is obtained in abundance for brickmaking. A hard, white freestone, suitable for building, is obtained from the Mackenzie Creek, a short distance away. As a proof of the way in which the value of property is improving, it is stated that recently an offer was made on behalf of the Bank of Victoria of £2000, for an allotment which two years ago was offered for sale at £100. On the Natimuk Creek, about twenty miles distant, a new township has just been surveyed. In this locality the population is a mixed one, but the Teutonic race preponderates. Most of them hail from the sister colony of South Australia, and every week there are fresh arrivals, principally from Mount Gambier, where the farms are getting worked out. The German residents, as a rule, content themselves with areas of 50 to 100 acres, which they are now busily engaged cultivating and otherwise improving. As a sign of what they are doing, our informant states that a few days ago a tea meeting was held to celebrate the opening of a new church which they had constructed at a cost of £220. Of this amount £150 was contributed by the time the structure was finished. Two hundred persons sat down to tea, and Mr. J. Smale [sic] - a gentleman well known in Geelong- presided, and delivered an address which was well received. The minister of the church gave an address in German. The Rev. J. Hilliard, of the Wesleyan denomination; Rev. J. Warren of the Bible Christian Society at Camperdown; and Mr. Clarke, J.P., of Horsham, took part in the proceedings. In this very neighborhood, which is becoming so well populated as the meeting indicates, only about eighteen months ago a person might ride for a whole day without encountering house or resident. The country around consists of extensive plains intersected with what are termed blind creeks, that contain an abundance of water in winter but get dried up in the course of a dry summer. There are belts of timber, principally a kind of box, which splits readily and is well adapted for fencing. Bull-oak, which grows as straight as a rush, is employed to construct very neat and comfortable cottages. During the past season a large quantity of wheat has been grown. The quality is excellent, and at present it realises 4s. 6d. per bushel in the local market. There is an abundance of fine wiry grass admirably adapted for thatching and the roofs of some of the residences are finished in such a style as to give the whole building a decidedly pretty as well as comfortable appearance. The country is what is known as "Crab-hole Plains." In winter, and even till an advanced period in summer, the holes are filled with water. The higher ridges are composed of a vegetable mould, which mixed with the lighter subsoil makes a compound sufficiently fertile for the cultivation of cereals or English grasses. A remarkable feature at present is the absence of grass at the tops of the hillocks, where the soil seems peculiarly rich, while the basins are covered with herbage. As a rule grazing and agriculture is being combined. Where the quality of the land is tolerably good half sections of 320 acres have been taken up; where the land is inferior the members of families have clubbed together and erected ring fences around more extensive areas, which are intended simply to be used for grazing purposes. The soil is susceptible of being greatly improved by drainage, the subsoil is impervious or nearly so, and by constructing dams of moderate size the settlers are able to secure a permanent supply of water. Just now those who have got their land under tillage are busily engaged sowing wheat. It is important to get the seed in the ground as early as possible before the winter rain sets in. A ploughing match is at present on the tapis. It is to come off on the 28th. inst. at Natimuk, and £50 has already been collected for prizes. Among the intending competitors are some of the champion ploughmen of the Barrabool Hills - Treadwell, Macurdie and others. Some of the best ploughmakers of Melbourne and Geelong have signified their intention of introducing their implements, which, it is believed will, when once witnessed and tried, supersede the oldfashioned ploughs now in use.
