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Report on the Examination of Crown Lands etc. in the County of Wellington
Appendix I. Exploration, County of Wellington - From Roger River to Marrawah Plain
Appendix II. Exploration 5700 acres State Forest Reserve - Parish of Lerunna
Appendix III. Parish of Warra
Appendix IV. Parish of Marrawah
Appendix V. Parish of Lerunna
Appendix VI. Parish of Riengeena
Appendix VII. V.D.L. Co's Woolnorth Block
Appendix VIII. Parish of Williams
Appendix IX. Parish of Togari
Appendix X. Parishes of Malompto and Terragomna
Appendix XI. Parish of Mowbray
Appendix XII. Parish of Ford
Appendix XIII. Parish of Poilinna
Appendix XIV. Parish of Gibson
Appendix XV. Parishes of Trowutta and Meryanna
Appendix XVI. Hunters Islands

Well. 1d.

APPENDIX VIII.
Parish of Williams (1)

      The parish of Williams is separated from Woolnorth on the
West by the Montagu River, and fronts to the north on Bass Strait.
With the exception of the sandy third class coastal plains, there
is very little Crown Land available, as most of the higher country
is held under timber lease. These sandy plains, about 6,000 acres
in all, are generally quite devoid of stone, carrying titree,
heath, button grass etc, and making fair rough runs for wintering
cattle, and being of limited extent are of considerable value to
the adjoining graziers and dairymen. As a rule, however, most of
the plains would appear to contain a layer of hardpan beneath the
surface, and will not grow timber, as they are waterlogged for six
months of the year. About 2,000 acres of land selected adjacent
to the town of Montagu, is, on the whole, exceptionally fertile,
including some rising ground of basaltic formation, carrying a
little sand, and some rich flats of sandy loam. Although rather
isolated, and chiefly devoted to dairying, sales of agricultural
lands, without buildings, have been recorded up to £40 p.a. which
proved the exceptional quality of the soil. There are areas of
good and fair first class swampy country, either stiff grey or
sandy loam soils east of the Montagu plains including most of
1,000 acres J.S. Lee & Sons E.F.P. The balance of the Crown Lands
on the East and Southeast of the parish consists of very low hills,
generally of patchy grey clayey soil, ranging from second class
to fair and even very good grass and grainland, somewhat similar
to Bonds Tier and Lunta Tier. It also includes small patches of
third class, usually gravelly country, and most of it has been
worked in patches for hardwood, for the past 30 years, about 3,000
acres being still held under lease. The country originally
carried stringy bark, myrtle, sassafras, blackwood, lancewood,
musk, dogwood, cathead, laurel and manferns. A large amount of
natural reafforestation of hardwood is occurring on portions of country
swept by former fires, but other apparently similar portions can
be noted where young gums have failed to appear in any quantity.
Most of this country would produce good crops when cleared up,
practically all good land being arable, and instances have been

Back to Harrisson 1928 introduction

Well. 1d.

APPENDIX VIII.
Parish of Williams (2)

noted where really good bottoms of grass and clover have persisted
however neglected and overrun with scrub. The mean height of
the parish would be under 200 feet – about half the maximum – with
a similar rainfall to the adjoining district of Woolnorth – about
40 inches and a mild temperature. The higher heavy lands on
the eastern side of the parish adjoin the Mowbray Swamp and as in
other instances will make excellent change country from the low
swampy flats. The Marrawah tramway touches a mile of the southeast
of the parish and is in close proximity of the whole southern boundary.
The main coast road passes right through the northern end of the
parish from east to west, metalled throughout, and all the good
land in the parish is within 3 or 4 miles of either tram or main
road to which extremely good grades are obtainable. There are
also a fair number of branch roads, very few of which are metalled
branching from the main road, these being the only constructed
roads in the parish.
      The only land permanently resided upon, is round Montagu,
where there is a cheese Factory, Post Office, School etc, and a
few lots along or near the main road. This parish is not as well
provided with flowing streams as the general average of the district.
      Reserve for Timber for Government purposes. This reserve
1,500 acres, is practically all tillable, and was reported upon at
time of survey as "land medium first and second class with musk
and dogwood scrub" I believe most of the commercial timber has been
destroyed by fires, and equally suitable land for timber could be
found elsewhere, which would be less suitable for cultivation and
would not monopolize a long frontage on the Marrawah Tram.

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