George Eliot (1816-1895)
A PIONEER OF 1829
THE LIFE OF MR GEORGE ELIOT
Sunday Times 15 September 1929 by M Gertrude Eliot
“In the account of the pioneer settlers who came to Western Australia on the Parmelia, given in your valuable journal, no mention was made of our father. Mr. George Eliot. He came from England as a lad with a close connection of his family, Sir James Stirling, reaching this State in 1829. He was the son of the Rev. Lawrence W. Eliot, M.A.,, Rector of Peperharow, Surrey, for 60 years. Sir James offered to bring him to Australia and his father gave him the choice, and boylike be accepted the invitation. After a year's stay with Sir James and Lady Stirling he returned to England, coming back to Perth a year or so later, and from that date his whole life was spent in the service of Western Australia. At his retirement from public work, he did intend to return to England, but owing to ill-health this idea was never carried out, and he died at Perth in 1895, at the age of 79. During the time Mr. Eliot was with Sir James Stirling he sent him about to various places on duty for him — on one occasion to York and on another to Albany. The diaries unfortunately are not forthcoming, but the late Mrs. Robert Brockman, who was often at Government House as Miss Walcot, told several anecdotes about my father. Sir James Stirling on leaving Western Australia gave Mr. Eliot 15 acres of land in Bunbury known as Bury Hill (lately owned by Mr. Edwin Rose, M.L.C.). Our father and his wife (nee Louise Clifton) lived at Bury Hill for over a generation. Sir James Stirling having appointed him resident magistrate, a post he occupied for thirty years. My father watched the town of Bunbury grow up from the very beginning, and during his residence there he had at times In the early days to act as doctor, as well as clergyman. He was a splendid rider and driver, and rode a great deal about the bush, having many little adventures. On one occasion I remember he said he was benighted so had to get off, tie up his horse, and light a large fire. He intended sitting by it until the dawning light enabled him to go on, but being very tired fell asleep and was awakened by something licking his face, which proved to be a dingo which evidently thought he was dead. On another occasion he was followed for many miles by a pack of wild dogs, and not having his revolver felt thankful that his horse did not knock up. Though fearless, he owned to once being a little fearful. During a very dark wintry night he missed his way, and coming to a large swamp heard the howl of a dingo, the loud croaking of frogs, and the clash of two bulls fighting. He had to get off his horse, sit under a tree, and wait till lt was light to move on, as unfortunately his matches got wet, so he could not light a fire. Sir George Grey's account of his being lost for 17 days is not quite correct. My father said he was given the wrong directions; he was supposed to be only three or four days away, and took provisions for that time, and he had with him a native black, Tom, who died in Perth when we lived in Adelaide-terrace. When the provisions and ammunition came to an end they lived on roots, etc, but because so weak from want of food and water, they sat down feeling unable to go on any longer. Black Tom threatened that if he found a native child he would kill it. However, they made one more effort and came out somewhere on the beach near Augusta, but I really do not remember the spot. To his great grief his little dog which he was too weak to carry any longer, was washed away by a small wave and was drowned. Sir George Grey, my father said, lost his own way and did not find him. Mr. Eliot was removed to Geraldton in 1870, where he was Government Resident for 16 years, and the expressions of affection and respect which were published at the time of his retirement from active service, are a great source of pride and pleasure to his children, three daughters of whom are the only ones living—Miss Anna Eliot, Mrs. J. H. Cooper, and the writer of these few lines.”
OBITUARY
DEATH OF MR. GEORGE ELIOT
The Inquirer and Commercial News 25 October 1895
“The rapidly decreasing ranks of the old colonists have been further depleted by the death of Mr. George Eliot, which occurred at his residence in Perth last Friday. Mr. Eliot had suffered some time previous to his decease from general decline, aggravated by an attack of pneumonia, and in spite of all that medical skill and careful nursing could do, he died when dawn was breaking to-day, surrounded by his sorrowing family. Mr. Eliot arrived in Western Australia in the hired transport ship Parmelia on June 6, 1829, with his uncle, Captain, afterwards Sir James Stirling, the first Governor of the Colony. He was then only 11 years of age. He grew with the colony, and in his early days explored a portion of it. In 1840, he was requested by the then Governor, Mr. John Hutt, to undertake the duty of Government Resident of the Wellington districts, the principal town of which is Bunbury, and he filled that office for nearly 30 years, during which time Governors Fitzgerald and Kennedy especially selected him at different times to proceed to the districts, for the settlement of important and difficult cases. On the death of Mr. Thomas Brown in 1863, (who was Government Resident at Geraldton) he was asked by Governor Hampton to fill the vacancy, but for family reasons he declined then, accepting the position, however, in 1870, after the death of Mr. Durlacher. Mr. Eliot remained in that office discharging the duties appertaining to it, and also acting as Resident Magistrate for the Greenough and Irwin districts, until March 16, 1886, when owing to ill-health he retired on a pension. On his retirement, Governor Broome wrote to the then Secretary of State (Earl Granville) in the following terms regarding Mr. Eliot:— 'Mr. Eliot's public service in this colony dates from the year 1840, and there is no one holding office under Her Majesty in Western Australia who has discharged important duties more honorably and conscientiously or who has occupied a higher place in the esteem and regard of all who have come in contact with him, whether in official or private life.' Mr. Eliot leaves a family of three sons (Messrs. Geoffrey, Lawrence and Pearce Eliot) and four daughters, one of whom is married to Dr. Lovegrove. The sympathy with the bereaved family is very general throughout the colony.”