Patrick Durack
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| Patrick Durack | |
| Born | March, 1834 Scarriff, County Clare, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Died | January 20, 1893 Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Pastoralist |
| Parents | Michael Durack & Bridget Dillon |
Patrick Durack (March, 1834 – January 20, 1893) was a pastoral pioneer.[1]
His family were struggling tenant farmers, and eventually moved from Ireland to New South Wales in 1853. Two months after arriving in New South Wales, his father, Michael was accidentally killed. He settled his mother and siblings, and moved to Victoria, he returned 18 months later with ₤1000.[1]
Goulburn provided insufficient outlets for Durack's energy, land hunger and organizing powers. Along with his brother Michael and brother-in-law John Costello, they set out to establish a property in South-west Queensland in 1863. Drought conditions almost killed the men, but they continued around the country pegging claims to some 17,000 square miles.[1]
In 1885, he retired to Brisbane. Later that year he purchased gold-crushing machinery from Sydney and began mining on the Kimberley goldfields. In 1889 he learned that financial disaster had overtaken his Queensland interests. He died in Fremantle on January 20, 1893.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Durack, Mary (1972). Durack, Patrick (1834 - 1898). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved on 2008-03-22.
