George R 1 R Payne

George Payne Snr...Freeman of City of London. Was paid 40 pounds per annum from Watchmakers Guild of London. His horse 'Boy' sold for 107 pounds. George Payne snr, a carpenter-joiner, his wife Julia Hawkins with her son Fred Hawkins and their baby George arrived at Leschenault aboard the 'Parkfield' in March 1841. George settled on land at Australind but could see that the land was not suitable for crops. Even when the price dropped a low as 2/- an acre, he waited for a chance to buy better land to the south. Waiting for cheaper and better land, he later purchased 10 acres on the Capel River to erect a flourmill and house, calling his property 'Mt Pleasant'. The power of the water in the mill's race revolved a wheel 10 feet in diameter that drove the mechanism that ground the grain. George also made drays, wheels and scales. Mid 1870 George knew his mill would not support his family. Drier regions north and east produced more wheat and when the bank of the Capel River collapsed he faced expensive repairs to the mill. Although he had a liquor license he went into transport by building a 50 ton boat on the banks of the Capel. In 1878 he dismantled the ship and transported it to 'Fatfield' <Minninup> for re-assembly. Late 1878 the 'Citizen of London' was ready for sea with his son Arthur as Captain and registered to trade from Hamelin Bay to Geraldton.