Whilst travelling recently we stopped at a roadside café called ‘Beekeepers Inn Café’ located at 2319 Mitchell Highway, Vittoria NSW 2799 – between Bathurst and Orange. With the 1859 Brewery onsite, honey product store, antiques shop and plenty of country hospitality and great meals using seasonal local produce.
Following a hearty meal, we explored the antique rooms which house all things Australian. I came across one glass cabinet housing an object that caught my eye. It was a rather unusual trophy which was presented to the Narrabri Gun Club in 1905 by W. F. Buchanan. The card described William Frederick Buchanan (1824-1911) as a squatter, pastoralist, gold prospector and one of Australia’s largest land owners. There is a list of 14 property names spread around New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory.
His biography is very interesting reading and William senior is regarded among the most notable pioneers in the Australian pastoral industry. He purchased Killarney, Narrabri in 1882 from A J. and A. J. F. Doyle. On this 40,680-acre (16,463 ha) property he ran pedigree Shorthorns bred by Doyle. His pedigree sheep were high-class merinos and Lincolns, as testified by the gold medal he won for wool at the Calcutta Exhibition of 1883-84. Killarney became one of the best-known stations in New South Wales. It was worked with the adjoining station of Tarriaro, making a total of 80,000 acres (32,375 ha), until Tarriaro was given to his son William.
He died on May 2, 1911 at Mosman, New South Wales, predeceased by his wife and survived by a son William and four daughters. His estate was sworn for probate at more than £270,000 ($540,000). That is equivalent in purchasing power to about $18m in 2024. He bequeathed £250 ($500) to the Narrabri Hospital and £250 ($500) to St Cyprian’s Church of England, to which denomination he belonged. Those donations are equivalent in purchasing power to about $17,000 in 2024.
Having grown up on Murrumbilla Narrabri in the 1960s, which was associated with the name Buchanan, it was sheer luck that I happened across this piece of history. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal, explored the area, purchased some local honey “Brittle Jack” and thanked the owner Mark and staff for his hospitality.
Richard Barry OAM,
Narrabri
