MY TOWRI (Tales of life in early Queensland)

AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE Biography

• 144p. ; 20cm. illusts First Edition #211024 (Annotations on rear ep related to author) SCARCE (Apparently only 100 copies printed.)
• Bert Rayment was born “in a tent on a billabong of the Barcoo” near Isisford on 30 Oct 1883. He ran sheep and cattle on a string of Jundah district properties for 40 years before retiring to Longreach in 1952. At 14, Bert carted his first load of wool from Portland Downs to Ilfracombe. After a period in the army in 1901-02 (Boer War), he became a blacksmith’s striker and later broke in draught horses at Currawilla, near Betoota.

  He carried wool until 1910, when he took up Bloodwood (now part of Braidwood), near Jundah. Dingoes and floods were a big problem on the 6000 acre property and he sold it. He bought Lilydale, a 5000 acre block on the Thompson River but ran into the 1925-28 drought. He left with 2500 sheep and was on the road for 3 years. By 1932 he was right back to square one.

  In 1935 he bought Romula, an 8000-acre property with a Barcoo frontage. Earlier he had bought Dreamlands, a 14000-acre desert block. He ran the two properties with his two eldest sons Bert and Jim. Later the partnership dissolved with Bert taking Dreamlands and Jim, Romula. Bert Snr retained the sheep. He bought Prairie Farm, near Jundah, and later re-bought Dreamlands. A year later he bought Paradise and Gum, a total of 15000 acres, from Roy Coade. He exchanged Dreamlands to Mr Coade for what was known as the Welford block. He then had 31,000 acres under the name of Prairie.

  In 1952 he sold some of his land to a son and the remainder to a neighbour, and retired to Longreach. Bert’s sons still had a strong stake in the future of the Jundah district. Bert had Hidden Valley, Jim owned Needle Creek, Joe owned Romula and Dungiven, Bob owned Maxvale and Tom had Paradise. Sons Frank and Ted lived in Longreach and were a shearer and horsebreaker respectively. His daughters lived at Boulia and Townsville.

  When Bertie hung up his spurs he took up his pen. He had a deep concern for progress in Western Queensland and was a constant correspondent with newspapers and politicians. He recalled his memories in a book titled “My Towri” Bert is listed amongst the “Unsung Heroes” in the Stockman’s Hall of Fame at Longreach. He died at Longreach in 1977.

  “My Towri” written in 1956, but not published until 1970.