immediately afterwards branched out in business for himself. He became a grazier and agriculturist at York, in a small way to begin with; but by fair seasons and good management he was soon able to increase his acreage. He bought a property hard by his original land, which, however, he relinquished in five years' time to purchase 4,000 acres from Mr. R. H. Bland, Government Resident of York, who died about two years ago in Melbourne, This estate is in the York district, and has proved lucrative. Some twelve months afterwards Mr. Parker acquired several leases, and thereby considerably increased the extent of land open for his enterprise. Quietly supervising and managing these years passed. About 1858 he erected a steam flourmill in York, which he conducted in conjunction with his pastoral and farming pursuits. From that year he continued in business until February, 1882, when he retired and took up his abode in Perth, where he well bears his revered old age. Mr. Parker never experienced any difficulties with natives. He treated them with uniform kindness and firmness, and recognising this the blacks came to respect him. His father showed him this excellent example. While living in Guildford serious disturbances took place between the natives and the small white population, and it was to the late Mr. Stephen Parker's house that the poor natives went to make terms of peace. They placed implicit trust in him.
Mr. S.S. Parker was created a Justice of the Peace by Governor Weld in the sixties. He rendered considerable assistance to local government in York, and was eight years chairman of the Roads Board, and was also a member of the Town Council. He was esteemed as one of the prominent men in the colony, and Governor Robinson during his first term of office appointed him a nominee member of the Legislative Council. For eight years he sat in the Council under the terms of office of Governors Robinson, Ord, Robinson, and Broome, retiring shortly after the last-named gentleman took up the gubernatorial duties. He was a useful member of the Legislature, and showed an intelligent interest in the deliberations. Mr. Parker now takes little part in public matters. He is a member of the Aborigines Protection Board, and, because of his sympathy for and experience among the natives, he renders material assistance in their government and protection. He is a Diocesan trustee in the Church of England in Western Australia,
The sons of Mr. Parker have prominently identified themselves with the colony. Foremost is Mr. S. H. Parker, Q.C., M.L.C., whose biography is published in these pages. Mr. Edward Parker manages the Northbourne estate. Mr. George Parker is in partnership with Mr. S.H. Parker in his legal practice; and Messrs. James and John W. Parker are in partnership in connection with their father's other properties. These have become very valuable since the foundation of Coolgardie.
Nearly eighty years of age, Mr. S.S. Parker survives to tell the story of early settlement in Western Australia. The many years of his life have been borne with quiet dignity, and there are few such highly-respected gentlemen in the colony. He has not been idle, and many of his good works are memorialised.
THE HON. ANTHONY O'GRADY LEFROY, C.M.G.
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Photo by THE HON. A. O. LEFROY, C.M.G. Hammer & Co. |
IN the day of the prosperity of Western Australia it is an especial pleasure to write of the founders of the colony, of the men who through the long lean years antecedent to the discovery of gold did the State good service with unwavering fidelity, who were not to be tempted from their allegiance by the brighter fortunes of neighbouring states. Of these pioneers none had to face greater discouragements, and in many cases privations, than those who went out into the solitudes to reclaim the wilderness and to make homes upon the land. In developing the producing resources of the colony they had to be full of self-reliance, of tenacious courage, for the nascent Government could lend them no helping hand to smooth their early difficulties.
Every man of this advance guard of civilisation had to carve out his career, to prove his virile quality, if he were to maintain his foothold in the new country or to become the architect of his fortune. Railroads and bridges—the means of access to market—were unknown; the natives were troublesome, the soil comparatively poor; the rainfall so slight that most of the rivers were dry for more than half the year. Schools and telegraph communication could only be hoped for in the future. It was a serious undertaking to get stud sheep and cattle to stock a station, for the shipping trade was in its infancy; labour was scarce, profits small, the country unfenced and unimproved, and sometimes threatened with drought. It was necessary to build houses with the rudest