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Geelong Advertiser, 22 Jan 1877
THE WIMMERA DISTRICT
We take the following from the second of the papers on the subject, contributed to the Australasian by its travelling reporter:- "A short distance to the eastward of St. Mary's Lake homestead is one of the best farms around Tooan, belonging to Messrs J.T.C. Heard and Brothers, who hail from the Barrabool Hills, and have established themselves on their selections for three years. This season they have had 100 acres under wheat, which has done better than the previous crop, which gave a return of 25 bushels to the acre. The present season's crop suffered more from the effects of frost than from the dry weather, but even with that drawback it was second to no other in the Wimmera District, and is expected to yield over 30 bushels per acre. About six acres were sown with Cape barley, which has also done very well, and a small quantity of the English was also tried, with very fair results. A small crop of potatoes looks promising, but is scarcely equal to the previous one, when the return was about six tons to the acre. Maize is being grown upon a small scale as an experiment, and if it succeeds, as it promises to do at present, its cultivation will be extended. The farm is well fenced and subdivided into convenient-sized paddocks, and it is the intention of the Messrs Heard to sow down several of them with English grasses during the coming season. About 1000 sheep are kept at present, merino ewes and Lincoln rams, the latter being of a rather superior quality from the flock of the Hon. T. Bromell. The Messrs Heard are paying some attention to the breeding of horses, and are the owners of Young Colonel, a powerful, handsome, dark chestnut, three-year-old, heavy draught stallion, by Ploughboy (imported), bred by Mr. J. Baker, of Larpent, Colac. Among the other animals the most noticeable are two fine mares by the Marquis of Lorne and Young Thumper, a pair of handsome well-matched buggy ponies by Dr. Lardner, and a promising blood yearling filly by Alarm out of a Sotterly mare. The Messrs Heard are fully alive to the advantages of using labour-saving implements, and having last season used one of T. Robinson & Co.'s gang ploughs with great success, they were induced this harvest to try a side-delivery reaper, made by that firm, which has given great satisfaction. They are also the owners of a very compact threshing plant, which travels the district during the season. To the south and eastward of Heard's farm, nearly all the available land has been selected during the last three years, in many cases by families, who have secured contiguous blocks, and work them together. Taking a course nearly due east from Heard's farm, I travel for several miles through rather poor country, the greater part moderately timbered, coming across an isolated selection occasionally. There is nothing along this route calling for special comment until the farm of Mr. A.W. Walters is reached, about six miles south of Natimuk. Mr. Walters, who is the President of the Wimmera Shire, was formerly farming at the Barrabool Hills, and has been located four years in the Wimmera district. The various members of his family hold about 2000 acres, the greater portion being heavily-timbered land, and the soil for the most part a sandy loam. But a comparatively small area is under cultivation for grain crops, it being Mr. Walters' intention to devote his energies chiefly to the breeding of live stock. Experiments are being made with various grasses and other forage plants, in order to ascertain which are the kinds adapted for the climate, as it is intended to improve the pasture as much as possible. So far, rib grass and cocksfoot have done better than any other grasses, the plants stooling out well, and covering the ground, while the rye grass grows too thin. Lucerne has been tried, but it has not done so well as expected, though it will probably do better as the plants get older. A large plot of maize has been sown for cutting green, and it has done so well that Mr. Walters intends to try to get a crop to ripen next season. There are about 1800 sheep, merinos, which are considered to be better adapted to the locality than any other class. Superior rams are used, from the well-known flock of Mr. Dennis, of Carr's Plains. The property is subdivided by good substantial fences into several paddocks, and a great deal of labour has been expended in clearing the land of dead timber. Each paddock is provided with a dam or water-hole, and as the sub-soil is very retentive, they are expected to hold at least 12 months' supply. This season, however, has been too dry for them to get filled, and as a consequence the supply of water is rather short."
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Geelong Advertiser, Advertisement, 14 Jan 1879
BY DENNYS, LASCELLES & CO.
FRIDAY, 31st. JANUARY
VALUABLE FARM
ON THE
BARRABOOL HILLS
DENNYS, LASCELLES & CO. (under instructions from Mr. A.W. Walters) will offer for sale by auction, at their warehouse, on the above date, at 12 o'clock, His valuable farm, now in the occupation of Mr. T. Smale, situated three miles from Ceres and nine miles from Geelong. The area of land is 285 acres, 0 rods and 0 perches.
Solenoidly improved. The buildings are all most substantially built of stone, with slate roofs, and comprise eight-roomed house, 12-stalled stable, barn, etc.
There is an orchard of two acres, stocked with the choicest fruit trees.
The land is fenced with post, rail and wire, and subdivided into eight paddocks, each being abundantly watered by a never-failing creek running through the centre of the property, besides tanks and springs.
185 acres is laid down in English grass, the remainder being under cultivation.
It is needless to call the attention of buyers to the character of the soil. It is one of the best farms on the far-famed Barrabool Hills, which speaks for itself.
Terms-Half Cash, balance at one and two years, bearing 8 per cent. interest.
Title perfect, to be seen at Messrs. W. and J. Higgins, solicitors.
Further particulars and letters of inspection on application to the agents.
[This 285 acre property is "Stanbury", probably named by AWW after the birthplace (Stanbury near Kilkhampton, CON) of his mother Grace VINSON (1796-1867)]
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Geelong Advertiser, 1 Feb 1879, Town Talk column
An attempt was made yesterday to sell a farm of 285 acres, situated three miles from Ceres, and on the Barrabool Hills, belonging to Mr. A.W. Walters, and at present occupied by Mr. T. Smale. The highest bid was £9-10-0 per acre, but the property was withdrawn for £10-0-0 per acre. Messrs. Dennys, Lascelles and Co. were the auctioneers.
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Geelong Advertiser, 10 Mar 1881
Messrs. Dennys, Lascelles & Co. report the sale, for Messrs Skene Bros., of the Heathfield run, in the Portland Bay district, with 640 acres freehold land, with sheep, cattle, and horses, to Mr. A.W. Walters.
