Item 05: The Cedar Getters and Aborigines as told by Mr Loft, Terania Street, North Lismore, 1855-ca. 1890, written by (Miss) E. Bray, Lismore - Page 3

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I was born at Cambridge and came to N. S. Wales in 1855 in the Euphrates - a large sailing vessel. I went from Sydney to Black Creek - now called Branxton - and after wandering round the Hunter River district for about eight years, went back to Sydney and took a boat to the Clarence River. From there I travelled in the first dray to come through the scrub to Casino. I arrived on Richmond River in 1864 and have been here ever since.

My wife came to Lismore in 1871 from Singleton. She travelled overland via Glen Innes, Grafton & Casino and the journey took eight weeks. The Rev. Blackwell, a clerygman[sic] in Singleton used to visit the Richmond R. district every six months as a part of his circuit and talked a great deal about the beautiful country here. When Mrs Loft arrived here she was rather disappointed to find that Lismore consisted of a few houses in the scrub.

I have experienced all the hardships of the life of a cedar getter. Often I have