Australian Town and Country Journal at KellyGang 25/5/1872 (2)
Proceeding down the river bank for two miles, along a smothering dusty road, a farm and public-house came in view. The hostelry being a comfortable looking one I pulled up to give my horse a rest. The hotel is carried on by Mr J Turner. It is at the junction of the two roads, the one leading to Deniliquin and the other to Moama. For various reasons I choose the Deniliquin route. The night soon closed in after leaving. Turner's, and my horse being very tired, we went at a walk for the twelve miles to Tuppal station. Travelling in the dark at a slow walk was neither more interesting than agreeable. Crossing plains the road was scarcely discernible, and several times I dismounted, and struck a light to see if we were on the truck. At about 9 o'clock I saw a light in the distance, and approaching, found it came from a tent. It was the Tuppal Bridge contractor. He had been working, and had just completed a good bridge over the Tuppal Creek. Tuppal Creek is a watercourse only running in the winter. It is a strange one. It flows out of the Murray River near Tocumwal, and running in a line north-west with the Deniliquin road joins the, Edward River, near the township of Deniliquin. It is fed by several smaller creeks, amongst which is the Bellabulla and Warnock. About two miles from the bridge a white gate on the left hand side denoted the approach to the home station, which I reached at about 10 o'clock, with my horse almost knocked up.
Tuppal is historically known as one of Ben Boyd 's, or the Royal Banking Company's stations. It comprises; in reality, six stations, covering an area of about 210;000 acres, und carrying upwards of 70,000 sheep. "Tuppal, being almost formed of "back blocks," the difficulties to surmount in obtaining water were very great. In one of the wells sunk, for instance, there was water found in abundance, but nu imperial gallon was tested, and found to contain 936gr of solid matter. The principal ingredients were common salt, chloride of magnesium, with sulphate of lime, carbonate of lime in solution of carbonic acid, and silicious matter. The whole of Tuppal is fenced and subdivided into sixteen paddocks in areas from fifteen to twenty-eight square miles, About eight wells or reservoirs have been sunk, varying in depths from 120 feet to 145 feet. They are worked by whims. Tuppal's spirited proprietor, Mr Brown, has spent upwards of £10,000 in obtaining water supply for his sheep. This would seem an astonishing fact to pastoral occupiers in the mountainous parts of the country, who can scarcely understand how water can be so valuable.
Rain was much wanted on Riverina, and it came down heavily the morning after my arrival. About 11 o'clock there was an interval of sunshine, and I was glad to take advantage of it to continuo my journey. Mr Brown. piloted me across the plains, and I had an opportunity of seeing some of the stud flocks on my way. There, like I had only before "seen in pictures," and if uniformity of shape, and build, and beautiful fineness density, length, and evenness of character throughout are leading points, the stud flocks shown me will, I can say with due consideration, compare favourably with many much more talked-of breeds. About six miles from the house, over plains for some distance, we came to the woolshed, in time to escape a heavy shower.
Tuppal woolshed is an extensive and well-built structure, 150 feet long, and 50 feet wide, covered with double roof and galvanized iron, on a capital plan. Arrangements are made for thirty-two shearers, and there is a separate pen for each shearer. A screw press is of course used. The pens and yards are excellently arranged, and a force pump loads from the wool-press to the Tuppal Creek.
The Deniliquin road was regained a short distance beyond the woolshed. A free selection and a stable for Cobb and Co.'s coach-horses are a mile or so beyond. For eight or ten miles there is no habitations, and the road continues over dreary plains and through a few belts of timber. Another free selection is then reached, where a little cultivation was going on. The distance from the town was twelve miles and as evening approached I had to suffer the full effects of a tremendous storm of wind and rain. In the distance I could see some hours before it came, that it was raining heavily. When about nine miles from Deniliquin heavy masses of clouds arose overhead, and for some minutes I was in hopes that I should escape, by their passing to the left. But it was otherwise. First came a terrible gale having full scope across the plains: it had scarcely subsided when heavy drops of rain fell, which were succeeded by a storm such as I had never before felt. The rain fairly poured down like a waterspout, and occasionally the wind drove it with such force that the horse was compelled to stand still for several minutes. There was no shelter near, and it was past nine o'clock at night, when I got to Deniliquin.
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