James Sinclair

Object Source: S.A. Northern Pioneers: James Sinclair

Date of creation : ca. 1885

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Format : Photograph

Portrait of James Sinclair of Green Patch from a pictorial composite

James Sinclair immigrated to South Australia in 1838 aboard the Indus. A fellow passenger was John McDouall Stuart. The two men became lifelong friends. Sinclair initially established himself on a property at Nairne in the Adelaide Hills, but in 1847 decided to relocate to the Eyre Peninsula. With his family he overlanded his 1800 sheep around the gulfs and down to the Port Lincoln district. He settled on the coast at Coffin Bay but quickly found that his sheep did not thrive there so moved inland and built a home at Uley. Working in the district was his old friend Stuart, now a private surveyor and responsible for surveying many of the runs in the district. Between commissions he worked for Sinclair, shepherding sheep during the day and tutoring his children in the evenings.

Between 1855-62 Sinclair had Green Patch Station built and moved there. The Sinclair family retained possession of Green Patch until the 1950s. A small table made by Stuart for the children's lessons was for many years a family treasure but can now be found in the Royal Geographical Society of South Australia.