>From Dairy of Augustus Bostock of Grasmere, near Warrnambool. Victoria. MAY 1863 Fri 1 - Working at fence to keep pigs in. Went to Warrnambool in evening. TOM & JIMMY (Bostock) came down. Stayed in town all night. Sat 2 - TOM & JIMMY (B) left for home. Attended a meeting of the ROAD BOARD and stayed in town all night. Settled with EVERITT & WRIGHT (Chas Everitt)about the time their grain was to hold. Weather ; fine in forenoon but rained hard at night. Sun 3 - Returned home. TRIPP(W) and SELLARS (Thomas William)came out with me. Weather cloudy. Mon 4 - Carting timber to make four rail fence close to keep in the JOEYS. Went down to Woodford. w. warm and close. Thunder in evening. Tue 5 - Working at fence. Commenced repairing stockyard fence. Went to SCHOOL HOUSE as MRS BEAMISH was coming out to examine the boys. Weather showery. (Mrs. Beamish was wife of Rev.P.T.Beamish Anglican vicar.) Wed 6 - Finished closing the fence for the pigs and put some of the pigs in the paddock. Commenced repairing the stockyard fencing ready to draw cattle for Ballarat. Weather fine. Thu 7 - Working at stockyard. Put in some pigs. ATKINSON came from PALMERS (Octavius Frederick Wm.) and stayed all night. JIMMY (B) came. TOM (Bostock) went to Warrnambool without calling. MARGETTS (Edward) called and brought down the three steers I bought from him. Weather fine but cloudy. Fri 8 - DREW (Mr.) working at stockyard. JIMMY (B) left for home and ATKINSON (Mr.) for PALMERS (O.F.W.). Went to Warrnambool and stayed all night. Weather fine. Sat 9 - Drew got in some more pigs. TOM (Bostock) and myself came out and MARGETTS (E.) brought out Inkerman for me. Weather fine. Sun 10 - Went to see if cattle at Purnim were alright. PHIL HELPMAN came to go with cattle to BALLARAT. BATEMAN (James ?) came out to see about arranging for cattle. Weather fine cloudy. Mon 11 - Mustered 60 head of cattle ready to start to BALLARAT tomorrow. Went to DOYS (Mr.) about oats. He paid the balance of his account. WALCHES came and paid their rent for farm belonging to the DOVETON Trust. HELPMAN went to Warrnambool and came home again. BATEMAN (James) brought his cattle ready to start tomorrow. Weather very fine. Tue 12 - BATEMAN(James) and myself get as far as McGINNIS(Mr.) with cattle. ERNEST(B) and myself to BOORTKOI at(Hexham). Called at COOMETE (Hexham). Weather fine. Wed 13 - TOM (Bostock) drove us to KENILWORTH by Hamilton. JIMMY (B) started down to EDDINGTON'S to meet cattle. Weather fine. Thu 14 - MACKERSEY (John) drove us over to COLERAINE STEEPLECHASE (? town -Northern Ireland I suppose). Stayed there all night. Fri 15 - Returned to KENILWORTH. Weather fine. Sat 16 - Went as far as HAMILTON on our return home. Light showers. Sun 17 - Returned to BOORTKOI. Weather fine. Mon 18 - Returned home. Called at COOMETE and drew the weather for sale. Weather fine. Tue 19 - Went to Warrnambool to see the SPORTS in HONOUR of the PRINCE OF WALES MARRIAGE. Stayed all night and went to Ball. Wed 20 - BATEMAN(James) and myself went as far as his station on the way to the sale of MOONEY'S cattle. ARNEL (Frederick) and DREW (Mr.) working at yard for the pigs. Weather showery. Thu 21 - Got as far as the cattle sale and stayed there all night. Weather fine. Fri 22 - Returned to Warrnambool. Got back rather late and stayed in town all night. Weather wet. Sat 23 - Stayed in town all day and returned home in evening. ARNEL(Fred) & DREW (Mr.) busy making gate for pigyard. Weather fine. Sun 24 - Wetn to ERNEST'S (Bostock). JOHN MACKERSEY and TOM BOSTOCK in town. Stayed in town. Weather fine but cloudy. Mon 25 - Stayed in town all day. DREW & ARNEL (Fred) working at pig yard. Weather fine. Tue 26 - Went down to sale of cattle at COILS (Mickie). Bought 400 wethers from MacGREGOR (Sam). Went into Warrnambool to see fireworks. Weather - light showers. Wed 27 - Stayed in town all day. DREW & ARNEL (Fred) working at getting stone to mend road at bridge. TOM (B) returned home. Thu 28 - Returned home before breakfast. MARGETTS (Edw.) and myself went to GREENHILLS sale of cattle. DREW carting stone on to road and bridge and ARNEL (Fred) making up Asparagus Beds. Weather fine. Fri 29 - Went to MacGREGORS (Sam) and took delivery of 400 wethers I bought from him. Returned home through Warrnambool. TRIPP (W) and SPENCE (Basil) came out with me. Weather fine but very cold. Sat 30 - Went to COOMETE. Went around fences. Went to WARE'S (Minjah) and stayed all night. DREW mending road at bridge. ARNEL (F) working in the garden. Weather fine. Sun 31 - SMITH (David) and myself dined at STOCKMANS (?Charles) and called at COOMETE (Hexham) on way to BOORTKOI. JIMMY (B) returned from Ballarat. Weather fine. So ends another month in the life of Gussy, and some Western District labourers, pastoralists and merchants... Thelma Birrell Bostock/Wilkinson/Rafferty/Rhodes - http://birrell.1hwy.com/index.htm