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Geelong Advertiser, 21 Jan 1882
284 acre property of AWW now occupied by Amos HEAL said to be let from 1 April 1882.
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Geelong Advertiser, 24 Jan 1885
284 acre property belonging to AWW on the Barrabool Hills now in occupation of Ed. Brown, part of portion 3, let for 4 years from 1 April 1885
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Land grants made to Ambrose Willcock WALTER
AWW was a prominent user of the Closer Settlement Scheme particularly after he settled at Noradjuha. Set out below is a brief summary of his purchases showing the parish and the acreage purchased. Details collected from parish maps and Section 19.20 records.
Nangeela 577, Follet 1065, Kaladboro 414, Nagwarry 1196, Drajurk 958, Lowan 1224.
AWW was granted the lease on Allotment 40, Parish of Lowan, County Lowan on 19 Feb 1884. The rent paid was £149-8-00 payable half-yearly. Applied for grant on 1 Mar 1884 and appears to have been successful as the grant is dated 10 Mar 1884, purchase price £166-0-0. Extent of other holdings 400 acres, 200 acres cultivated, where situated, about 220 miles at the Barrabool Hills. Also appears to have applied for selection at 8 a.m. on 26 Oct 1872 at Horsham.
Reference Box 576, VPRS 625, 35530/19.20, PRO Laverton.
Emigration:
Aboard the 'Marchioness of Londonderry' arriving at Port Phillip VIC on 4 Aug 1853.
Into Place: Port Phillip VIC
Died:
The West Wimmera Mail and Natimuk and Goroke Advertiser, 23 Jul 1915
Obituary
Mr. A.W. WALTER
The hand of time has removed from the district one of its oldest and most highly respected pioneers in the person of Mr. Ambrose Wilcox Walter. Not only as a pioneer was the late Mr. Walter respected, but as one to whom all in the district could go for advice at all times. This district has lost a friend and champion, in one who fought for the interest of the Wimmera in the early days of settlement. All honor to the heart that is still.
The late Mr. A.W. Walters was born in Devonshire, England, on the 11th. April 1833. He came out to Victoria in the 'Marchioness of Londonderry' in 1853 with his uncle, his parents following a few years later. For a time he worked on the Barrabool Hills, Geelong. A little later he, like many others, tried his fortune on the goldfields, but met with little success [?]. He could relate in detail many incidents of the Ballarat riot. On one occasion, when he and his mates were returning to their camp, they found that two of their party had been bound and robbed of their belongings by Melville, the bushranger. Not being successful on the goldfields, he returned to the Geelong district, with his youngest brother, starting a butchering business on the Barrabool Hills. This venture proved very successful. In 1862 Mr. Walter sold his interest in the business to his brother, and entered into farming pursuits. It was in the same year that he married Mary Ann Smale, the only daughter [?] of Mr. Thos. Smale, of Barrabool Hills. He continued to work the farm for 11 years. Being now anxious to secure more land, and make provision for a family that was growing, he was attracted to the Wimmera. He selected land about the year 1872, and shifted the family, which consisted of his wife and five sons, in the beginning of 1874. From that time up to the time of his death he practically lived on the land which he first selected. For about four years he lived in the Casterton district, where he had purchased a property, but returned again to the Wimmera and continued to work his property for a number of years. About seven years ago he decided to retire from active life, and settled in Geelong, having leased his property to two of his sons, but was a regular visitor to the Noradjuha district, with which he kept in close touch.
Mr. Walter took a keen interest in all public matters. In the Geelong district he occupied the position of councillor in the Barrabool Shire, and very soon after his arrival in the Wimmera he was elected as one of the councillors to the Wimmera Shire. From that time until his retirement seven years ago he held important positions in the Wimmera and Arapiles Shire Councils, and also the Western Wimmera Irrigation and Water Supply Trust, his term as a representative of various municipalities extending over 41 years. He continued to be a member of the Western Wimmera Trust right up to the time of its abolition in 1908, and his photograph appears in the group that was taken when the functions of that body were handed over to the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission. Amongst his colleagues at the time who have since gone the way of the flesh were Messrs. John Bushby and John Cunningham, both of whom were prominently identified with the fortunes of the Wimmera Shire Council.
