1890 – A poignantly broken headstone in a country cemetery marks the resting place of Irishman Richard Clements, who died when he came off his horse.
The 53-year-old, a well-known and well-off grazier in the Whorouly area, was taking cattle to Bowman’s Forest railway station, which lies along what is now the Great Alpine Road leading from the Murray River up to the Snowy Mountains in Victoria.
He made a stop at Connor’s Hotel between 7 and 8pm and the next morning his horse returned home riderless.
He was found dead on the road not far from his home.
He left the majority of his estate, worth more than 5600 pounds, to his wife Elizabeth and a small sum to his wife’s niece.
All that is left to commemorate his life is a broken headstone in the Bowman’s Forest cemetery, which sits amidst grazing land beside the Murray to the Mountain’s rail trail, about five kilometres from Whorouly.
Today almost nothing remains of the settlement of Bowman’s Forest, but Whorouly remains a small but thriving agricultural settlement.
Source: The Daily Telegraph, Friday 21 March 1890, p5
Melbourne Punch, September 18 1890, p15
Way to go Australia 
Thanks again Sharyn for another interesting story of how tough it was our early settlers, although sad. I look forward to your emails.
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