Friends on Western District List. Some time ago I posted some names from a pencil list on 'old blue' paper re the Assn. Now I have found what is, I suppose, the original or prepared copy for next meeting for the 1871-1872 association. I have been able to add quite a few names and make other more readable. If you are loking for any one in the region or Ballarat, just email me privately and I will forward the word Document that it is added to.... For now Thelma Bostock/Wilkinson/Rafferty/Rhodes - http://birrell.1hwy.com/index.htm

Friends of Western District List. Sorry about the long delay, but it has been too hot to spend much sitting at computer... I trust you will enjoy these new days from Augustus Bostock's diary, written at his home"Grasmere', Warrnambool. JUNE 1863. Mon 1 - We left BOORTKOI (Hexham) before breakfast. Counted wethers at COOMETE (Hexham) and went round brush fences - returned home. ARNEL (Frederick) working in garden. DREW (Mr.) finished putting stone on the road at the bridge. P.HELPMAN came out and stayed the night. Weather fine. Tue 2 - Went to Warrnambool. Sent dray in and got things. Stayed in town all night. Saw Mr.WARE about waggon. Went with ERNEST (Bostock) to have another look at MAILOR'S PLACE. Called at WOODFORD to a meeting of the AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. W.fine. Wed 3 - Settled with JAMES AITKIN (J.W.M.Aitkin) about Mrs.AITKIN'S (Mary M.Aitkin) interests. WARE & MUSGROVE (A.W.)came and I sold MR.WARE a waggon and harness. Saw WILSON(John) about sheep and pigs. Weather very fine. Thu 4 - Mustered pigs and put them in yard. ARNEL (Fred) working in garden. Bullock dray came from COOMETE. Weather fine. Fri 5 - Bullock dray went to Warrnambool for things for Coomete. Culled all boar pigs we had. Sent James (J.Bostock ?) to MATHERSON'S (George) about their pig cut tobacco. Got plough from MARGETTS (Edw.) ready to send by dray to Coomete. Went to DOYS about his pig. Looked through young half-bred rams. Dray not returned from ? Weather showery. Sat 6 - Bullock Dray left for Coomete. Went to Purnim, called at MARGETTS (Edw.). Culled the young rams not wanted. JIMMY (Bostock) came down and we went into Warrnambool. Weather wet. Sun 7 - Went out to ERNEST'S (Bostock). Returned to town in the evening. Stayed in town all night. Weather - light showers. Mon 8 - Returned home. JIMMY (Bostock) left for Coomete. DREW (Mr.) securing the fencing in the paddock next to the road against the pigs. ARNEL (Fred) absent. WM.COOPER came down for RASPBERRY CANES. Commenced making a gate for Coomete. W. light showers. Tue 9 - WM.COOPER getting up RASPBERRY CANES. ARNEL (Fred) working in garden. DREW (Mr.) cutting firewood ready to cart in. Finished one gate and commenced another. Weather light showers. Wed 10 - DREW (Mr.) carted in firewood. ARNEL (F) working in garden. Making gates for Coomete. Weather frosty morning, fine day. Thu 11 - Went to ERNEST'S (Bostock) for breakfast. Left my horse and went to town with ERNEST (B). Stayed all night. Weather fine. Fri 12 - Arranged with ERNEST (Bostock- brother) about mortgage on sheep. Stayed in town all night to get to the PLAY, but ACTORS did not come. ARNEL(F.) and DREW(Mr.) working in the garden. Weather fine. Sat 13 - Went with MacGREGOR (Samuel) to see his cattle at FARNHAM. Agreed to take 25. Returned to Warrnambool. Attended the meeting of the ROAD BOARD and stayed in town all night. Went to CONCERT. Weather fine. Sun 14 - TRIPP(W.) and myself came out to breakfast. MATSON(Henry), ATKINSON (Mr.) and PALMER (Octavius Frederick Wm.) came out to dinner. We all went to town in evening and stayed in town all night. TOM (T.E.Bostock) came down. Weather fine. Mon 15 - Went to MacGREGOR'S (Samuel) for breakfast. Took delivery of cattle - brought home. ATKINSON (Mr.) came with me. W.fine. Tue 16 - TOM (Bostock) and ATKINSON(Mr.) came out from Warrnambool with me and stayed all night on way to Boortkoi. Weather fine. Wed 17 - TOM (B) & ATKINSON (Mr.) left for Boortkoi. Went to township and WM.KEILLAR paid his rent. DREW (Mr.) went to WOODFORD about his letters. Working at gates for Coomete. BRENNAN came with his team and stayed here all night. Weather fine in the morning - had a sharp hailstorm and some rain in the afternoon. Thu 18 - BRENNAN yoked white steer which I gave him in place of the old bullock. Moved old cattle to PURNIM and divided young cattle to different paddocks. Brought MRS.AITKIN'S cow (Mary M.