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Blogs by Barbara Hartmann King
Inspiration for Characters of early settlement - Ancestors 10/31/2011 2:17:23 PM
Continuing with the inspiration behind my characters for my outback novels, who were the pioneers of this vast land, including my ancestors.
Before I begin with the ancestors, I have to tell all who do not know a lot about Australia that today is our country’s biggest horse race that brings the nation to an instant halt. The famous Melbourne Cup is held on the first Tuesday in November and, the nation does really stop. It is common for people who do not usually bet on horses to have a flutter on this special day or they buy tickets in a sweep stake. At the time of the race all work ceases for the two mile (3.2km) race. Every business, household, club, hotel, school, pub, institution (you get the idea) switch on the television or wireless. It really is the race that stops a nation.
I am going to a party myself today – I have a lovely new (ridiculous) hat -no, not really ridiculous; but a hat one would only wear to a Melbourne Cup party. There will be a fashion parade and I’ll have lunch with the ladies –the usual Melbourne Cup celebrations – I wouldn’t have it any other way and my ancestors would most probably agree – one has to get with it on Melbourne Cup day.
Now, something about these ancestors whose spirits are imbedded in my mind and in my heart: but most of all they were my inspiration to write about the land and the pioneers who took up allotments or became squatters on the land with their herds to eventually bring wealth to a land that had such harsh beginnings.
Just a smattering today – lots more tomorrow. I will begin with Grandfather, John King who was born at Chalgrove, Oxfordshire, England. He came out to Australia in 1853 as a young man with his parents in a sailing ship. He worked at various jobs, married and took up his selection at Maidenwell (Kingaroy area) in 1882. This is the ancestor who built a country town. He had a huge family who spread out with their own properties to be farmers and cattleman. John King was the first settler in Maidenwell, only an hour away from where I live.First on the agenda for John who faced virgin scrub that had to be fenced and cleared, was the homestead, which became the stopping place for the stagecoach where horses would be unharnessed and replaced by fresh ones and the passengers were given a meal and a bed for the night. He was an enterprising man who had a carrying business, a butcher shop and a hotel. The only original buildings remaining in the little Hamlet of Maidenwell now is the pub (still with the title King’s Hotel), which remains a very popular stopping place, and the large Community Hall, the venue for numerous and varied events.