Mr. Walter saw, and participated in, the fight between selector and squatter. Writing in the Horsham "Times" of November 20, 1914, Mrs. M. Bodey mentions this phase of early life. "Time" she wrote, "evens up all things, and the people who are enjoying prosperous times now are apt to forget that they owe much to those who first blazed the track. No doubt the squatters who saw that which through long use they regarded as their own wrested from them, felt rather injured, and while some bowed with good grace to the inevitable, others displayed their resentment in a childish fashion. For example, when Mr. Matthew Bodey, the first selector to be elected as a councillor of the Wimmera Shire took his seat at the Council table, the two squatters remaining on the Council resigned their seats rather than sit with a selector. One of the vacancies thus created was filled by another selector, Mr. Ambrose Walter of Noradjuha." The deceased also assisted in most local institutions, the Horsham A and P Society, Mechanics Institute, the Noradjuha Cemetery Trust, and the Noradjuha to Horsham Railway League all received his support. In connection with the last named he spared neither time nor trouble, and was one of a deputation from Noradjuha and Natimuk that got the final promise from the Minister of Railways that the line would be constructed, his colleagues on that occasion being Messrs. A.E. Beard, J. Kuse, and James Keyte (representing Natimuk), and A. Sinclair, H. Kruger, and himself (representing Noradjuha). Many years ago he was appointed a justice of the peace, which position he held to the time of his death. He was an ardent supporter of the Methodist Church, and held the position of trustee to the Bible Christian Church at Horsham before the union took place. He was also a trustee of the church at Noradjuha and at the annual conference often represented the Noradjuha circuit. His hospitality was well known. His home was always open to any minister, irrespective of denomination, and in the early days the services of the Bible Christian Church were conducted in his house until, in later years, the State school was utilised as a place of worship.
His remains were taken from the old home "Oakleigh Park" on Friday July 16th., and laid at rest in the Noradjuha cemetery. The cortege was followed by a fairly large number of representatives from all parts of the district. The Rev. E.E. Shakell of Noradjuha, conducted the burial service. The seven sons of the late Mr. Walter acted as pallbearers namely, Albert, Thomas, Ellis, Ambrose, Frederick, Sydney and Norman. In addition to the widow whose three daughters - Mrs. H.M. Fowler, Mrs. G. Nitschke, and Mrs. L.W. Cranage. A sister of the deceased, Mrs. Bromell widow of the late Hon. T. Bromell, of Hensley Park, Hamilton, survives him.
Ambrose married SMALE Mary Ann 6 Mar 1862, Bible Christian Chapel, Barrabool Hills VIC. Mary (daughter of SMALE Thomas, JP and SAMELLS Eliza) was born 3 Mar 1845, Brownlowe Street, East Stonehouse DEV; died 29 Oct 1918, 44 Buckland Avenue, Newtown VIC; was buried 2 Nov 1918, Noradjuha Cemetery, Noradjuha VIC. [Group Sheet]
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1892 - 1985 (92 years)
WALTER Thomas Ernest was born 18 Feb 1866, Barrabool Hills VIC (son of WALTER Ambrose Willcock, JP and SMALE Mary Ann); died 5 Dec 1940, Church Street, Camperdown VIC; was buried 6 Dec 1940, Camperdown Cemetery, Camperdown VIC. 
COOK Elizabeth was born Abt 1867, Kingston VIC; died Oct 1894, Hamilton VIC; was buried 10 Oct 1894, Hamilton Public Cemetery, Hamilton VIC. 
SMALE Mary Ann was born 3 Mar 1845, Brownlowe Street, East Stonehouse DEV (daughter of SMALE Thomas, JP and SAMELLS Eliza); died 29 Oct 1918, 44 Buckland Avenue, Newtown VIC; was buried 2 Nov 1918, Noradjuha Cemetery, Noradjuha VIC. 
WALTER William was born 23 Nov 1790, 'South Blatchborough', Bradworthy DEV (son of WALTER William and BRIMACOMBE Ann); died 27 Jan 1858, Barrabool Hills VIC; was buried 29 Jan 1858, Eastern Cemetery, Geelong VIC. 
VINSON Grace was born Abt 1796, 'Stanbury', Morwenstow CON (daughter of VINSON Joseph and ASHTON Elizabeth); died 6 May 1867, 'Lake Bank', Modewarre VIC; was buried 10 May 1867, Eastern Cemetery, Geelong VIC. 
SMALE Thomas, JP was born Abt 1823, North Tamerton CON (son of SMALE Thomas and SHAPLIN Grace); died 24 May 1883, Mount Moriac VIC; was buried 27 May 1883, Barrabool Hills Cemetery, Highton VIC. 
SAMELLS Eliza was born Abt 1825, Boyton CON (daughter of SAMELLS Richard and WARREN Ann); died 18 Nov 1898, 27 Little Myers Street, Geelong VIC; was buried 20 Nov 1898, Barrabool Hills Cemetery, Highton VIC. 