Hi Listers, following the recent posting on MASON, I thought someone may be interested in this article - it also has some good history about the Wangaratta district Wangaratta Chronicle, Wednesday October 8, 1913 GRETA DISTRICT PIONEER - Mr R. J. MASON - TO BE ENTERTAINED BY RESIDENTS After a residence of 59 years at Hanson South Mr Robt. J. MASON, of "Fairfield Park" has sold his well-improved property to Mr W. B. HUNGERFORD, of Malvern, and intends taking up his residence in Wangaratta. The residents of the Greta and Moyhu districts have decided not to allow this old pioneer of the Greta district to depart without entertaining him, in order to show their appreciation of his qualities as a resident, neighbour, successful farmer and pioneer. They have arranged to tender him a banquet and presentation, which will take place in the Hansonville Hall on Wednesday evening, 15th inst. The MASON family have been known in Australia for 86 years now. Mr R. J. MASON is one of the best known residents in the North-Eastern District, and is popular not only in his own (Greta) locality but throughout the Wangaratta and Benalla districts. His residence of 59 years in the district has been marked with success, and he has shown nothing but goodwill to all who know him, the generous hospitality always extended to visitors to "Fairfield Park" on Fifteen Mile Creek Station as it was known 60 years ago. Mr MASON, senr., was born in Berkshire, England, and landed in Sydney in 1827, being amongst the early arrivals in the Mother Colony. He was a member of the Sydney police Force for a couple of years when he resigned - on his disapproving of the harsh treatment to which convicts were subjected - and afterwards became Captain on a boat running between Sydney and Parramatta. Having a liking for the land he decided to seek employment on a station in order to gain experience with horses, cattle, sheep, etc. He secured an engagement on Mr SHELLY's station at Goulbourn NSW, where he remained for several years, learning every point possible from men of experience there. When he left there he was considered an expert in the treatment and handling of horses, and also a good judge of cattle. In 1837 he made one of a syndicate that purchased Biggerie Station on the Upper Murray and worked it for some years with success. Before going on to "Biggerie" he married Miss MURPHY, of Parramatta, and she was the first white woman that went to live on the Upper Murray, and the son born early in 1838 was the first white child born in that territory. The blacks were very troublesome in that part of the country, and frequently encounters occurred between them and the settlers, especially when the blacks would spear a bullock for food. Mr R. J. MASON was born on "Biggerie" station on 26th March, 1843, and soon after his father purchased "Maraket" station lower down the Murray, where the family went to live. At the age of nine years Mr MASON, who had taken to the saddle when a mere youngster, and afterwards became a noted rider of buck-jumpers, made his first long journey (accompanied by his father) across country to the Darling with stock. In the following year, 1853, his father and he drove a number of bullocks to Beechworth via Albury Tallangatta, Keiwa and Yackandandah - a journey of about 100 miles over almost unknown country. The cattle were sold to a butcher on the gold fields - his shop being built of slabs and stringybark - at a low figure. The population of the country being sparse and cattle numerous prices were very low. Mr MASON, senr., went to Melbourne with a bullock wagon and made two trips between there and the Bendigo gold fields and one to Beechworth, receiving £100 per ton for the goods carted. Groceries and other requirements for "Maraket" station were purchased in Sydney, Mr MASON, senr., making the trip once a year with a bullock waggon, the journey occupying three months. Like other early pioneers he tanned the leather needed for footwear, and made the boots required for the family; constructed wooden ploughs that were used in those days, cut the crop with scythes, threshed it with a flail, and ground the wheat for flour with a hand mill. A relic of those early days can still be seen at "Fairfield Park" in the form of an old hand grinder. COMING TO WANGARATTA In 1854 Mr MASON and his father arrived at Wangaratta on their way up the King River to inspect Glenmore Station, which was for sale. The contractors were just completing the first bridge erected over the Ovens river at Wangaratta, and Mr CLARK had only during the preceding year built the first portion of the present Commercial Hotel. They stopped there for the night. The Wangaratta pound was in existence with Mr A TONE as keeper. Amongst the few residents living on the king River road were Messrs BRETT, VINCENTS, and WHITE; "Laceby" Station was owned by Mr MOORE and "Myrrhee" by Mr CHISHOLM. Mr D H EVANS was dairying on part of Myrrhee Station, and Mr John EVANS (father of Mr John EVANS, of Redcamp) was living on Whitfield station. Mr MASON and his father stopped at Mr J EVANS's the night after leaving Wangaratta, and with him, next day went to inspect "Bungamero," which Mr MASON's father did not approve of. On the suggestion of Mr EVANS they travelled across to Greta and inspected the "Fifteen Mile Creek" Station, which was for sale, and Mr MASON, senr., considering it a good property, decided to purchase it. On account of the wet weather they stopped at HOLLOWAY's Hotel, Greta, for two days, and saw the North Eastern mail carried past on pack-horses, the coaches being stuck up in the heavy roads. At this time the main Sydney road went round by Greta. Mr MASON rode to Rockey Waterholes, near Kilmore and closed with the owner, Mr TRAINOR, for the purchase of "Fifteen Mile Creek" Station. In 1855 "Maraket" Station was sold to the late Mr STRAUGHAN (Mrs STRAUGHAN and some of the family still reside on it), and in February the MASON family started for "Fifteen Mile Creek," bringing 953 head of cattle and 133 horses across with them. Trouble was experienced in holding the stock, which endeavoured to break away during the night; but every hoof was safely landed. The journey over occupied three weeks. For the next 18 months the cattle were very restless. There were no dividing fences in existence in those days, bullock and horses frequently got away, necessitating long and rough journeys for the members of the family who went in search of them. Some of Mr MASON's cattle and horses found their way back to Maraket, while others were picked up in the Wangaratta pound. Things went along merrily at "Fifteen Mile Creek" station under the new owner and prosperous times loomed ahead. [next part to follow]