(Manifold) AITKIN) and bull home from DOYS. Put 4 heifers in back paddock to the bull. Sent dray to Warrnambool to get flowers bought at sale at MacGREGOR'S yard (Sam)and to bring out BAG of FLOUR. W. very fine. Fri 19 - Put all sheep through ARSENIC for their feet. Young Osbourne (?) came to tell DREW (Mr.) about MARY'S DEATH ? Finished fourth gate for Coomete. ARNEL (F.) working in garden. JOHN CLANSE (Clancy ?) brought over the pig he brought from HEXHAM. Culled what lambs were old enough. Weather very fine. I hear there was rain in Warrnambool. Sat 20 - Put first coat of paint on gates for Coomete. DREW (Mr.) went to Warrnambool. Went round cattle at Purnim and brought home horses and put them in back paddock. C.HELPMAN (Charles) and young STEPHENS (Mr)came and I went to Warrnambool with them. Weather fine except a few light showers. Sun 21 - To church in morning. Walked to ERNEST'S (B) to dinner. Stayed in town all night. Weather fine. Rather sharp showers at night Mon 22 - Settled with MacGREGOR (Samuel) for the cattle I bought from him. Returned home. DREW (Mr) got in some more of the pigs. ARNEL (Fred) working in the garden. Weather showery. Tue 23 - DREW & ARNEL working in the garden. Finished painting gates for Coomete. To WOODFORD to Mr.KIRK'S SALE and sale of cattle in Woodford yards. Went with MacGREGOR (Samuel) and stayed at his place all night. TOM (Bostock) came. JIMMY (Bostock) and STOCKMAN ? stay at Grasmere. Weather fine. Wed 24 - Stayed in town all night. Agreed with SNOW (Henry a butcher) tolet him have 200 wethers ( 4 @ 14/- each) to be taken away in six weeks. Weather very wet. Thu 25 - Went to ERNEST'S (B) to get my horse. DREW (Mr.) mending fences at Purnim, as strange cattle getting into paddock. SNOW (Henry) got 30 sheep. Went to Warrnambool again in evening. Weather very fine. Fri 26 - Returned home. ATKINSON (Mr.) came out with me. PALMER (Octavius Frederick William) came over with me and stayed all night. Weather fine. Sat 27 - Went down to sale of cattle at COIL'S(Mickie). ATKINSON(Mr.) and PALMER(O.F.W.) went to Warrnambool in evening. W.fine. Sun 28 - Stayed in town all day. Went out as far as ERNEST'S (Bostock) and back. Weather fine. Mon 29 - Returned home. JIMMY (Bostock) and ATKINSON (Mr.) came. Settled with AITKIN & BOSTOCK for MORTGAGE of SHEEP. Paid CRAIG (Mr.) bill for sheep. Went down to Woodford. Weathere fine. Tue 30 - ARNEL(F.) & DREW(Mr.) working in garden. Cutting vine in greenhouse. MARGETTS (Edw.) got Prince and dray to go to town. Until next time... Sincerely in Searching.. Thelma (Bostock) Birrell at a very warm Maroochydore, albeit a little cooler than yesterday. Bostock/Wilkinson/Rafferty/Rhodes - http://birrell.1hwy.com/index.htm

Thanks Thelma. Not far out of Warrnambool on the Mortlake road you drive into, and out of a deep gully which we always called AIKEN'S GULLY. I wonder if it was named after the AITKEN who is mentioned so often in the BOSTOCK diaries. Does anyone know? Just a bit of trivia. Cheers Beryl Beryl O'Gorman Greensborough Victoria Australia List Admin ----- Original Message ----- From: "Thelma" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2004 4:01 PM Subject: [AUS-VIC-West] Bostock Diary...No.86 - June.1863 > Friends of Western District List. Sorry about the long delay, but it has > been too hot to spend much sitting at computer... > I trust you will enjoy these new days from Augustus Bostock's diary, written > at his home"Grasmere', Warrnambool. > > JUNE 1863. > Mon 1 - We left BOORTKOI (Hexham) before breakfast. Counted wethers at > COOMETE (Hexham) and went round brush fences - returned home. ARNEL > (Frederick) working in garden. DREW (Mr.) finished putting stone on the road > at the bridge. P.HELPMAN came out and stayed the night. Weather fine. > Tue 2 - Went to Warrnambool. Sent dray in and got things. Stayed in town all