McLaurin family bible, 1811, and portrait of James McLaurin, before 1891

MLMSS 10045

fonds

1811-1945

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs

1353489

0.47 metres of textual material (1 box), includes photographs

James McLaurin, grazier, was born in Scotland in 1821. He arrived in Sydney in 1838 and went to Singleton, where his father was manager of James Bowman’s station. In 1839 and 1840 he overlanded cattle to Adelaide, skirmishing with Aborigines and discovering the Edward RIver. After cattle dealing on the Melbourne market, he formed Allanvale station in the Westernport district with his brother Alexander. In the early 1840s with his father and three brothers he occupied an abandoned run near Deniliquin, renaming it Cornalla. In 1861 he led an unsuccessful raid on the camp of the notorious bushranger Dan Morgan who later plundered his homestead. By 1866 the McLaurin family held over 203,000 acres (82,151 ha) in the Riverina. In 1872 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly for the Hume. He died in 1891.
Reference:
Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 5, MUP, 1974

1. Leather bound Holy Bible with an evangelical commentary, published by Thomas Kelly, London, 1811. The flyleaves contain lists of McLaurin family members, in three different hands, 1806-1945. Loose items within the Bible comprise:
a. Black & white photograph of grave of Mary McGibbon McLaurin (1861-1888), daughter of Archibald and Elizabeth McLaurin
b. Print of etching of Reformers' Monument, Kay Park, Kilmarnock, 1885
c. Printed report of Erskine Church, Carlton, 1878
d. Blank census form for persons and livestock in Victoria, 1840s

2. Portrait of James McLaurin, hand coloured photograph, captioned on reverse "The late Mr James McLaurin of 'Yarra Yarra'", before 1891

Copyright status:: In copyright - Applies to annotations in Bible
Out of copyright: Created before 1955 - Applies to photographs
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales