Cliefden Station records, 1835-1982

MLMSS 10009

fonds

1835-1982

9585108

Partially Microfilmed : Additional documents and copies can be viewed at: MAV/FM4/6481; MAV/FM4/6482; MAV/FM4/6484

0.64 metres of textual material (4 boxes)

William Montagu Rothery was born in England in 1809 and arrived in Sydney in 1831. In 1832 he and his brother, Frederick John Rothery, each received grants of land in the Carcoar district area near Mandurama on the banks of Limestone Creek. William named his property ‘Cliefden’ and built a homestead which is still owned by his descendants. After his brother returned to England, William purchased additional land in the district. ‘Cliefden’ operated as a sheep station and horse stud. In 1863 the property was raided by the bushranger Ben Hall and his gang who handcuffed Rothery, sat down to dinner, drank his brandy and champagne, and then made off with three of his best horses. Rothery died in 1899 and the property was inherited by his son, Henry Alfred Rothery.
Cliefden is one of the earliest homesteads in the Carcoar district and is historically important for its association with the early pastoral history of the region. It has been owned by the Rothery family from its foundation in 1832 to the present. The records of Cliefden constitute an important record of land ownership and the pastoral industry in New South Wales. They also provide valuable documentation of the day to day running of a large sheep station and horse stud as revealed in stock records, letter book, financial records and station diaries.

References: SMH Obituary 12/2/1899; Library correspondence file

BOX 1
Day Book, 1835-1840
Cash Book, 1836-1840 with records of wool clips, 1836-39, copy of letters sent, 1870 and list of cattle, 1881.
Station Ledger, 1848-1870

BOX 2
Station Ledger, 1868-1876
Station Ledger, 1868-1871
Stud Book, 1842-1845
Letter Book, 1872-1876
Small Notebook, ca. 1866-ca. 1878

BOX 3
Station Diary (unbound), July 1863-July 1865
Station Diary (unbound), February-December 1892
Station Diary (unbound), April, August-December 1899 (with page from Cash Account Book, 17 October 1899)
Station Diary (unbound), February-December 1901
Station Diary, 1902

BOX 4
Station Diary, 1911
Station Diary (unbound), April-May 1914
Miscellaneous papers:
Documents relating to in the Supreme Court case Rothery v Lomax, 1879, 80.
Letter from Orwell Garages to H.A. Rothery, 17 October 1934.
Annual Report of Animals Protection Society of NSW, 1899.
Flyers for open day and historical re-enactment at ‘Cliefden’, 1982.
Carcoar Chronicle and Blayney and Cowra Gazette, 4 April 1884.
Sydney Morning Herald, 24 Sep. 1879, 5 Feb. 1881, 17 Aug. 1876 and 13 Oct. 1885.
Baby’s bib, n.d. found in Cash Book.

In copyright: This collection has multiple rights owners
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales