Chapter:

A PICTURESQUE CENTENARY
The Murdochs of Craigow
PIONEERING AND PUBLIC SERVICE RECORD
EARLY TASMANIAN DAYS

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ment of his career joined forces with his brother, now known as Hon. T. Murdoch, M.L.C. #33, in the founding of the well-known firm of merchants and auctioneers in the city. The Hon. T. Murdoch, besides his representation first of and latterly of Hobart in the Legislative Council, is prominent by reason of his energetic prosecution of his duties as a warden of the Marine Board, of which he has at different times been Master Warden as well as Deputy Master Warden. In addition to other offices he holds the position of Consul for Belgium. Mr. Robert John Murdoch #34 has for twenty years managed the affairs of the Hobart Savings Bank, and Mr. George Murdoch #35 is a well-known member of the legal firm of Murdoch, Jones, and Cuthbert. The daughters of the family, Ellen #25 and Antonia #37, married respectively Captain T. M. Fisher #133 and Mr. A. J. Miller #397, and are still resident at Hobart. The happiness of to-day's celebration will be the more complete by reason of the fact that the family circle of their generation, though far-flung, is unbroken.

It remains to refer briefly to connected branches of the family tree planted at Craigow by the famous doctor a hundred years ago. Besides his eldest son, Mr. John Murdoch, whose portrait is reproduced, together with those of the mothers of the Murdoch family prominent in the life of the State to-day, and a group in which many of them appear, Dr. James Murdoch had five additional sons. Of these, James #6 left Tasmania to seek his fortunes on the mainland, and with him, Peter #9, who died on the Victorian goldfields. A son of Robert #7 is to be found in Mr. James Peter Murdoch #455, farmer of Winnaleah, in the Ringarooma municipality, and in Mr. Murray Murdoch #669, of the Liverpool-street firm of Messrs. W. M. Murdoch and Co., Ltd., as also in the well-known personality of Mr. Leslie N. Murdoch #672, of Glenorchy, are sons of the doctor's son, William #10. His remaining son, Thomas #11, died at an early age.

Memories of a hundred years will be conjured up in recollection and imagination by the company of relatives, gathered in proud celebration at the old home to-day, and to their festivity will be added the congratulations and good wishes not only of the surrounding countryside, but of the many friends and acquaintances who will forgather by generous invitation from near and far.

REUNION OF DR. JAMES MURDOCH'S DESCENDANTS.

The family estate of Craigow, at Cambridge, was the scene on March 1, 1922, of family and public rejoicing and celebration, when the hundredth anniversary day of the landing in Van Diemen's Land of Dr. James Murdoch, of Craigow-by-Milnathort, Kinross-shire, founder of the present-day clan of Tasmanian Murdochs, was commemorated with all the enthusiasm suitable to the occasion, by a large assembly of his descendants and their family connections and friends.

The visitors travelling by motor-car from Bellerive and other parts were treated to splendid views of country freshened by the recent rains, and on arrival at the fine old homestead standing high above the main roadway, admired at leisure the magnificent panorama of river, estuary, and bay, fronted by stretching orchard and pasture land, and backed by ranges of hills spanning the wide distance separating Campania from Tasman's Peninsula. As many as seventy members of the family in its various branches with the nearer laterals of its ramifications sat down to the bounteous repast spread with traditional hospitality on the eastward-looking verandah of the residence, beflagged with loyal Scottish emblems, and the banquet provided the opportunity for an abundance of serious reminiscence and humorous banter.

At its conclusion, the present master of Craigow, the Hon. James Murdoch, M.L.C. #24, who was received with great cheering, rose from his place at the head of the lengthy table, and in the course of a brief speech thanked the many descendants of Dr. Murdoch for having forgathered. Practically all of them, he said, were direct descendants of the old gentleman, to whom it was doubtless very gratifying to know that he had left behind him such a responsible body of men and women. (Laughter and applause.) None of them had as yet been in gaol - (laughter) - and so far they had paid their way, and lived honourable lives. (Applause.) This, he hoped, they would all continue to do. (Applause.)

The number of those immediately concerned in the celebration was greatly swelled during the afternoon by visitors from far and near. Amongst prominent agriculturists making their way to Craigow from the surrounding farming country were Messrs. James Hanslow (of Greenfield), W. L. May (Sandford), Henry Dixon (Richmond), C. McKay, and C. McRorie. Others historically connected with the family were to be seen in Mrs. Robert Mather and Mrs. Peter Facy, both sisters of the late Mrs. James Murdoch [nee Clara Maria Fisher #38], and Mr. Keith Gunn, of Brighton. Descendants of Mr. John Dunbabin #459, who married a daughter of the old doctor's son, Robert Bruce #7, were present in the persons of Messrs, J. M. Dunbabin  (Bream Creek), Robert Dunbabin (Campania), and John Dunbabin (Sorell). Mingling in the crowd of those who assembled to do honour to the memory of the old settler, and to show the respect in which the present master of Craigow is held, were the Speaker of the House of Assembly (Hon. J. W. Evans, C.M.G.), and Hons. L. M. Shoobridge and A. Morrisby, Clarence Coun-