Leslie Nicholson Murdoch 1865-1948
"Murrayfield" Glenorchy
A Glenorchy Pioneer of the 19th Century

3.

EPILOGUE

I came to live at Murrayfield in 1932 aged 6, together with my sister, Joan. My mother Jean Murdoch (3rd daughter of Leslie Murdoch) married George Linton in 1921 and they went to Sydney to live where I was born. My mother died rather suddenly from Quinsy and Joan and I were sent to Hobart to be taken care of by my aunts and my grandfather, Leslie. At that time, Edith, William and Leslie Jnr were no longer living at Murrayfield and only Mary and Eileen, my two aunts remained, their mother, Mrs. Murdoch having died some two years prior to my arrival.

I was to spend the next 14 years of my life mainly living at Murrayfield until my career as an engineer took me to live in other parts of the State. When I arrived at Murrayfield there was little evidence of the great activity that had existed. Most of the original property had been sold off and little remained of the agricultural development that had existed. The buildings, that had been used for the manufacture of the candles, cider, etc, had collapsed almost down to the foundations and were covered in blackberries.

The only building remaining standing was the derelict office. There were a few pieces of furniture and old papers, etc, scattered around the ruins. The area was a popular playground for my friends where we used our imagination in the games we played. The area where these old buildings existed was between Murrayfield and Humphrey's Rivulet and no doubt it would be impossible to find any trace of them as the area has long since been developed for other purposes.

When I arrived at Murrayfield all evidence of stock had gone and the only thing that remained was a Jersey cow. She provided milk for the family and I have vivid memories of turning a churn to produce butter.

My childhood was spent mainly under the watchful eyes of my two aunts, Mary and Eileen. They were two opposites and had their role, and neither of them married. Mary's job was to look after the house and do the cooking. She was a gentle lady, kind and understanding and never demanding for herself. She was the historian of the family and a lot of the information I have amassed on the Murdoch background has come from her records. She suffered from a heart problem all her life, however, she lived to the ripe old age of 91 and outlived all but one of her brothers and sister. Eileen was the outgoing one of the two sisters. She was always on the go doing things, housework and cooking were not for her. She was a working lady and worked in an insurance office as a clerical officer for her working life. She died in 1973 at the age of 73.

Leslie, my grandfather, was of course the head of the family. When I arrived in 1932 he was Secretary of the Royal Agricultural Society. He was a quiet mannered man, easygoing and never appeared to be ruffled. He fitted perfectly into his job matching the characteristics of the farming community that was the background of the Show Society. During Show week he was in his element mixing with the highest in the land down to the ordinary people and treating them all alike. He was to me on those days the source of free tickets to all that was going on, including the side shows.

Murrayfield still stands today and has earned the address of 120 Tolosa St and it is pleasing to see that the current owners have returned it to somewhat of its former glory. It will never of course return to its former status as the centre of a busy community. In those days it was surrounded by orchards and factories without another house in sight, now it has been crowded in by suburbia.

MAX LINTON Grandson of L.N. Murdoch

July 1, 2001

Acknowledgments:

• The Mercury October 22, 1872

• Cyclopedia of Tasmania 1900

• Weekly Courier July 27, 1901