Extract from the Diary of AUGUSTUS BOSTOCK who was a grazier on "Grasmere" run just north of Warrnambool. Gussy was born at "Vaucluse" Tasmania and came to Victoria as a young man, in the footsteps of his brother George, Michael Connolly and John Cox... AUGUST 1863..... Sat 1 - ARNEL (Fred) ploughing TOBACCO ground. Put new sleeper in end of stable. Put up new partition and commenced raising the paving. W. Storms. Sun 2 - Stayed in the house all day. Half the paddocks covered with water. Weather heavy storms and rain all day. Mon 3 - ARNEL (Fred) finished ploughing the tobacco ground and took home the horses. DREW (T) and myself working at the stable. A rather high flood in the river. Weather showery. Tue 4 - Repair stable. ARNEL (Fred) working in the garden - breaking up new ground next to the fence. Weather - Flood in river - rained all day. Wed 5 - Finished stable. JIMMY (Bostock) came from COOMETE (Hexham). STEPHENS(Mr.) came from Warrnambool. Sent DREW (T) to Woodford to let WIGMORE (Mr.) know about the man who escaped from Warrnambool was seen at MARGETTS (Edw). Got two absent pigs and killed one (bacon). DREW (T) went round to see cattle and to see what had become of the rest of the pigs. Weather showery. Thu 6 - WIGMORE (Mr.) called at breakfast time and another policeman came after and got two horse to search for the escaped man. Went to EAGLE TAVERN and heard man was taken. Weather light showers. Fri 7 - Opening up the dams. Sent the Boy into town to et some tea and sugar. Burned up the rest of the rubbish outside the garden. Plice returned Punch. Sat 8 - Planted cabbage plants. Run the sheep through ARSENIC for their feet. Went to Warrnambool and saw MARTIN (Mr.) about his account. Paid ERNEST (Bostock) rent for allotments rented by KEILLAR(Wm.) and ARNEL(Fred). Stayed in town all night. Paid off ARNEL Fred. Weather very wet. Sun 9 - Went for a walk in the morning. Dined at BATEMAN'S (Wm.or James). Went out to ERNEST'S (Bostock) in the afternoon. Weather showery. Mon 10 - Returned home and STEPHENS (Mr.) came with me. DREW (T) and brother cutting firewood. Saw WALTER(?) about erecting huts on BAYLES (William) land at ?? C........ River not crossable at small bridge. Weather fine and cold. Tue 11 - Cutting and carting firewood. River too high to cross small bridge. Weather sharp frost in morning.....rain and sunshine in day. Wed 12 - Went round cattle at PURNIM. STEPHENS (Mr.) went to PHINS(Thomas) about round rafters. Went to COOMETE to commence putting up stable. Weather - frost in morning...rain in afternoon. Thu 13 - Commenced at the stable. CLANSE'S DOGS (John Clancy ?) killed off ewes. Sent dray to Warrnambool for rations. Weather showery. Fri 14 - Working at the stable. WM.KEILLAR helping me in the afternoon. STEPHENS and the boy brought up the cow for JIMMY (Bostock) to kill for beef. Weather very fine. Sat 15 - Finished putting roof on stable. JIMMY (Bostock) killed the cow. Went to BOORTKOI (Hexham) in afternoon. Weather fine. Sun 16 - Stayed at Boortkoi all day. Weather - north wind. Mon 17 - JIMMY (Bostock) and ATKINSON (Mr.) left Boortkoi. WILLIAM KEILLAR working at the stable. Stayed at Boortkoi all day. Weather wet. Tue 18 - Returned home calling at COOMETE on the way. WILLIAM KEILLAR working at the stable. Went by the dam to see about slabs. W. wet. Wed 19 - Went to CLANSE (?? John Clancy) about his dogs. Bullock dray went to Warrnambool for things for Coomete. Went to DOYS (Mr.) about oats and potatoes. Cut saplings for rafters. Made gates for Coomete. Went to MARGETTS (Edward) about his sheep and rent for MANIFOLD (Thomas ). Had in sheep from front paddock. Marked lambs. Weather fine, except one light shower. Thu 20 - GEORGE (?? )went into town with old Prince, to get timber for Coomete. Putting carrots and onions in garden. Digging some borders again. Cleaning some old paper off veranda room. Putting up some paper in the evening. Weather fine. Some rain in afternoon. Fri 21 - Finished papering room. Bullock dray started for Coomete. Only went as far as JENKINS (Allan) and it rained so in the forenoon. DREW (T) working in the garden. Dogs among the sheep. Went to Warrnambool at night. Weather very stormy in forenoon but cleared a little in afternoon. Sat 22 - Settle small accounts. Gave MARTIN & Co. bill for thei account. Went to ERNEST'S (Bostock) in evening. Sent MANIFOLD (Thomas ?) cheque for his account. Saw MARGETTS (Edward) about rents. Weather fine. Sun 23 - Went to Church in forenoon. Walked out to ERNEST'S (Bostock) in the afternoon. Weather very stormy. Mon 24 - Went down with MacGREGOR (Samuel) to see some cattle he had for sale down at TOWER HILL SWAMP. Returned to Warrnambool late in the evening. Weather showery. Tue 25 - Attended Court for the first time... Dogs among the sheep. Weather very fine. Wed 26 - BRENNAN (Mr.) came in about loading for Coomete. Saw Mr.WARE about sending things by BRENNAN (Mr.). Stayed in town all night and spent the evening at Mr.PATERSON'S (Robert Brand Paterson). Weather fine. Thu 27 - Returned home before brreakfast. Called at MARGETTS (Edward) to let him know that some of his sheep were in the pound. River rather high. DREW'S (Mr.T.) brother went to PATERSONS (Robert Brand Paterson) and Mrs.DREW went with him. Dogs killed some more sheep. DREW (T) and STEPHENS (Mr.) went round to see if they could see anything of dogs. Weather stormy and wet. Fri 28 - Called MacLAREN (Mr.) and IDEN (Mr.) about their dogs. Went to forest to see WALKER (Mr.) about shearing and to see splitters about wire posts. Laid baits for dogs all around paddock. PALMER (Octavius Frederick William) came with his waggon to get trees for his new place. River rising pretty fast. Sent boy home with Latta's pigs. Weather hot and very stormy. Sat 29 - STEPHENS (Mr.) went round the cattle at PURNIM. Went over to the LAKE (Wooloongoon) with PALMER (O.F.W.) and from there into Warrnambool..Stayed all night. Weather very stormy. Sun 30 - To Church in morning. DREW (Mr.T.) brought in Punch for me. There was a flood in the river. Stayed in town all night. Weather very stormy. Mon 31 - Paid TOM'S ACCOUNT (Bostock) into the bank. Returned home. Water still over NICOL'S BRIDGE. That was the last day of August 1863..... Enjoy your days...Thelma Birrell Bostock Betts Barker Blease Wilkinson http://birrell.1hwy.com/index.htm Cox Upjohn Connell of Wimborne www.angelfire.com/rnb/mrbirrell/ Jas Cox Connell Collins http://matthewbirrell.tripod.com/index.htm