John Jackson Oakden
John Jackson Oakden | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1818 Yeaveley, Derbyshire, England |
| Died | 1884-03-31 Riccarton, New Zealand |
| Occupation(s) | Pastoralist, explorer |
| Known for | Early development of South Australia; pioneering runholder in Canterbury, New Zealand |
John Jackson Oakden (1818 – 31 March 1884) was an English-born pastoralist and explorer who played a significant role in South Australia’s early development and became a pioneering runholder in New Zealand's Canterbury area.
Early life
Oakden was born in 1818 in Yeaveley, Derbyshire, England, as the son of Daniel Oakden, a yeoman farmer residing at Bentley Hall in Hungry Bentley. In 1834, he traveled to Australia to work as a commercial cadet under the guidance of his uncle, Philip Oakden, a banker and pastoralist based in Launceston, Tasmania. Through his aunt Patience Gilles (née Oakden), after whom the Adelaide suburb of Oakden is named, he was also related to Osmond Gilles, who served as South Australia's inaugural Colonial Treasurer. After spending some time back in England, Oakden returned to Australia aboard the John Renwick, arriving in Adelaide in February 1837 to act as Philip Oakden’s agent for South Australian affairs. Osmond Gilles, who was widowed and had no children, became a key supporter of Oakden. In January 1838, he journeyed to Launceston to procure livestock intended for the fledgling colony.
Murray River expedition
In March 1838, Oakden joined an exploration group consisting of three other livestock importers—John Hill, William Wood, and Charles Willis—with the objective of identifying an overland stock route from New South Wales to South Australia via the Murray River. Their mission involved finding a feasible crossing through the Mount Lofty Ranges between the Murray River and Adelaide. Traveling on horseback with packhorses, they traversed the Barossa Valley, where they named Cockatoo Valley, then proceeded northeast past Nuriootpa toward the vicinity of Eudunda, likely naming the Light River during this leg of their journey. Upon reaching the Murray near what is now Morgan, they became the first Europeans since Charles Sturt’s 1830 expedition to explore the Riverland area. Oakden's detailed account of this expedition was widely disseminated.
Between 1839 and 1840, Oakden held the position of Second Clerk in the Treasury under Osmond Gilles. In February 1839, he joined a syndicate led by William Finke—including Gilles—that acquired rights to purchase land in Glenelg town at £1 per acre; however, Oakden did not fully realize financial gains from this venture.
Kadlunga, South Australia
In 1839, Osmond Gilles partnered with eight others to form a syndicate that established the Hutt River Special Survey within the Clare Valley. Around 1841, Oakden transitioned from urban life to oversee sheep grazing operations on several properties in this region, including Kadlunga (also recorded as Cadlunga, Tadlunga, and Katalunga), which was held under occupation license by James Stein. Situated near Mount Horrocks and Mintaro, Kadlunga later gained renown as a premier sheep stud under Sir Samuel Way. During Oakden’s management period, Mount Oakden (elevation ) near Penwortham was named in his honor. He maintained close ties with pastoralist John Ainsworth Horrocks, whose brother Arthur resided with Oakden at Kadlunga from 1846 until his marriage in 1850; Oakden also acted as Arthur’s groomsman. Oakden leased Kadlunga from Stein starting in 1846 and continued managing it until 1850 following Stein’s insolvency in 1848.
Oakden Hills, South Australia
In 1851, seeking fresh pastoral prospects, Oakden formed a partnership with Henry Stephen Hulkes (1812–1884), grandson of British Member of Parliament James Hulkes, to explore northern parts of South Australia. Their expedition reached the remote western shores of Lake Torrens, surpassing what was previously considered an impassable barrier known as 'Horse-Shoe Lake,' thereby opening new routes for subsequent exploration. The Oakden Hills and Hulkes Hills located within the Woomera area were named after them during the 1858 Babbage expedition; Mount Oakden stands as the highest peak among these formations. They established a pastoral lease nearby but abandoned it in 1852 when Hulkes departed for the Bendigo goldfields. Escalating tensions with local Aboriginal groups also contributed to their decision to leave. On their exit in March 1852, their camp was disturbed at night by approaching Aboriginal people; a warning shot fired by Oakden’s party caused them to disperse without harm. Today’s Oakden Hills Station—situated approximately 170 kilometres north of Port Augusta, between Lake Gairdner and Lake Torrens—serves as a tribute to his legacy.
Acheron Bank Station, New Zealand
After his time in the Clare Valley, Oakden formed a partnership with William Robinson of Hill River Station. In 1854, Robinson commissioned him to travel to New Zealand to identify suitable pastoral land. Following this assignment, Oakden returned briefly to South Australia to manage his affairs before relocating permanently to New Zealand in 1855. There, he acquired Acheron Bank Station near Lake Coleridge in the Canterbury area and successfully managed the property until he sold it in 1877, retiring to Riccarton. The Mid-Canterbury landmark Mount Oakden is named in his honor. Beginning in the late 1860s, he was active on the Canterbury branch of the Acclimatisation Society, playing a role in introducing trout and Chinook salmon species to New Zealand waters.
Between 1878 and 1882, Oakden traveled to England to visit relatives. He passed away at his residence in Riccarton on 31 March 1884 at the age of 66 due to liver disease.
Known for his genial personality and enthusiasm for sports—particularly horse racing and involvement with the Hunt Club—Oakden seldom participated in public affairs and remained unmarried throughout his life. Some of his personal documents are preserved by the Canterbury Museum. Although three mountains carry his name, there is no evidence that Oakden ever ascended any of these peaks.