Roy Reginald (Dick) MORPHETT, b. 14th January 1917, Morgan, South Australia, d. 26...
Name/Title
Roy Reginald (Dick) MORPHETT, b. 14th January 1917, Morgan, South Australia, d. 26th September 1996, Adelaide, South Australia
Roy Reginald (Dick) MORPHETT, b. 14th January 1917, Morgan, South Australia, d. 26th September 1996, Adelaide, South Australia
About this object
Roy Reginald Morphett was born in the family home at Morgan in South Australia, on 14 January 1917. He was the third child of Roy and Constance Morphett and was always known as Dick Morphett. He had two brothers, Gerald and Doug and two sisters Babe and Cons.
Dick grew up in Morgan and attended the Morgan School. At the age of 14 he left school to work for his father. Roy was a grazier who owned land out from Morgan, was a sheep dealer and an agent for Coles Bros.
Dick's first job paid 15/- per week and he carted wood for the family in a Chev National 1 ton truck. At age 16 he and his father drove to Adelaide in an Oldsmobile car and for 10/6 Dick obtained his driver's license.
At aged 16, drought set in and his father trucked 2500 ewes by rail to Eudunda SA. Dick was to go on the road with these sheep, however there was a delay in getting the horse and dray, so in the interim the sheep were kept in the saleyards at Eudunda and Dick would take them out on the roads around the town until the horse and dray arrived. From there for a period of approximately 8 months he drove these sheep following the best feed - travelling through the Barossa Valley and the Mid North of South Australia and when he reached the top of a hill and sighted Yatala Labor Prison near Adelaide, he turned for home. At this age he also worked on Macumba Station in Northern SA which was a Sir Sidney Kidman property, managed by Dick's uncle Ernie Kempe. It was here that he experienced first hand a `Sidney Kidman Stock Camp'.
Roy Morphett owned a lucerne block at Cobdogla SA. He had heard of the property `Hawks Nest' 40 km north of Barmera SA, which McBrides of Red Cliffs V had taken up, sunk dams and erected thatch rooves over these dams to conserve water. Roy and Dick rode out from Cobdogla to look at `Hawks Nest' which was a sea of green after freak thunderstorms had passed through. Roy Morphett took up the lease of `Hawks Nest'. He bought 2000 ewes from Jamestown and Dick walked them back to `Hawks Nest'. He then had to look after these sheep until the fences were erected. During this time he was accompanied by George Payne. One weekend they went into Cobdogla and went out with Alf the baker in his boat. They were late going back to `Hawks Nest' and George had to cut the track (wearing a white handkerchief on his head) and Dick followed in the horse and cart. They arrived back at daylight.
Len Wright of Elders, Wentworth, NSW contacted Roy Morphett saying the country was dry up the Darling and sheep were selling cheap. Roy would buy the sheep and Dick would bring them back, accompanied by a drover, two horses (Nugget in the dray and Lady Lossy) and his 3 dogs Ginny, Sparky and Lass. He drove 8000 sheep into the Loxton Saleyards - he had followed the channel from Lake Cullulleraine V where there was good water and plenty of feed from recent rains - the mob was divided into two lots of 4000 and at night the two lots would be fenced off and camp set up in the middle.
At one time the drover Frank Gray became ill with an appendicitis and Dick was left to drove with the help of 2 cooks. At the Lake Cullulleraine pumping station he was told to leave the area. The sheep were branded with the letters GV and Dick told him that the sheep were `Government sheep' and if he had to move on he would get him sacked!
Dick spent his 21st birthday droving sheep from Wilcannia NSW to North Lake at Barmera SA. He had his first beer at North Lake, his brother Gerald brought beer out to celebrate his birthday.
In 1938 Dick Morphett bought his first piece of land `Te-onga' north of `Hawks Nest' from Mr W Douglas for £1500. He had £700 saved from his sheep dealing whilst on the road and got a loan for the remainder. His first clip was 9d per lb for fleece and 4d per lb for locks. Dick then bought a scrub block at Monash SA which he fenced.
In August 1941 he married Patricia Bishop of Waikerie SA and they rented a house in Morgan at a cost of 15/- per week.
In 1942 Dick bought `Nilkra' near Cadell SA for £700 from Smiths. He would ride his horse out each day to `Nilkra'. He had 1000 ewes which would lamb at Christmas time. There would be green feed where the lagoon would fill up during the winter. First child Peter was born in 1942. Pat and Dick moved out to `Nilkra' and in 1944 second child Richard was born.
Drought hit and Dick sold his ute and bought a truck and went woodcutting for the pumping stations and river boats. He also carted posts to the Barmera Packing Shed. He then moved into the homestead of `Glen Rufus' station near Morgan, which was owned by his father, so son Peter could attend school. He then purchased a house in Morgan in 1949.
In 1950 he purchased land NW of Morgan. His father and brother Doug also had land in that area. Also in 1950 daughter Janet was born, followed by Robyn in 1953. In 1951 he purchased `Nilkra Park' at Mount Pleasant SA. This was sold in 1957. In 1956 he built a new home in Morgan. Youngest son Lyn was born in 1958.
