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stated he had no assets, as 'the horses and dray belonged to the missus'
(Sturt Recorder March 12, 1897:2)
Goods intended for Baker's store were delivered either by rail to Bourke or
by paddle steamer to Wilcannia. Carriage by the latter route was much
cheaper but far less reliable. Oncarriage from Bourke or Wilcannia was
bullock dray, camel waggon or camel train (The Sturt Recorder 7 February
1896).
A little more than four years after the Sturt Recorder had announced
William Baker was entering into business as a storekeeper, the newspaper
ceased to carry his front page advertisement (Sturt Recorder, July
16,1898: 1). There may have been an economic reason for this as the Sturt
Recorder some months later reported 'This week Mr. William Baker,
storekeeper of this town received via Wilcannia nine tons of supplies which
left Sydney on the 12th of March last - just eight months ago. The cause of
the delay was that the boat in which they were shipped arrived about
ninety miles short of Wilcannia and had to wait for the next rise in the
Darling River'. (Sturt Recorder, November 19, 1898:2).
William Baker continued to trade well into the 20th Century, dances and
socials in his business premises being clearly remembered by both Nel
Baker and Nel Barlow. Both said the dances ceased during the First World
War, when most of the town's 'eligible young men' enlisted.
5.1.4 w.e. Palmer & Co.
W.C. Palmer had originally been another partner in Cramsie Bowden and
Company at Wilcannia, selling out in 1880 to start his own general
store(NAB3). A branch of the firm was established at Milparinka, and in
July 1881 Thomas Ottaway, a storekeeper in their employ, was appointed
postmaster (NSWP02). In January 1882 however the role of postmaster
was transferred to Alfred Aldworth, manager for Cramsie Bowden &
Company.
Ottaway, like Aldworth, acquired land in the town, being granted Section 2
Lot 4 on November 10, 1884.
However, in February 1884 the Commercial Banking Company at
Wilcannia had appointed trustees to manage the affairs of W.e.Palmer &
Co (NAB4, folio 343, 1 February 1884), subsequently letting their
Wilcannia premises to Messrs. Lush & Company, of Melbourne. The
appointment of trustees was precipitated in part by the firm having 94 tons
of goods valued at £7,500/0/0 on a paddle steamer stranded by low water
a hundred miles downstream of Wilcannia. The goods had been there
since September 1881 (NAB4, folio 3,21 July, 1882).
w.e. Palmer & Co. ceased trading at Wilcannia in June 1884 (NAB4, folio
446, 20 June 1884). In January 1885 title to Section 2 Lot 4 at Milparinka
was transferred from Ottaway to Joseph Waiter Lush. On December 15,