Death of George Faulkner (son)

On 9 December 1912 George Faulkner, 66, dropped dead in a paddock at "Victoria Park", Mount Russell near Inverell. 

It was harvest time, and according to a grand-daughter, George Faulkner was in the habit of eating separately to his workers. No-one was present when he died.

News of his death was reported in half a dozen country newspapers with several noting that an inquiry would be held. If an inquiry was held, it wasn't reported. Probate was granted in March 1913.

A family historian writes that: "In due course, 'Victoria Park' (1200 acres) was sold to the Government for Soldier Settler Blocks". The returned soldier who won the homestead block (300 acres) in a ballot had rented 150 acres of farm land at 'Victoria Park' for around 12 months prior to the sub-division. He married one of the Faulkner daughters, Leila, on 25 February 1922, the year he took over the farm.

The same family historian adds that Mary Ann Faulkner (nee Selmes) moved to Sydney and bought a house at West Ryde where she lived until her death in 1937. Before leaving Mount Russell, she was presented with a silver dish with this inscription: 5/12/1921 To Mrs M. A. Faulkner and family. A token of esteem from Residents of Mt Russell and District. 

"Victoria Park" remained in the family until 1965. The homestead was demolished in 1979. There is a small brick house on the block, which is now 60 acres.

"Victoria Park" in 1907-08

In 1907, George Faulkner, George and Maria's son, who was by then in his early sixties, entered the Sydney Morning Herald and Daily Mail farm competition in the Northern Tablelands division.

The prizes were attractive: first, £50; second, £10; third, £5. The judge, Mr H. Dawson, could award up to 100 points under each of eight headings: "general management; fencing and gates; water supply, and provision for same; dwelling and steading, including garden, orchard, and stockyards; live stock breeds, and suitability to district; cultivation - crops, provisions for storing, supplying fodder; plant, including all implements, machines, and means for carrying produce to market; situation, and general plan of improvements".

Twenty competitors entered, from Inverell to Armidale, Tamworth, Quirindi and Glen Innes. Among them, by chance, was Henry Voss whose family would mesh with George Faulkner's forty years on.

On Thursday 9 January, the Sydney Morning Herald reported the winners of the second and third prizes, including this sketch of "Victoria Park":

"Mr. George Faulkner, of Victoria Park Inverell, has 1140 acres. He is an older resident than either Mr. Harding or Mr. Cosh [second and third prize-winners]. Mr. Dawson says his place looks remarkably well; he has a nice orchard, the fruit in which is looking in remarkably good trim. The sheep are of the Riverina merino strain. There are 100 acres under lucerne, other areas are devoted to other crops, and there is a herd of 30 cows, milk from which is sold at the local factory."

The judge had this to say of Henry Voss's much smaller farm, near Glen Innes:

"Mr. Voss has introduced the L.K.G. milking machine on his farm. It is driven by a four horse-power engine, and by its means eight cows are milked at a time. The engine power is utilised for separating the cream as well as for other work. Two little boys milk between 70 and 80 cows, so to speak, in no time. As far as Mr. Voss is concerned, the milking machines appeared to be an unqualified success. The crops were rather backward, except the wheat and oats. But as a man who makes the best of his opportunities Mr. Voss is one whom it would be hard to beat anywhere."

Sydney Morning Herald, 30 November 1907, p.9 and 9 January 1908, p.5

Victoria Park, Mt Russell, c. 1901

Taken from a slight elevation, this photo of "Victoria Park", Mount Russell was probably taken by H. Billington & Co of Inverell, according to the State Library's curator of photographs.

George and Maria Faulkner's son, George, stands in the foreground, his back to the camera. His wife Mary Ann (nee Selmes), an older daughter and the youngest, a baby, are close to the house. Two women have just arrived. In a semi-circle, four young children are playing a ball game. Horses, sheep and cows are grouped to the right. In the distance is an open-doored shed, a smaller shearing shed (with an indistinct figure, perhaps a farm worker, outside) and fences. Two widely spaced lines of small trees radiate out from the house - the beginning of the orchard or, perhaps, only the suggestion of an orchard. My brother says they are tree branches stuck in the ground. And how can the buggy have just arrived when a small boy is in its path?