Thomas Bowman

Story

Thomas Harold Bowman and his wife Catherine.

Thomas Bowman was born on June 19th 1829, being the 5th son of Edmund and Hannah Bowman of Askham, Westmoreland, England. This is in the Cumbrian area in the north-west known for its Lakes, Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. Despite the physical beauty of the country, there were some good reasons for the Bowmans to migrate. As farmers and graziers from an ever-growing family, the prospects for land ownership were greatly reduced in the homeland. Plus, there was the promise of a warmer climate where children would be less likely to die of bronchial disease and the prospect of wealth from the Australian goldfields.

Thomas Bowman arrived in Melbourne with his brother Parker on the S.S. Champion of the Seas on October 1855. After briefly visiting the Victorian goldfields, he was employed by his cousin Edmund Bowman to manage the leased properties at Crystal Brook in South Australia. Edmund had previously arrived in Adelaide 1838 via the S.S. Parsea from Tasmania, where his father John Bowman was farming. After the Parsea was shipwrecked Edmund returned in 1839 with a few sheep and later persuaded all of the John Bowman family to leave Tasmania. This branch of the Bowmans eventually took up large holdings and leases of land. It was Edmund\’s son (Edmund Bowman Jr.) who built Martindale Hall near Clare Ð which was portrayed in the film, ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock\’.

On July 28th 1859 Thomas married Catherine Hooper, daughter of Jacob and Catherine Hooper. The Hooper family had arrived in 1849 and settled in Salisbury until they moved to Black Springs. Thomas and Catherine remained in the Crystal Brook area until 1864 when, with their three children, they moved to Edmund\’s Pt. Wakefield station until 1872. The family now including eight children, moved to Maitland on Yorke Peninsula where Thomas brought an excellent piece of farmland. This final journey would not have been easy travelling by bullock wagons with all their possessions.

At first there was no township at Maitland Ð only stretches of mallee scrub. Their homestead began as a two-roomed cottage, but other rooms were added as the family grew to include 12 children. Being virgin country Thomas had to clear the area, build a home, and maintain the working equipment Ð all of which would have taken a many man-hours. Also, as there was no medical assistance, only herbal remedies were used for any sickness. A governess was employed to educate the children until the Maitland Primary School was opened in 1878. Catherine always made an annual visit to Adelaide by sea Ð crossing St Vincent\’s Gulf on one of the wheat Ketches. She would return with all the required commodities to run the household for the next twelve months.

Early records reveal that the Bowmans of Askham had uncanny skills of predicting the weather and water divining. Therefore, Thomas could find water in places which even confounded the local Aboriginal people. The sons of Thomas worked very hard on the farm, and with their sisters they established a 15 acre orchard below the homestead which helped to supplement food supplies.

Thomas was very community minded and helped to establish the local Methodist Church, the library, and was the first president of the Maitland show society. The Bowman family had great singing voices and their home became known for its Sunday evening music sessions. Despite belonging to the Methodist Church where dancing was forbidden, the Bowmans were permitted to attend the local Balls because their musical talents were always in demand. Like her husband, Catherine was also admired in the community. On her 80th birthday she was given a bottle of perfume and told that her life was ‘like the fragrance emanating from the beautiful perfume which exerted influence over others by her goodness\’.

In 1919 Catherine and Thomas celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary and eventually had 40 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Thomas died June 9th 1922 age 92 years and Catherine died November 2nd 1924 aged 87. Both are buried at Maitland, South Australia.

The descendants of Thomas and Catherine have always admired their courage, hard work, resilience and tenacity in establishing a wonderful foundation for our family in a new country.

All the Bowman pioneers left a legacy of care for the land, music, gracious homesteads, and a spirit of community endeavour. As a family we are forever in their debt.

Contributors … Malcolm Wicks, Dulcie Wundersitz, Josephine Wundersitz.

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