There was a call for applications for lease of land at Jinka and Jervois NT which was previously Kidman land. Dick travelled to Alice Springs where he met Dick Crang of Elders (Dick Morphett was their fourth client). Dick Crang advised Dick to look for a badly improved property with plenty of cattle and he heard Mrs Golder wanted to sell Horse Shoe Bend Station located south east of Alice Springs. Dick Morphett bought Horse Shoe Bend on the condition of the right to have a Bangtail Muster to which Mrs Golder agreed. The Bangtail Muster was done, with Elders doing a count every night. When Dick first took over the property there were 8 waters - it now has more than 48 and is twice the original size.
It was here that a long friendship began between Dick Morphett and the Aboriginal stockman Jack Kenny. Jack remained at Horse Shoe Bend for many years and today one of his sons still continues the tradition. Dick considered Jack Kenny to be a wonderful stockman.
During the early years of Horse Shoe Bend, Dick ran both the Morgan sheep properties and the cattle station. When Peter and Richard finished school, the Morgan properties were sold and the family moved to Horse Shoe Bend.
Dick purchased Kulgera Station NT in 1963. He later sold Kulgera to his two sons Richard and Peter and continued to live on Horse Shoe Bend. In addition Dick purchased land at Two Wells SA to which he would send cattle from Horse Shoe Bend. He had this property for approximately 4 years. He also owned a house at Glenelg East in Adelaide.
In 1980 Dick Morphett sold Horse Shoe Bend to Peter and Richard. He bought a property ‘Corang’ near Penola SA where he ran sheep again, in partnership with his youngest son Lyn. In 1985 he sold Corang and purchased a property at Yanac V which he named ‘Nardoo’ and built a new home. He continued to run sheep and also built a cattle feed lot.
Throughout the next 11 years he was involved in other business ventures, one of which was building two sets of home units in Waikerie which he then sold.
On the 26th September 1996 after a short illness, Dick Morphett passed away in Adelaide aged 79.
Roy Reginald Morphett was born in the family home at Morgan in South Australia, on 14 January 1917. He was the third child of Roy and Constance Morphett and was always known as Dick Morphett. He had two brothers, Gerald and Doug and two sisters Babe and Cons.
Dick grew up in Morgan and attended the Morgan School. At the age of 14 he left school to work for his father. Roy was a grazier who owned land out from Morgan, was a sheep dealer and an agent for Coles Bros.
Dick's first job paid 15/- per week and he carted wood for the family in a Chev National 1 ton truck. At age 16 he and his father drove to Adelaide in an Oldsmobile car and for 10/6 Dick obtained his driver's license.
At aged 16, drought set in and his father trucked 2500 ewes by rail to Eudunda SA. Dick was to go on the road with these sheep, however there was a delay in getting the horse and dray, so in the interim the sheep were kept in the saleyards at Eudunda and Dick would take them out on the roads around the town until the horse and dray arrived. From there for a period of approximately 8 months he drove these sheep following the best feed - travelling through the Barossa Valley and the Mid North of South Australia and when he reached the top of a hill and sighted Yatala Labor Prison near Adelaide, he turned for home. At this age he also worked on Macumba Station in Northern SA which was a Sir Sidney Kidman property, managed by Dick's uncle Ernie Kempe. It was here that he experienced first hand a `Sidney Kidman Stock Camp'.
Roy Morphett owned a lucerne block at Cobdogla SA. He had heard of the property `Hawks Nest' 40 km north of Barmera SA, which McBrides of Red Cliffs V had taken up, sunk dams and erected thatch rooves over these dams to conserve water. Roy and Dick rode out from Cobdogla to look at `Hawks Nest' which was a sea of green after freak thunderstorms had passed through. Roy Morphett took up the lease of `Hawks Nest'. He bought 2000 ewes from Jamestown and Dick walked them back to `Hawks Nest'. He then had to look after these sheep until the fences were erected. During this time he was accompanied by George Payne. One weekend they went into Cobdogla and went out with Alf the baker in his boat. They were late going back to `Hawks Nest' and George had to cut the track (wearing a white handkerchief on his head) and Dick followed in the horse and cart. They arrived back at daylight.
Len Wright of Elders, Wentworth, NSW contacted Roy Morphett saying the country was dry up the Darling and sheep were selling cheap. Roy would buy the sheep and Dick would bring them back, accompanied by a drover, two horses (Nugget in the dray and Lady Lossy) and his 3 dogs Ginny, Sparky and Lass. He drove 8000 sheep into the Loxton Saleyards - he had followed the channel from Lake Cullulleraine V where there was good water and plenty of feed from recent rains - the mob was divided into two lots of 4000 and at night the two lots would be fenced off and camp set up in the middle.
At one time the drover Frank Gray became ill with an appendicitis and Dick was left to drove with the help of 2 cooks. At the Lake Cullulleraine pumping station he was told to leave the area. The sheep were branded with the letters GV and Dick told him that the sheep were `Government sheep' and if he had to move on he would get him sacked!
Dick spent his 21st birthday droving sheep from Wilcannia NSW to North Lake at Barmera SA. He had his first beer at North Lake, his brother Gerald brought beer out to celebrate his birthday.
