Draft:Matilda Wallace a pioneer woman

• Comment: Seems like you started the Draft:Matilda Wallace which you abandoned after it was declined, instead of improving it and resubmit it again, you started this draft with the same content as the first draft which doesn't indicate why 'Miss Matilda Wallace' might be notable. ANU^writes 07:38, 23 January 2025 (UTC)

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Matilda Wallace was a notable pioneer pastoralist in Australia, recognized for her contributions to the development of the industry in the 19th century. Born in November 1838 in High Ham, Somerset, England, Wallace was raised in a rural environment where her father,George Hill, rented a cottage, garden, and ten acres of farmland. In pursuit of new opportunities, she immigrated to Australia aboard the North, a 1,238-ton sailing ship, departing from Liverpool on October 31, 1858, to join her family in Coromandel Valley, South Australia. At the time of her arrival, she was 20 years old and categorized as a nominated immigrant (specifically a dairy maid) sponsored by her brother, Robert Hill.

In 1863, following the tragic death of their first child, Matilda and her husband, Abraham Wallace, departed from Mount Gambier with a wagon, a pair of horses, bedding, and provisions in search of land in Queensland. Their journey led them to Mount Murchison, 16 kilometres from Wilcannia on the Darling River, where they briefly opened a store. Due to governmental restrictions on the entry of livestock into Queensland, they returned to Mount Murchison before relocating to Adelaide, traversing the Barrier Ranges via Mingary in South Australia. A year later, they returned to the region across the Barrier Ranges, assisted by two men, 25 horses, 1,400 sheep, and supplies for 18 months, with the intent of settling in the Colony of New South Wales in sparsely populated Barrier region at the frontier of white settlement.

The Wallaces subsequently entered a nomadic phase, moving throughout the Fowlers Gap area to accommodate their livestock's needs for water and grazing. The vegetation in the area was primarily saltbush (Atriplex semibaccata) and bluebush (Maireana sp.), interspersed with mulga (Acacia aneura), river red gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), and low-growing grasses. Despite the challenging arid climate, which featured mild winters, hot summers, and low annual rainfall averaging approximately 250 millimetres, wool production proved economically viable due to the high compressibility of wool for overseas transport.

The Wallaces eventually returned to lease Sturt’s Meadows, becoming some of the earliest settlers in the region prior to the establishment of Broken Hill, located approximately 110 kilometres to the south. Initially, Sturt’s Meadows functioned as a pastoral run with minimal permanent infrastructure but evolved into a station over time. Numerous ancient rock engravings can be found on the property, evidence of early Aboriginal occupation. During this period, land ownership practices often involved squatting, where livestock owners claimed unoccupied land. After returning to Sturt's Meadows in 1868, Abraham Wallace took over the lease in September 1869 and the prior occupant, squatter, George Raines, was displaced.

The main water source at Sturt's Meadows was Caloola Creek, which fluctuated in flow based on local rainfall. The Wallaces had to frequently relocate during droughts, often seeking water at locations such as Cobham Lakes. Matilda managed the property independently during Abraham’s frequent absences, overseeing livestock and staff, and often relied on Aboriginal people for assistance, particularly in food sourcing and midwifery.

Matilda gave birth to her daughter, Mary Ann Sarah Wallace, on January 28, 1871, at Menindee. Afterward, in late 1872, while pregnant, she travelled to Adelaide for family support, giving birth to a son, Alfred Abey Tom Whitfield Wallace, on January 24, 1873. Both children were baptized at Holy Trinity Church, the first Anglican Church in Adelaide. After the loss of her son, she began writing her memoir, "Twelve Years' Life in Australia, from 1859 to 1871," which was typeset and posthumously deposited in the Adelaide Public Library.

By 1876 and Sturt’s Meadows Station was 40,469 ha in area and by 1882 the station shore 32,000 sheep. By 1883 £24,080 had been spent on improvements. Wallace secured a lease for Elsey River Station in the Northern Territory in late 1878. He undertook an extensive overland journey in early 1880. On the way, he acquired cattle for his run. After arriving, in June 1881 he appointed a manager and then returned to Sturt's Meadows.P After retiring from managing their properties in 1884, Wallace re-joined his wife and bought a home at Reynella. Shortly after, he died by his own hand after an accident.

Later in her life, Matilda sold her home and relocated closer to her family. Following a period of illness starting in 1896, she moved in with her daughter at Largs Bay, South Australia, where she passed away on January 21, 1898, at the age of 60. She was buried in St. Jude's Cemetery, Brighton, alongside her husband and granddaughter.

Matilda is commemorated as a pioneer settler in Australian history. Notable tributes include a commemorative silhouette near Sturt’s Meadows Stationand a lookout named in her honour. In 1922, her identity as the author of her previously anonymous memoir was recognized, as a contribution to the settler literature in rural Australia. Her memoir has been featured in various collections. In the Barrier region, she is recognised in the Pioneer Women's Room of the Milparinka Courthouse and History Centre.