Phillipsland; Its Present Condition and Prospects, as a Highly Eligible Field for Emigration (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1847 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V. THE WESTERN PLAINS AND THE LAKES. Kardinia, Dr. Thomson's residence, is situated on the summit of the natural terrace to which I have already alluded, on the right hank of the Barwon, the garden occupying the steep declivity in front. It was one of the earliest habitations of civilized man in this part of the country, and as it was necessarily erected on Government land, on which, of course, it was not expedient to go to much expense, to tempt the cupidity of some rival competitor at the next Crown land sale, it was constructed of slight materials, and was not intended to have the character of permanence. But the hand of woman can give even "a bush house" an air of domesticity and neatness that imparts a charm to the wilderness and makes the solitary place rejoice. The shrubbery and the white-washed walls without, and the recently fresh-papered partitions within, with the other unequivocal traces of delicate female hands, did not require the adventitious aid either of books or of a pianoforte (although these were both in view) to proclaim that people of cultivated minds and refined taste were lodged within the bush cottage of Kardinia--a cottage which the reader must recollect was quite remarkable in the district in being able to boast a venerable antiquity of nearly ten years. Although it was still early in the day when we returned from our morning visit to the ladies at Barrangoop, Mrs. Thomson was not likely to allow her husband and his friend to undertake a long journey on horseback on what the Scotch elder most appropriately called "a cold collection." After partaking, therefore, of an early dinner, we mounted fresh horses and "took to the bush," the day of our departure being the 28th of January 1846. The usual route...