Matthew Moorhouse
Encyclopedia
Matthew Moorhouse pioneer
in Australia
, Protector of Aborigines
, pastoralist
and politician
in South Australia
.
Moorhouse studied medicine and obtained the degree of M.R.C.S. in 1836. He practiced medicine in Hanley, Staffordshire when the Crown appointed him protector of aborigines
. He arrived in South Australia
in 1839 along with the Rev. Ridgway William Newland on the Sir Charles Forbes. Moorhouse endeavoured to guard the Indigenous people's rights and interests, and sometimes came in conflict both with the authorities and the press. An attempt to teach the children in their native language was not successful, but his interest in this led Moorhouse to prepare A Vocabulary and Outline of the Grammatical Structure of the Murray River Language, which was published at Adelaide
in 1846. In January 1849 he was a member of the provisional committee in connexion with the projected South Australian colonial railway. Moorhouse went to England in 1856 and lectured on South Australia and promoted migration. He then visited North America where he travelled extensively by railroad and investigated various systems of education.
Moorhouse was a member of parliament in 1860 and for ten days in October 1861 was commissioner of Crown lands and immigration in the first Waterhouse
ministry. Having resigned the position of protector of aborigines he became a successful pastoralist in the northern district for several years, only practising medicine in emergencies. Moorhouse purchased shares in properties near Riverton and Saddleworth, but soon sold out and with Joseph Fisher and others bought 27,700 acres (11,210 ha) near the Hummocks. Moorhouse managed the station until Robert Barr Smith
bought it in 1870.
Moorhouse died after a short illness on his station Bartagunyah near Melrose, South Australia
on 29 March 1876, leaving a widow, two sons and a daughter.
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Protector of Aborigines
Protector of Aborigines
The role of Protectors of Aborigines resulted from a recommendation of the report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on Aborigines . On 31 January 1838, Lord Glenelg, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies sent Governor Gipps the report.The report recommended that Protectors of...
, pastoralist
Pastoralism
Pastoralism or pastoral farming is the branch of agriculture concerned with the raising of livestock. It is animal husbandry: the care, tending and use of animals such as camels, goats, cattle, yaks, llamas, and sheep. It may have a mobile aspect, moving the herds in search of fresh pasture and...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
.
Moorhouse studied medicine and obtained the degree of M.R.C.S. in 1836. He practiced medicine in Hanley, Staffordshire when the Crown appointed him protector of aborigines
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
. He arrived in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
in 1839 along with the Rev. Ridgway William Newland on the Sir Charles Forbes. Moorhouse endeavoured to guard the Indigenous people's rights and interests, and sometimes came in conflict both with the authorities and the press. An attempt to teach the children in their native language was not successful, but his interest in this led Moorhouse to prepare A Vocabulary and Outline of the Grammatical Structure of the Murray River Language, which was published at Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
in 1846. In January 1849 he was a member of the provisional committee in connexion with the projected South Australian colonial railway. Moorhouse went to England in 1856 and lectured on South Australia and promoted migration. He then visited North America where he travelled extensively by railroad and investigated various systems of education.
Moorhouse was a member of parliament in 1860 and for ten days in October 1861 was commissioner of Crown lands and immigration in the first Waterhouse
George Marsden Waterhouse
George Marsden Waterhouse was a Premier of South Australia from 8 October 1861 until 3 July 1863 and the seventh Premier of New Zealand from 11 October 1872 to 3 March 1873.-Early life:...
ministry. Having resigned the position of protector of aborigines he became a successful pastoralist in the northern district for several years, only practising medicine in emergencies. Moorhouse purchased shares in properties near Riverton and Saddleworth, but soon sold out and with Joseph Fisher and others bought 27,700 acres (11,210 ha) near the Hummocks. Moorhouse managed the station until Robert Barr Smith
Robert Barr Smith
Robert Barr Smith was an Australian businessman and philanthropist.Smith was born at Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, Scotland, the son of the Rev...
bought it in 1870.
Moorhouse died after a short illness on his station Bartagunyah near Melrose, South Australia
Melrose, South Australia
Melrose is the oldest town in the Flinders Ranges. It is in the shadow of Mount Remarkable, 265 km north of Adelaide. At the 2006 census, Melrose had a population of 431....
on 29 March 1876, leaving a widow, two sons and a daughter.