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PASTORAL PIONEER
Life of Mr. Alexander-Tolmer
LINK WITH EARLY DAYS
Having lived in South Australia since
1840, M?. Alexander fleury Dinniug
'utmer, of luorngate, is a iiuln Wida tile
early days of the mounted police, for
his father was Col. Alexander Tolmer
(of the imperial Army), inspector, and
later Commissioner of Police.
iDorn iin Keut Si ve?rs ago, Mr. Tolmeri
'ame tc South Australha with his parents
on the ship Brankimoor when three
months oia. he lived at the old Police
Barracks, North terrace, for some years,
and when a boy could do sword drill as
well as many of the troopers.
He claims to be one of the two oldest
surviving scholars of St. Peter's College,
the other being Mr. Hillary Boucaut.
They attended the college when it was
located in the brick schoolroom behind
Trinity Church. Adelaide. It was before
any railways existed in the State, and the
boys played where the North terrace rail
way yard is now. For a number of years at
the end of last century Mr. Tolmer was
a covernor of the college.
Hostile Natives
On leaviig achool he went to the cattle
station of the Hon. John Baker on Lake
Albert. Horses bred there were sent to
Morialta to be trained for racing.
The increase of cattle beyond the feed
hug capacity of the station led the owner
to take up land on the Darling, and young
Tolmer, with others, drove up a mob,
following the banks of the Murray. The
way was mostly through virgin country,
and their destination was near Menindie
Creek.
MR. A. H. D. TOLMER who is 86 years of age and constitutes a inik with the early days of South Australia. Help
MR. A. H. D. TOLMER
who is 86 years of age and constitutes a
inik with the early days of South
Australia.
What is now Wentworth then consisted
of a small store, and the many irrigation
settlements were unthought of.
The trip occupied three months, and
the party was well armed, as the natives
were hostile.
Mr. Tohner relates how they were
camped one night iii heavily timbered
country near the Darling. His mate was
William Edmonds (another old St.
]?cter's boy) an(I two blackboys. After
n'idnight one of the aborigines wakened
Mr. Tolmer and said that he could hear
wild natives approaching.
The little party crept quietly away from
the fire arid then fired several shots from
their double-barrelled pistols. When day
light caine they found the tracks of nine
or 10 aborigines. The party would pro
Iyibly have been speared to death but for
the vigilance of the blackboy
Tired of Country
Mr. Tolmer became tired of the country
there and returned to Adelaide. The man
who took his place. when riding in to get
rations, was subsequently murdereed by
natives and cut to pieces. The iron of
his saddle was found, the leather having
been burned, and his inure returned to
Lake Victoria .
A white lieutenant and sergeant with
12 native police from New South Wales,
were sent on a punitive expedition.
"On behalf of Die. WV. J. and J. II.
Brown I then brought cattle down from
Nilpena and \Vilnena to Unckland Park
for fattening." said Mr. Tolnier. "Another
task was to drove 6.000 picked ewes from
Booboorowie to Mount (Gambier, which I
did with the loss of only 33.
"I remember having been 1iaid in brand
new £1 notes. axnd the storekeepers were
suspicious of them, thinking that they
were counterfeit.
"When amed 24, in 1864, I was appointed
to manage Mikkira Station. 14 miles from
Port Lincoln. and was there for 13 years.
In 1865 I married Miss. Emma Fouleer,
whose father cond'icted a school in Flin
ders street. Adelaide. Sir Lanedon Bony
thou, when a boy, was educated there.
"Six years in charge of Talin Station fol-'
lowed, and then I Went to Pondona. near
the Gawler Range.
Exploring Expedition
"After that I went exploring for Messrs.
Harrold brothers and Mr. George Fife
Angas beyoud Eyre Peninsula, looking for
suitable pastoral country. Our party
comprised three whites and a blackboy,
and we travelled about 200 miles inland
from Venus Bay, to the north-west of
what is now Wilgena.
"Arkaba, near Hawker, was the next
station I was in charge of. After seven
years there I came to Adelaide and took
up an orangery and garden at Paradise
in 1880.
".t had some of the original Broken Hill
shares, but sold them. I made a lot of
money and lost a lot too. For some time
I had a seat on the Stock Exchange."
During his residence at Paradise Mr.
Tolner was a memnber, also chairman, of
Lampbelltown District Council. Subse
quently he lived in other suburbs of
Adelaide.
The call of the country was too strong
for" him, and when more thani 70 years of
age he purchase-i a farm at Bugle
Raniges. There he remaiiicd for seven
years.
Mr. Tolmer lIas a fine stock of interest
ing reminiscences which ho recounts
with pleasure. At their home at Carter
street, Thorngate, whcre he and his wife
are facing the sunset of life, the garden
shows ample evidence of his activity.
Mr. Herbert G. Tolmer (district clerk
of Woodside and assistant secretary of
Onkaparinga Rlacing Club) is his son.
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