Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), Friday 30 March 1923, page 12


A PIONEER PASTOR-ALIST.

DEATH OF MR. WILLIAM GILBERT.

Mr. William Gilbert died at his residence. Pewsey Vale, Lyndoch early on Thurs-day morning. after having been in poor health some considerable time. He was

in his 73rd year, and was the only son of Mr. Joseph Gilbert. who came to South Australia by the ship Buckinghamshire in 1839, and was one of the earliest settlers of the state. He brought with him a wooden two-roomed house in sections, which he set up in an allotment in Adelaide. He almost immediately turned his attention to pastoral pursuits. He first acquired land on the South Para, which he stocked with 300 sheep from Van Diemen's Land. The sheep reached Port Adelaide at a cost of £3 per head. The flock was afterwards removed to Pewsey Vale, where by means of careful selection the descendants of the

original importation reached a high stan-dard of excellence. Fencing, building, and planting were carried on with vigor, and gradually came into being an ideal coun-try home, surrounded by a deer park, vineyard, and garden. The deer park was admired by all who visited it. The breed ing and racing of thoroughbreds was un dertaken, and shorthorn cattle of the best milking strains were imported from Eng land. Substantial cellars were erected, and Pewsey Vale clarets, burgundies, and hocks soon achieved renown. The estate, which is extensive, is hilly, and well grassed, with a few rugged peaks, and heavy red gum timber on the flats. The place possesses in a marked degree all the natural advantages of a first-class pastoral property. Mr. William Gilbert was educated at St. Peter's College, and in 1864 proceeded to Cambridge University, where he finished his education. Inheriting his father's pioneering instincts, he started out into the interior in 1872, and stocked with cattle and horses the then almost unknown Macdonnell Range country, in the neighborhood of Alice Springe, where he formed tbe station known as Owen Springs. In 1875 he took over the management of all his father's interests and properties, which included, in addition to Pewsey Vale, the Mount Bryan freehold of 32,000 acres and the Oriecowe run on Yorke Peninsula. These properties he sold soon after his father's death in 1881. He devoted much time to the improvement of the stock at Pewsey Vaie, and soon secured record prices for his wool, and the celebrated "I.G." sheep and the Gilbert over Pewsey Vale brand of wool acquired the highest reputation. His fleece-wool of 1905 topped all Adelaide markets for the year, and gained highest prices in the two following seasons. On several occasions since his clip has topped the market, and has acquired a great reputation in London. With the exception of an importation of Nigretti rams, the only rams used in the flock outside the home-bred studs have been the Murray rams. Many of the surplus ewes of Pewsey Vale have been shipped to buyers in Western Australia, and some years ago the State supplied 400 ewes and 20 rams to the order of the Amir of Afghanistan, special envoys having been sent over to take delivery. In connection with his vineyards, which Mr. Gilbert conducted more as a hobby than as a business, he achieved great success. His vintages were well known for their high quality and regularity. The Pewsey Vale property was famous for the hos-pitality of its owner, who was very highly esteemed for his many admirable qualities by a large circle of friends, who were much shocked at tbe news of his death, which came as a surprise. because of late his health had seemed to be improving. Mr. Gilbert recently transferred his Wan-galere property to his son. Mr. William Gilbert, who is now conducting the vine-yards there. He leaves a widow (who was a daughter of the late Dr. Glin-dening, three sons, Dr. H. H. Gilbert (Adelaide). Mr. William Gilbert (Wanga-lere. near Pewsey Vale), and Captain T. Gilbert (India), and four daughters (the Misses Dorothy, Marjorie, Katherine, and Emily Gilbert). Two sons—Messrs. Joseph and John—were killed in the Great War. Lady Stirling, of St. Vigeans, Mount Lofty, is a sister of the deceased gentleman, and another sister, resident in England, is the widow of Colonel John Adam Fergusson, brother of a former Governor of South Australia.

Mr. William Gilbert.