(Material researched & presented by Barbara Armstrong)

[1853 - 1942]

George Jackson Poulton was the third son of Benjamin Poulton and his wife, Ann Jackson. Born in Geelong in 1853, George became a partner in his father's homœopathic pharmacy business in 1875, when he was about 22 years of age.

In May of 1877 The Argus reported that the Victorian Human Society had awarded George a Bronze medal as in January of the previous year he had rescued two women from drowning in the Yarra river.

It appears that by late 1880 George had resigned from his father's pharmacy. Shipping records show that in March 1881 George arrived in Western Australia. By 1883 he had established a sheep station in the Kimberley district, thus becoming one of the earliest European pioneers of the area. From there he sent many observations about the climate and rainfall of the area which were published in the newspapers. In 1888 he was granted a free lease of 100,000 acres for a term of 14 years in acknowledgement of having been 'one of the very first settlers in opening up a portion of the Kimberley district', and in recognition of his 'indomitable pluck and enterprise'.

According to an interview with George, conducted in 1907, he had landed at Beagle Bay with the intention to become a squatter.

After spending a few weeks on the coast he decided that it was unsuitable for stock, and in company with others proceeded inland to the Fitzroy River, and then on to the Leonard River. Failing to secure what he desired there, however, owing to the best of the land having been previously acquired, he continued his journey north, and eventually obtained 150,000 acres supplemented by a free grant of 100,000 acres from the Government, which he designated Mondooma Station. Like all pioneers in new country, he suffered innumerable vicissitudes. Having borne up under them for a considerable period he at length resolved to abandon the life of a pastoralist, and to return to comparative civilization.

(The Register, 23 March 1907)

A report from 1889 recognised the enormous difficulties of running a large station in such a remote area, George's holding of 2,000 sheep being run by only 4 men. The effort involved with trying to make a success of the venture must have been too great and disheartening, especially following instances of his homestead being attacked and his grass burned. The Daily News of June 1889 recorded regret regarding the departure of George Poulton from the district, 'where he has resided for several years, and being a chemist by profession, he was looked upon as a true Samaritan among them'.

It appears that George returned to Melbourne and to his father's pharmacy business, which by 1887 had been re-named Poulton and Owen. George took over the pharmacy and formed a business partnership with Edward George Owen. However in 1894 this partnership was dissolved by mutual consent.

George returned to Perth, where in March 1900 the Pharmaceutical Society registered George J. Poulton (of Victoria) in accordance with the Pharmacy and Poisons Act of Western Australia. Advertisements appeared in 1902 for Poulton's Horse and Dog Powders, prepared by G. J. Poulton, MPS, FRGS.

According to the Electoral Roll for 1903 George was registered as living in Melbourne with his father, Benjamin, at 7 Loxton Street, Kew. His occupation was recorded as 'chemist'.

However, as a result of his time spent in the Kimberley region, George was more interested in that area and its prospects for the future. In 1901 had he donated to the West Australian museum 3 specimens from the Kimberley containing 19% copper and lead ore. This eventually led to a change in occupation to that of 'prospector'.

Various newspapers in 1906 reported the following:

Private information has been received in Melbourne from Derby of the discovery of a new mineral district in the north of West Australia between Collier Bay and King Sound. The district is said to be very rich in silver and copper. Knowledge of the existence of mineral lodes in this country was acquired some years ago by a station holder in the district named Poulton, who brought a number of specimens to Melbourne, which, on the submission to experts, were reported upon very favorably. Recently Poulton organised a syndicate of mining men in Melbourne and Adelaide to interest themselves in the matter, and a prospecting party, accompanied by the syndicate's expert, were despatched to report on the find. Telegrams state that Poulton's representations as to the extent and richness of the lodes have been borne out. (Kalgoorlie Western Argus, 12 June 1906)

Also:

Shares in the 'Narlarla Hills silver, lead, and copper syndicate touched over £60 on 'Change to-day, and a mild boom is in progress. The find is not a new one, for it was discovered 18 years ago by a squatter and chemist named Poulton, who had the bad luck to strike it when nobody would look at anything with silver or lead in it, as those metals were then too low in value to be mined for in such an out-of-the-way part of the world as West Kimberley. Poulton persevered with his project, and finally induced some Melbourne mining people to investigate his story as to the prospective richness of the find. (The Daily News, 11 June 1906)

Later, there was some doubt as to whether the company's property contained the amount of rich ore as had been predicted. As a result, many speculators must have lost heavily in Narlarla shares. In a prophetic statement, one reporter said: 'Of course, it is quite possible, and not at all improbable, that there are valuable mineral deposits in the district, but at present northern mining ventures are, unfortunately, more than likely to be regarded with suspicion.'

This venture into prospecting did not deter George. In July 1925 he was back in the West 'in the interests of the Kimberley Mineral Exploration Syndicate, for the purpose of prospecting the country, and to search principally for copper.' According to this account: 'Mr Poulton was the first white man to take sheep into the Kimberley district, having been induced to do so by a report of an exploring party to the effect that the district contained good pastoral country; but he acted too soon, because many of the sheep were speared by the natives.'

George did not marry. He continued to be listed as a prospector in the Electoral Rolls for Victoria and died on 28 June, 1942 at Preston, Victoria.

© Barbara Armstrong