Old news from Armidale and New England

Friday 20 January 1905, The Sydney Morning Herald

PERSONAL.

Mr. Richard Hargrave, who for over 65 years had been resident in the New England district, died yesterday at Armidale, aged 88 years. Mr. Hargrave was the son of a London merchant, and was born at Greenwich in 1817. He was the younger brother of the late Judge Hargrave. He arrived at Sydney by the ship Argyle, in April, 1839. Bringing letters of introduction to Messrs. Hughes and Hoskins, merchants and station holders, he visited several of their stations, and in 1840 entered into partnership with them in station properties. He took 5000 head of cattle across the McIntyre River, being the first white man to cross the river in that district, and formed the stations Callendoon and Goondiwindi, on the McIntyre; also Whyemoo and Beoboo, on the Severn River. The blacks in those days were very troublesome, spearing stock and raiding the huts, the white men’s only protection being tho old flintlock guns. In 1843 the failure of Messrs. Hughes and Hoskins, as Sydney merchants, was followed by the failure of the old Bank of Australia, involving all the station properties. Coming down to Sydney in January, 1845, he wrote to his father in England reporting his loss. He was urged to return home, but, declining, money was forwarded to him for a fresh start, and in 1846 he bought Hillgrove station, near Armidale, and resided in that district to the end of his days. At the time of the purchase of the station there was only a shepherd’s hut on Armidale Plain. Mr. Hargrave was the last of the members of the first elected Parliament of Now South Wales, representing the New England electorate, and sat for three years, but declined re-election. In 1847 he married Miss Williams (sister of the late Mr. John Williams, Crown Solicitor), who survives him, as also do six sons and one daughter. One of the sons is the Rev. Joshua Hargrave, Church of England clergyman.