TYSON, James (1823-1898)

pastoralist

was born in the Cowpasture district, New South Wales, on 11 April 1823. His father, William Tyson, who came of Cumberland stock, arrived in Sydney in 1820 and acquired a small farm. His son, after assisting his father for some time, obtained work on various stations, and joining a brother in taking up land about 1846, had little success. In 1851 he began driving cattle to the goldfields at Bendigo and opened a butcher's shop there. This was successfully conducted for about four years and Tyson then purchased a station near Deniliquin. Thenceforth his life was one of continued financial progress, and he bought many stations in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. He travelled much about Australia, but eventually made his principal home at Felton station on the Darling Downs. His wealth became a legend; it is on record that on one occasion he offered the Queensland government a loan of £500,000 towards the cost of constructing a proposed transcontinental railway, and in 1892 in a time of depression he took up £250,000 of treasury bills to assist the government. In 1893 he became a member of the Queensland legislative council but did not take a prominent part in its proceedings. He was found dead in his bed at Felton station on the morning of 4 December 1898.

Tyson was a big man, over 6 feet 3 inches in height. He lived frugally and disliked any discussion of his wealth. In his early years his only interest was the management of his flocks and herds; in his later days he became much interested in problems of this life and the hereafter, read many books on these subjects, and never tired of discussing them. As an employer he was exacting but severely just, and he could often be a good friend so long as his benefactions were not talked about. He was a prominent figure in the history of Queensland from about 1870 until his death, and played an important part in the development of its resources.

J. H. Heaton, Australian Dictionary of Dates; The Brisbane Courier, 5 December 1898.