In 1938 Dick Morphett bought his first piece of land `Te-onga' north of `Hawks Nest' from Mr W Douglas for £1500. He had £700 saved from his sheep dealing whilst on the road and got a loan for the remainder. His first clip was 9d per lb for fleece and 4d per lb for locks. Dick then bought a scrub block at Monash SA which he fenced.
In August 1941 he married Patricia Bishop of Waikerie SA and they rented a house in Morgan at a cost of 15/- per week.
In 1942 Dick bought `Nilkra' near Cadell SA for £700 from Smiths. He would ride his horse out each day to `Nilkra'. He had 1000 ewes which would lamb at Christmas time. There would be green feed where the lagoon would fill up during the winter. First child Peter was born in 1942. Pat and Dick moved out to `Nilkra' and in 1944 second child Richard was born.
Drought hit and Dick sold his ute and bought a truck and went woodcutting for the pumping stations and river boats. He also carted posts to the Barmera Packing Shed. He then moved into the homestead of `Glen Rufus' station near Morgan, which was owned by his father, so son Peter could attend school. He then purchased a house in Morgan in 1949.
In 1950 he purchased land NW of Morgan. His father and brother Doug also had land in that area. Also in 1950 daughter Janet was born, followed by Robyn in 1953. In 1951 he purchased `Nilkra Park' at Mount Pleasant SA. This was sold in 1957. In 1956 he built a new home in Morgan. Youngest son Lyn was born in 1958.
There was a call for applications for lease of land at Jinka and Jervois NT which was previously Kidman land. Dick travelled to Alice Springs where he met Dick Crang of Elders (Dick Morphett was their fourth client). Dick Crang advised Dick to look for a badly improved property with plenty of cattle and he heard Mrs Golder wanted to sell Horse Shoe Bend Station located south east of Alice Springs. Dick Morphett bought Horse Shoe Bend on the condition of the right to have a Bangtail Muster to which Mrs Golder agreed. The Bangtail Muster was done, with Elders doing a count every night. When Dick first took over the property there were 8 waters - it now has more than 48 and is twice the original size.
It was here that a long friendship began between Dick Morphett and the Aboriginal stockman Jack Kenny. Jack remained at Horse Shoe Bend for many years and today one of his sons still continues the tradition. Dick considered Jack Kenny to be a wonderful stockman.
During the early years of Horse Shoe Bend, Dick ran both the Morgan sheep properties and the cattle station. When Peter and Richard finished school, the Morgan properties were sold and the family moved to Horse Shoe Bend.
Dick purchased Kulgera Station NT in 1963. He later sold Kulgera to his two sons Richard and Peter and continued to live on Horse Shoe Bend. In addition Dick purchased land at Two Wells SA to which he would send cattle from Horse Shoe Bend. He had this property for approximately 4 years. He also owned a house at Glenelg East in Adelaide.
In 1980 Dick Morphett sold Horse Shoe Bend to Peter and Richard. He bought a property ‘Corang’ near Penola SA where he ran sheep again, in partnership with his youngest son Lyn. In 1985 he sold Corang and purchased a property at Yanac V which he named ‘Nardoo’ and built a new home. He continued to run sheep and also built a cattle feed lot.
Throughout the next 11 years he was involved in other business ventures, one of which was building two sets of home units in Waikerie which he then sold.
On the 26th September 1996 after a short illness, Dick Morphett passed away in Adelaide aged 79.
Subject and Association Description
Ancestors: Grandparents - Samuel William Morphett married Ellen Marie Rowe| - Gerald Stuart Kemp married Mary Ann Russell
Parents: Samuel Roy Morphett married Constance Isabelle Kemp
Siblings: Gerald Frederick, Constance Annie, Violet Isabelle, Douglas
Married: 23rd August 1941, Waikerie, South Australia
Spouse: Patricia Mary (nee Bishop)
Children: Peter Roy, John Richard, Janet Isabelle (Barnett), Robyn Mary (Reed), Lyn Donald
Resided: 1917 - 1963 Morgan district, South Australia|1963 - 1980 Horse Shoe Bend Station, Northern Territory|1980 - 1985 "Corang", Penola, South Australia|1985 - 1996 "Nardoo", Yanac, Victoria
Ancestors: Grandparents - Samuel William Morphett married Ellen Marie Rowe| - Gerald Stuart Kemp married Mary Ann Russell
Parents: Samuel Roy Morphett married Constance Isabelle Kemp
Siblings: Gerald Frederick, Constance Annie, Violet Isabelle, Douglas
Married: 23rd August 1941, Waikerie, South Australia
Spouse: Patricia Mary (nee Bishop)
Children: Peter Roy, John Richard, Janet Isabelle (Barnett), Robyn Mary (Reed), Lyn Donald
Resided: 1917 - 1963 Morgan district, South Australia|1963 - 1980 Horse Shoe Bend Station, Northern Territory|1980 - 1985 "Corang", Penola, South Australia|1985 - 1996 "Nardoo", Yanac, Victoria
Object number
USH00623
USH00623
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