Richard Craig (adventurer)
Richard Craig | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1812 Ireland |
| Died | 14 July 1855 Grafton, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Stockman, drover, explorer |
| Known for | Early free settler in New South Wales; exploration of Clarence River region; establishing "Craig's Line" |
Richard Craig (1812 – 14 July 1855) was an early free settler in the colony of New South Wales, Australia. Initially a convicted and fugitive prisoner, he later established himself as a stockman and drover.
Early life
Richard was born in Ireland to William Craig (1772–1828) and arrived in Sydney at the age of nine aboard the Prince Regent in 1821, accompanying his father despite regulations against such travel. In 1825, William was sentenced to three years at the penal settlement of Port Macquarie, where Richard gained familiarity with the local environment and learned Aboriginal languages.
Conviction
On 2 July 1828, Richard and his father, both working as butchers in Sydney, were accused of stealing five cattle near Richmond. William received a 14-year sentence on Norfolk Island, while Richard, then 16, was initially condemned to death. This sentence was later reduced to seven years of hard labour at Moreton Bay under Captain Patrick Logan. He arrived there on 24 January 1829 aboard the Edinburgh.
Escape
Craig escaped on two occasions in 1829 and again on 17 December 1830. He embarked on an extraordinary trek southward through the bushland toward the Queensland–New South Wales border and traversed the New England district. He spent close to a year living among Aboriginal groups near the Clarence River, acquiring extensive knowledge of the terrain. Returning to Port Macquarie by late 1831, he supplied valuable information regarding rivers, grazing areas, and runaway cattle. As a result, he was permitted to remain at Port Macquarie and enter private employment rather than being sent back to Moreton Bay.
Freedom
By 1836, following his pardon, Craig lived and worked as a free individual in Maclean on the Clarence River. There, he earned a respectable income through cedar cutting and guiding activities. His expertise prompted Thomas Small from Sydney to dispatch sawyers aboard the schooner Susan in 1838 to explore the "Big River" (later named the Clarence by Governor Gipps), marking the first European vessel to navigate this river.
During his journey from Moreton Bay to Port Macquarie in 1831, Craig explored the upper Clarence River region and the Guy Fawkes Plateau (now known as the Dorrigo Plateau). After receiving his pardon, he utilized this knowledge to establish "Craig's Line," a pathway connecting Guy Fawkes (Ebor) with South Grafton. This trail enabled settlers to travel between Armidale and the Clarence Valley more efficiently, promoting new settlement and trade opportunities.
By 1843, Craig was managing Eatonsville property along the Clarence River but had returned to butchery by 1855. He married Anne Baker and fathered six sons and one daughter. He passed away on 14 July 1855 in Grafton due to injuries sustained from a horse-riding accident.