Transcription

MORETON DISTRICT.
OCCUPATION OF SETTLERS, WITHDRAWAL OF THE PRISONERS.

This district was occupied as a penal settlement from 1820 to 1840.  In April & May that year the prisoners were withdrawn, & this district ceased to be a penal settlement.
The first settlers began to locate in this district  June 1840.
The [ indecipherable] [ passes?] over the gaps in the great Northern Range from Darling Downs began to be made rise of 20' Cunninghams of Flagstone, [indecipherable]   Hodgsons of Flagstone, Cunninghams being the principal used by the early settlers - It is reported at this time that Cunningham in passing over this gap left a glass vessel containing a draft or outline of his expedition in a remarkable projection which was found many years after by some of the settlers when Darling Downs came to be occupied.

 

SHEEP RUNS IN THIS DISTRICT

The most valuable runs in this district are situated on the table land near to the great Northern dividing range.  The licenses of Sheep runs in the range Country generally have a Cattle run adjoining these are for breeding stations & those situated in the low country are as noted for fattening as any of those in the adjoining districts. Many of the early sheep farmers of this district are occupying new Country in the North & North West, in Burnett & on the the Sources of the Dawson,  None of the sheep runs situated to the eastern of the range obtain the character of those to the North & North west.

REGARDING THE OCCUPATION OF FLEECE COUNTRY IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICTS.

At present the fleece country in the northern districts may be said to extend from Leichhardt
district in the north in 24º South latitude to the Liverpool range of mountains in the South or say,
from 24° to 32º South latitude. Sheep have increased & farmers have been successful on the ranges of Mountain country than in the low
Country -

The stripe of Country most suitable for sheep farming in the northern districts is on the great Northern range & the country lying to the westward on the Source of the Darling River.
the low country laying two degrees to the westward of the range in the Macintyre country is unfit for sheep farming.  the ranges extending from New England terminate on the Macintyre river within one degree of the range, the low country cattle Stations then commence and

 

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