Guide to the Journal of Thomas Mellersh (as filmed by the AJCP)

Daybook kept by Thomas Mellersh while farming at 'Woodlands', York, and a journal kept on his voyage from Swan River to Mauritius and England (1 vol.), 1836 - 1838 (File)

The daybook dates from 12 March 1836–27 December 1837. It contains brief entries for each day, written continuously with no paragraphs. They refer to the erection of Mellersh's house and barn, work on his garden, planting of vegetables, visits to York and Guildford, Western Australia, purchases of provisions and other goods, land clearing (grubbing), ploughing, sowing of wheat, reaping, binding and wheat grounding, lambing, sheep shearing, work with horses, wood splitting, carting timber, work undertaken by his employees and local Aboriginal Australians, kangaroo hunting, problems with wild dogs and cats, the management of Lady Stirling's sheep, news of ship arrivals, his surrender of 4000 acres to the Government, Mellersh's decision to leave the colony (November 1837), his departure from 'Woodlands', and financial transactions. There are frequent references to visits from or to neighbouring settlers, including R. Brockman, G.S. Burgess, G. Elliott, A. Trimmer, Macleod, Mortimer and Knights...