Dempsters, The

The Dempster family played a prominent part in the development and history of Western Australia, with interests that ranged from shipping and coastal trading to merchandising, from whaling to farming, from fishing to horse-breeding, in addition to exploring some of the harshest regions of the state.

DEMPSTER, JAMES McLean (1810-1890), mariner and grazier, was born in June 1810 in Scotland, on his father’s estate, Muresk. At 14 he ran away to sea and gained his master’s ticket ten years later. In 1829 he was engaged by Captain Charles Pratt to skipper his Eagle, in which the Pratt family migrated to the Swan River settlement, arriving in January 1830. A few years later, despite parental opposition, Dempster married Pratt’s daughter, Anne Ellen; they had seven children.

A colourful character with a liking for adventure, Dempster had a varied career. Soon after he arrived at Fremantle he bought the schooner Mary Ann, 120 tons, in which he traded between Australia and Mauritius and then tried pearling on the north-west coast. After his marriage Dempster took up land on Rottnest Island where he grew hay and bred horses with some success and probably supervised the construction of some of the first buildings. He received much publicity in September 1838 when he took a whaleboat and Aboriginal crew to rescue the complement of the Lancier wrecked on Straggler Reefs. He was duly rewarded by the government of Mauritius despite the accidental loss of a chest with 5000 sovereigns. From Rottnest he moved to the Beverley district, where he established the property Addington. He had some trouble with Aboriginals and was reputed to have shot Turkey Cock, a notorious fellow who was chasing him with spear poised.

First edition. pp. xiii, 297 Illustrated. 281214/0418 Signed by Author; book plate on prelims WA Family History