Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/365

 Chain of Ponds and at Lyndoch Valley, in the Gumeracha district, and afterwards at the Burra, which latter district was becoming famous by reason of the rich copper mines it contained. With all the hardihood of the pathfinder, and the irrepressible spirit of the pioneer, Mr. John Tennant decided to establish a station at Port Lincoln, on the western side of Spencer Gulf. To get sheep overland to this locality a tedious and dangerous journey north of Gulfs St. Vincent and Spencer was necessary, through unsettled and largely desolate country. Few pastoralists had been bold enough to essay so serious an undertaking, and those few met with many disasters. Nothing daunted, however, Mr. John Tennant set out on his dreary undertaking with his cattle; and sheep. Starting in the winter, the party got as far as the present location of Ouorn, when they were attacked by a tribe of aboriginals. Two of the party were murdered, and numbers -of the sheep were driven off and idly killed by the blacks. So serious was the depredation, that Mr. Tennant turned back to recoup his forces. In the following winter, however, he set out again on his intended expedition, and this time he was fortunate enough to reach his destination at Port Lincoln. The first man to get safely across to this place with stock, he passed on his way hostages to the desert Sphinx, or victims to the vengeance of the black men. Mr. Tennant, sen., purchased the Tallala Station, 15 miles from Port Lincoln, from Mr. White, of White Park, and there he ran cattle and sheep for many years.

Being but an infant when he reached the Province, Andrew Tennant imbibed the adventurous spirit of the pioneers, and grew up in the peculiar conditions of the real Australian bush. PLven as a boy he was prepared to go forth into the wilds and fight the rover's battle. To the youth of the "forties" there was a delightful attraction in being able to visit unexplored territory, unknown to civilised races since the creation. Andrew was educated at Mr. Wicks' school in North Adelaide, the Principal of which afterwards became Inspector of Schools under the Government. When 18 years old, young Tennant took cattle and sheep, and pushed further west than the Port Lincoln environs. Near the shores of Lake Newland, close to Port Elliston, he took possession of a locality abandoned by Mr. Pinkerton, who was forced back to civilised parts by the raids of blacks. Both men and stock had been killed by them at this place ; but young Tennant was not afraid of the aboriginals, and for seven years he kept them in subjection while managing his sheep and cattle station. After this period, he owned stations successively at Mount Wedge, Coffin Bay, and Streaky Bay (Pavaba).

In 1866 Mr. Andrew Tennant leased a large block of country, known as Baroota, at Port Germein ; but, as is so often necessary in the remote areas of South Australia, where the rainfall is scanty and uncertain, and droughts are fierce, he soon moved thence to other pastures. On this occasion he went farther into the North country, and took over the Orrama and Barratta Runs from Sir Thomas Elder, which had been depopulated by the drought of 1865-6. He remained there for a year or two, and then sold these properties to Mr. A. McCulloch. Next he purchased the Willipa Estate, in the same neighborhood ; following this up with the acquisition of Moolooloo (800 square miles), Uldulya (5,000 square miles), and Murapatina, near the copper district of Manna (1,500 .square miles). The Uldulya Station was situated in the interior, at Alice Springs, and included in its area the central telegraph station. Mr. Tennant kept about 11,000