Robert McEvoy,
born 8-3-1855 at Dry Creek, died 6-10-1931 Jamestown, not married.
Farmed at Bute with brothers Frank, Daniel and Dennis but after the death of Luke Plunkett, his mother's second husband, he moved to
Balaklava and worked as a mason until his mother died in 1920, when he returned to Jamestown. He died 6-10-1931 agd 77 years and is buried at Jamestown. It seems that
Robert shared the family passion of writing letters to the editor.
LAND ALLOTMENTS: Land Hundred Wiltunga, County Daly: sec. 86, 128 acres, Robert McEvoy, of Hammond, farmer.
Adelaide Observer, Saturday 1 December 1883, page 21
LAND ALLOTMENTS: Hundred Wiltunga, county Daly: sections 89, 80, 98, 107, 424 acres, Robert McEvoy, farmer, Willamulka
South Australian Weekly Chronicle , Saturday 15 December 1883, page 21
A GOOD SECOND HAND PONY REAPER, by Mellor Bros, cheap. Terms until harvest. A Bargain. For particulars apply to ROBERT McEVOY, BUTE POST OFFICE, WILTUNGA.
Wallaroo Times, Wednesday 2 September 1885, page 3
TO THE EDITOR: Sir, l notice through your valuable columns a great deal has been said about the Beetaloo water rate.
Being a disinterested person I here make a few suggestions, which, I think, are just and reasonable. A rate should be levied
on the lands benefited by the waters according to mileage. Lands alongside the main or branches should pay a heavier tax than
those miles away. Where a person haa to cart water six or seven miles he should get it for next to nothing, and the people
benefited with water alongside their property should naturally pay more, as they have the privilege of combining grazing with
farming, and the rate should be levied accordingly. Hoping these suggestions will help to settle the question.
I am, &c., ROBERT McEVOY. Hammond, September 6, 1888.
Robert McEvoy," Gawler South, urges that, "in order to find work for our unemployed money should be borrowed for the opening
up of our mineral country. With good machinery and good management the undeveloped resources of the State would employ every man."
Our correspondent objects to the proposal to create a covenant of purchase for Crown lands in place of the leasing system, and
suggests that the land outside Goyder's line of rainfall should be held in 4,000 acre blocks, generally under a lease for 42 years,
at a low rental, He also advocates closer settlement, the Government to make the terms as liberal as possible.
Advertiser, Tuesday 21 October 1902, page 6
THE PIONEER DAYS.
From ROBERT McEVOY, Alma Plains
In your issue of the 29th April, I notice that Mrs. Pickering, claims to be the oldest born
Australian living, she having been born in 1844. My sister, Mrs Quinn of Jamestown was born at Dry Creek on 29th December, 1843.
Her father and mother were married at North Adelaide^ in January, 1843. Her fathcr arrived in the province in 1839, and her mother
and her mother in 1840, in the ship Mary Dugdale, being then aboot 16 years of age. Her mother died on August 22, 1930, being a
colonist of a little over 80 years, in her 97th year. Her father died in 1865, on the Gawler River. Mrs. Quinn was the oldest of
nine children, one daughter and eight sons. All Mrs Pickering related is quite true, as my mother used to speak of the hardships
of the pioneering days. She walked from Dry Creek with her butter to get store goods in Adelaide. The good old pioneers are now
nearly all gone and mostly forgotten. l am in my 70th year, and have seen greatchanges and a good many hardships, but nothing in
comparison with those our good old pioneers.
Advertiser, Friday 9 May 1924, page 8