Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939), Saturday 10 March 1906, page 29


AMONG THE BURNETT STATIONS.

KILKIVAN STATION.

By "SAMOHT."

Kilkivan station is about three miles from the rising township of Kilkivan, and may lay claim to being one of the oldest and best-known in the Burnett and Wide

Bay districts. At this happy season, when the land seems smiling in its plentitude of all that adorns the face of Nature, no picture could be more delightful, more perfectly pastoral than that which pre-sents itself at once or after a lengthened gaze, on the approach to the station from the many hilltops surrounding it, but principally from the veranda of the fine homestead itself. Wide Bay Creek, look-ing from the east end of the house, shows a very fine sweep of water, a touch here and there of golden sands, and banks, flower-decked, thick and wild in luxuri-ance of verdancy, and overshadowed by giant gums. Up from the creek runs a round hillock, and there on the top, be neath a simple cross of marble, rests Mr. George Jones, late owner of Kilkivan sta-tion, and one of the best and kindest of men. Across to the right, on a mount towering over an old woolshed, still stand-ing intact, a link with the romantic busy sheep days of many years now gone, stands out the grave of one of the early owners of Kilkivan, and one who was a pioneer—Mr. John Daniel Mactaggart, buried thirty-five years ago. During recent years this fine property, which was at one time one of the largest of pastoral holdings, has been much selected, more so than most station hold-ings ; still it is yet a large and desirable estate, and is managed for the trustees with every success by Mr. Norman Jones, son of the late Mr. George Jones. The herd is of the purest Hereford breed, and numbers several thousands. Every neces-sary and up-to-date improvement for the proper and complete working of a station is found here. A famous Kilkivan sire is Fusillade, a thoroughbred horse, now old, but in his time famous, and all the station horses show only the best of quality. To end these notes without some reference to the kindness and hospitality of the Jones' family would be to forget what one of the oldest squatting families of the State has made perfect.