Millar Buzzard

7.3
Moora Area

By late 1912, Major Vincent must have been seeking a buyer for the station as Millar entered a partnership with F. R Pearson, in Moora, which was announced in the Midlands Advertiser on 20th December 1912. This partnership was more than likely in anticipation of the sale of Dandaraga and Millar was probably seeking business opportunities in the Moora area.

Partnership with Pearson.

Millar was also a committee member on the Moora Race Club. On the 2nd of April 1913, he was involved in a sulky accident. Millar and a Mr Parsons were driving, along a bush track to the Moora racecourse, when the sulky hit a covered tree stump. Mr Parsons was thrown from the sulky but was not seriously injured and Millar hung on to the dashboard and had no reported injuries.

Accident on Way to Moora Races.

On 4th April 1913, Millar is credited by the Races Clerk for his contribution to the activities; “in the strenuous task of keeping the course clear Mr Buzzard was in vigorous and efficient attendance”.

Moora Races Clerk of the Field.

On 24th May 1913, it was reported in the West Australian newspaper, that Major Vincent, of Dandaraga Station near Maninga Marley, had sold the 170,000 acre station, with all stock and plant thereon, to a Mr J.G. Grant of Glengarry, Geraldton, at a satisfactory price.

Sale of Dandaraga

It was reported in the Black Range Courier and Sandstone Observer on 24th May 1913, that Major Vincent had left a week prior for Adelaide, South Australia. In fact, Major Vincent and Millar both left Fremantle on the “Marmora” on 21st May 1913 for the east.

W. S. Vincent and Millar leave Fremantle for the East.

Having lived in Beaumont House since 1907, Major Vincent finally sold the property in 1911. It was reported, on 4th March 1911, that a Mr. and Mrs. A. Bennett had purchased the property. The Major returned to inner Adelaide and rented a house owned by a prominent politician, Mr. John Downer. Alexander Downer, who served as leader of the (Opposition) Liberal party in 1994 and Foreign Minister in the Howard government, was John Downer’s grandson.

The rented house was on the grounds which later were to become St. Mark’s College and is currently used as residential accommodation for Adelaide University.

After his visit to the Eastern States, Millar returned to Fremantle on 9th June 1913 onboard the “Morea” [88] and went back to Sandstone, where on his marriage certificate in October 1913, he declared his occupation as a miner.

Cricket still played an important part in Millar’s life and on 8th August 1913, Millar was reported to have been included the Moora “Parker’s Team” to play cricket against Berkshire Valley.

Parker’s Team v. Berkshire Valley at Moora

Millar was also active in the Sandstone Wanderers cricket team in November 1913.

Sandstone Wanderers Cricket Team

On 12th September 1913, Millar was elected secretary of the committee formed to organise the Bachelors’ Annual Ball in Moora.

Bachelors’ Ball Moora

Millar was on the 1913 electoral roll for the Division of Dampier and his address and occupation were given as Moora, stock and station agent. However, even today, electoral rolls are historical and may not reflect the persons whereabouts.

Electoral Roll 1913 Irwin [89]

Margaret Mary Sheridan travelled from Moora to Sandstone and married Millar in St. Athanasius Catholic Church, Sandstone on 22nd October 1913.

St. Athanasius Church, Sandstone [90]

To marry, Millar and Margaret Mary were required to get a Special License as it is possible that they did not post their Banns of Marriage (as was required by law). The Special License was noted on their marriage certificate. Some conjecture surrounds the marriage as both families had reservations about the marriage, due to Margaret being a Catholic and Millar being a Protestant.

Millar Buzzard and Margaret Mary Sheridan Special Licence to Marry

Marriage Certificate

By 1914, his address on the electoral roll is listed as Thaduna Street, Sandstone. Oddly there is also, on the same roll, a Millar Buzzacote, with address and occupation given as Maninga Marley, grazier. I believe it was a mistake made by the electoral office and that both entries were for Millar.

Electoral Roll 1914 Irwin [91]

Millar was also active in the Sandstone Wanderers cricket team in November 1913.

Sandstone Wanderers Cricket Team

The partnership, in Moora, with Pearson did not last long as it was it was dissolved on 10th December 1913. This may have been because Millar was constantly travelling between Moora and Sandstone and was not wholly interested in the business partnership with Pearson.

Dissolution of partnership with Pearson [92]

Millar was reported to have resigned from the Moora Race Club on 10th February 1914 as he “has left the district for other places”. [93]

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[88] Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955), Monday 9th June 1913, page 3
[89] Ancestry
[90] Shire of Sandstone website
[91] Ancestry
[92] Midlands Advertiser (Moora, WA : 1907 - 1930), Friday 26th September 1913, page 4
[93] Moora Herald and Districts Advocate 10th February 1914 page 2