Point Pure, Gatton, Queensland

[queencorgi1]

I am exploring the life of Eric Lewis Conran (1887-1924). In 1908 (possibly sooner) his address was 'Point Pure, Gatton (or Gratton)' according to newspaper reports, and when he joined the Royal Flying Corps in England in 1913 he gave his occupation as 'squatter'.
I had a look for Point Pure on line and it looks extremely steep! Can anyone shed light on what Eric would have been doing there? Did he actually own land, and how was he making a living?

His father was very wealthy -- I don't know if that would be a factor.

[hanes teulu]

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/174899508?searchTerm=point%20pure%20gatton

[hanes teulu]

I'm assuming you've checked Trove re. newspapers - several snippets about the Conrans at "Pure Point Gatton"

[hanes teulu]

Col 2 - I think this is Eric in 1907. I have seen the name Feez associated with Gatton/Pure Point. There' a Blackfellow Creek south of Gatton.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/124235613?searchTerm=conran%20gatton

Appears more than a "squatter"!

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/284500206?searchTerm=conran%20gatton

[Neale1961]

Gatton is in the Lockyer Valley and is beautiful, rich farming land. Today it is considered the “food bowl” of South East Queensland. It was settled in the mid-1800s.
I think you will be looking for “Point Pure Station” which was at Woodbine. A homestead was built there in about 1870, and was named after the prominent rocky outcrop above the creek. The station was later re-named “Glen Rock”. It is now national park.

This gives a lot of detail about the history, and mentions Point Pure Station.
https://parksleisure.com.au/wp-content/uploads/parc-library/361-0-Cameron%20et%20al_Glen%20RockOverviewHistoryCulturalHeritageValues_2000.pdf

Your Eric Conran was possibly working originally as an overseer or manager on the Station. As pastoral land opened up, he may have purchased some in the vicinity, planning to start his own farm.

[hanes teulu]

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/84138140?searchTerm=conran%20gatton

Click on "Page 8" - foot of col 1

[Neale1961]

There are quite a few files relating to Land for the Conrans in the Queensland State Archives.
These are not viewable online, but you can request digital copies.

Eric Conran is mentioned from about 1896.

There are also land files from the 1870s for Thomas Wills Conran and Henry Lewis Conran.

https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/arts/heritage/archives/starting/search-the-records/search-the-archivessearch-catalogue

[queencorgi1]

Thank you all, that's brilliant!
Yes, I did think the term 'squatter' a very odd one for Eric to use, given his family background -- actually owning the land sounds much more plausible. He clearly did acquire some farming skills, though, as on one occasion when his plane had made a forced landing in France during the war he milked a cow in order to have milk for his tea ...
If Eric is actually mentioned from about 1896 he would only be 9, which suggests that his father Harry made the original purchase,
I've been through Trove looking up 'Eric' references (and his father and other relatives too) which is where I got the Point Pure/Gatton references from.
As I commented on a previous RootsChat thread about Eric, I'm astonished how frequently the Conrans travelled between England and Australia -- sometimes three times in a year. Although Eric became a British army officer in 1909, he continued to visit Gatton right up until 1914.

[Neale1961]

If Eric is actually mentioned from about 1896 he would only be 9, which suggests that his father Harry made the original .

More likely, that the index of the files include records of land acquisitions in the Gatton area across a period of time, ( 20  or 30 years ) staring in 1896.