James Brown (Australian pastoralist)
James Brown | |
|---|---|
| Born | circa 1819 East Fife, Scotland |
| Died | 7 February 1890 |
| Occupation | Pastoralist |
| Years active | 1840–1874 |
| Known for | Avenue Range Station massacre |
James Brown (circa 1819 – 7 February 1890) was a pastoralist originally from Scotland who operated in South Australia's South East region. He is primarily remembered for the Avenue Range Station massacre, where between nine and eleven Aboriginal Australians were killed. Although he was formally charged and committed to trial, legal limitations on the admissibility of Aboriginal testimony prevented his conviction. Following his passing, his widow, Jessie Brown, founded charitable institutions bearing his name, notably the Kalyra Consumption Sanatorium in Belair and Estcourt House near Grange, both financed through his estate.
Life
James Brown was born in East Fife, Scotland, and emigrated to South Australia with his brother Archibald in May 1839 after enduring a 185-day sea journey. By 1840, they had established themselves at Allendale East with an initial flock of 640 sheep. Their agricultural operations expanded by 1844 to include 1,290 ewes, cattle, pigs, and cultivated wheat fields. In 1849, Brown founded Avenue Range Station approximately 50 miles northeast of Guichen Bay. The property initially covered 69 square miles and later extended to 83 square miles; wool shipments were dispatched from Guichen Bay. The station encountered difficulties such as periodic flooding and livestock ailments including footrot and coast disease. By June 1864, Brown had erected a ten-room stone homestead and enclosed the property with fencing at a cost of £6,000. His livestock numbers grew to encompass 24,000 sheep alongside cattle and horses. The station was also referred to as Kalyra, an Aboriginal word meaning 'hop bush'.
One significant operational challenge was the substantial public traffic traversing the station along the overland route to Melbourne and Mount Gambier. Each year’s first quarter saw roughly 60,000 sheep driven through the land, while bullock teams frequently caused damage to gates and fence posts. To mitigate this, Brown reinforced gate posts by setting them eight feet deep into the ground. Nonetheless, after an incident where a teamster’s wagon became lodged on these posts, retaliatory actions led to the posts being burned down.
Avenue Range Station massacre
In 1849, Brown faced charges for the murder of several Aboriginal individuals—estimated between nine and eleven—referred to as "unknown aboriginal natives." The massacre is believed to have taken place around September 1848. Protector of Aborigines Matthew Moorhouse launched an inquiry in February 1849 following reports of killings near Guichen Bay. An Aboriginal witness named Leandermin identified Brown as standing over wounded victims armed with a firearm. Brown’s overseer, Eastwood, was suspected of involvement as well. Moorhouse’s party discovered graves containing human remains and signs that some bodies had been exhumed and burned in an attempt to erase evidence.
Brown was brought before magistrate Captain G. V. Butler early in 1849 and committed for trial. Butler described the victims as comprising both elderly individuals and children but acknowledged that Brown escaped prosecution because the Aboriginal Witnesses Act mandated corroboration beyond Aboriginal testimony alone—effectively barring conviction based solely on such evidence. Despite strong suspicion against him, Brown was released on bail set at £500.
By mid-1849, progress in the investigation stalled: key witnesses either denied knowledge or absconded—Eastwood departed on a whaling vessel; Joice relocated to New South Wales; Leandermin fled as well. Remaining witnesses loyal to Brown refused to testify against him. The Advocate General directed continued efforts and issued arrest warrants for those who had fled. Brown appeared before the Supreme Court in September; however, the presiding judge declined to proceed without additional proof. By November, the case was abandoned.
The combination of settler solidarity and restrictive legal provisions ensured that Brown never faced trial despite widespread belief in his culpability. This case may have influenced amendments made in July 1849 to the Aboriginal Witnesses Act, which then permitted convictions based solely on Aboriginal testimony.
Retirement
James Brown's vast landholdings in the southeastern region of South Australia covered an area of 183 square miles, forming the foundation of his substantial wealth. He withdrew from active business in 1874, settling at "Waverley House" in Glen Osmond, where he passed away at the age of 71. Having lived as a colonist for over half a century, his sole notable absence was a short trip to San Francisco related to his property ventures. His spouse, Jessie (circa 1826 – 13 November 1892), died while visiting Niagara Falls accompanied by her niece, Miss Dougall. The couple did not have any children. James Brown was laid to rest at West Terrace Cemetery in Adelaide, and it is probable that his wife was interred there as well.
Philanthropic uses of his estate
Prior to departing Adelaide, Mrs. Brown communicated to Adam Adamson Jr (1821–1898) her plan to create a charitable foundation in memory of her late husband. Adamson suggested establishing facilities such as a residence for disabled children and a convalescent home catering to impoverished individuals. Following her passing, it was revealed that she had left a bequest ranging from £60,000 to £100,000 dedicated to this purpose. Consequently, the James Brown Memorial Trust was established and officially incorporated by Parliament in December 1894, with Adamson appointed as its inaugural chairman alongside trustees representing diverse religious affiliations. Estcourt House near Grange was purchased for £3,000 to function as a shelter for elderly blind individuals and disabled children. Additionally, 'Kalyra' at Belair was acquired for £4,000 and later expanded with the addition of the Goode and McBride wings. Trustee Sir Charles Goode played an instrumental role in securing the trust’s stability, enabling the institution to continue its mission to this day.