Stewart, Donald ( - 1913)

Donald Stewart, a native of Loch Carron, Ross shire, Scotland, arrived in Sydney aboard the "Aloa" in 1857, at the age of twenty six. Shipping records describe him as a farm labourer. Donald's brother Duncan was already resident at Armidale, and Donald himself appears to have travelled immediately to New England, where he found employment with the Everett brothers of "Ollera" Station. He is first mentioned in the "Ollera" Monthly Rations Issue Book (A103, Loc. V3052/27) on the 13th of September 1858. Frequent mention of him is also made in the diaries of James Mackenzie (A103, Loc. V3052 54), manager of "Ollera", under whom Dona,d eventually became an overseer.

In 1861 Donald Stewart married Catherine Jackson, and set up home at "Tangley" (then a part of the Everett trothers' pastoral holdings), which he subsequently purchased. He is thought to have built the original home stead, of slab construction, at the time of his marriage; it was still standing and partly occupied in 1988.

In 1883 Donald Stewart left the Everett's employ and devoted the renainder of his life to developing "Tangley". He added considerably to its acreage and carrying capacity, constructed a new homestead in 1906, and a new woolshed in 1909. He was prominent in the district both as a magistrate and as an Elder of the Presbyterian Church, and was an active member of various local organizations.

Donald Stewart died on the. 19th of February, 1913, and is buried at Guyra.

Reference University of New England and Regional Archives Accession Records

Controlled Pastoral Stations

• Tangley Station

Related Pastoral Stations

• Ollera Station [1858 - c. 1883]