Jun2013_DAYBORO DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC
Est. 2004
DAYBORO HERITAGE TRAIL
Marker 4 – Community Cattle Dip
Cattle ticks were introduced into the Northern Territory from Indonesia towards the end of the 19th Century. They rapidly spread south, causing Tick Fever, better known as “Redwater”. To protect the local cattle industry, the dip was constructed between April and August 1901.
Cattle sales were also conducted at the dip yards, and the Community Cattle Dip continued to be used by local farmers until the late 1960s.
A community cage dip was also built on a reserve at Mt. Pleasant. The cage dip used a winding device invented and patented by Skerman Bros., early blacksmiths in the township. The Brisbane Courier of 20 May 1902 reported “…Before the drought began to be felt, it was thought that the worst calamity that could befall the district was the tick pest, and its attendant evils, and on the first sign of their presence the settlers with commendable promptitude and zeal clubbed together, and at considerable labour and expense constructed dips in various centres of the district, and by this means considerably checked their spread…”
The community cattle dip, which was often referred to as “Cruice’s Dip”, was actually situated on a Road Reserve adjacent to the property owned by William Harry Cruice. Readers may have noticed that this marker is located on the opposite side of Hay Road, not on the actual community cattle dip site. This was a safety ruling by the Department of Transport and Main Roads because of the volume of traffic on this main road into Dayboro.
Over the past few weeks, I have conducted 4 guided Dayboro Heritage Trail walks with about 50 people participating. Should any group wish me to do a walk with them, I would be happy to oblige.
DAYBORO DAY FESTIVAL
At the time of writing this article, there is only a week to go before the 22nd Dayboro Day Festival and when you read this article it will be over. I am sure that it will once again have been a huge success and hope that the organisers are happy with the result after the tremendous effort they put in to bring it all together. I am sure that our Society will once again have been joined in the street parade by quite a number of descendants of our early pioneering families.
HUGH HAMILTON FAMILY RESEARCH DAY
Friday 14th June commencing at 9.30am at “Dayboro Cottage”.
Two more family research days are scheduled this year on Friday 13th September and Friday 13th December. As you can see, we are not superstitious. A decision will be made soon on the families that will be researched on these days.
Carmel Bond, President – Ph: 3425 1717 (h) or 3425 2032 (Dayboro Cottage)
