Further Information

Friday the 15th January 1875
Bellarine East
G. Ibbotson Esq.s
Farm

Up at half past 5 O’Clock, lovely
morning as yesterday. With westerly breeze.
I was well heated here last night and had
work for today. Mowing …. which runs
wild though the paddocks. About lunch time
in the afternoon I was sent to thatch a big
hay stack. Some sort of reed I had as thatch
which lasts many years in running. It
has been in use many times before. We are
only five persons here. The foreman and his
wife, two boys and myself. Good tucker
time of work from six to six. No hurry but
steady work at reasonable pace. Very
fine spot. The Farm runs down to the
beach of Hobson Bay (called Corio Bay) I can see the Heads
at a distance where all the ships of the
world are obliged to enter for Melbourne
William’s Town, Geelong, and so on by going half a mile southwards
This spot of Australia is a tongue of
land extending out to the Hobson Bay
and divides the water into two channels
the Southern channel takes the ships
to Geelong and the Northern one
to Melbourne, Williamstown etc etc
What a beautiful bay!

Saturday the 16th of January 1875
Spray Farm
Bellarine P O

Up as yesterday. Good breakfast at
6 oclock. We had a storm of wind and rain
during the night. Lovely morning. I resumed
thatching. Two fine carriages were driven in
about noon. Master himself with some visiting
squatters and other gentlemen. Some of them left
during the afternoon, but he himself
and another gentleman are going to
remain at the mansion until tomorrow
we were allowed to give up work early
as it was Saturday Evening. I took a long
walk after supper and was back before
sun set. I find that the working hours are
three or four shorter every day than where
I was before. Also the living is ten times
better, in fact this place is too good to last
long to an unfortunate man like myself.
The water is good and convenient the
big farm is complete in respect of both
buildings and fences also sheep proof…
…Over half a dozen of fine water dams…
….Fine lot of imported sheep
and cattle. Only one big paddock
under cultivation at present.