Edward Meade Bagot


Edward Meade Bagot was an Irish-born Australian pastoralist and developer who held large properties in Central Australia.

History

Edward Meade Bagot was born on 13 December 1822, in Rockforest, Tubber, County Clare, Ireland, the second son of Charles Hervey Bagot and his wife Mary. He was educated at a school run by Dr. King in Ennis, County Clare, and groomed for service with the East India Company, but was prevented by a health problem from taking a position. He emigrated to South Australia with his parents and siblings on the Birman, arriving in December 1840.
His father took up a pastoral property at Koonunga in 1841, which Bagot helped manage, then in 1843 took a position as accountant and store manager at the newly opened Kapunda copper mine at Kapunda. In 1850 he was appointed a director of the South Kapunda mine.

Pastoral interests

His properties included the Murthoo Run 1846–, Ned's Corner, on the River Murray, 1854–, Kulnine, Wall Wall, "Beefacres" on the River Torrens, from 1853 to 1864, Mudla Wirra 1865–, description of Beefacres at http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50169874
He purchased Northern Territory lease No.1 and No. 2 Undoolya Station, some 10km east of Alice Springs in 1872, then his son Ted, his stepson James Churchill-Smith, and William Gilbert, son of Joseph Gilbert, drove 1,000 head of cattle to Undoolya Station from Adelaide and built the first homestead.
He took out a pastoral lease on Dalhousie Springs in 1873 and built the homestead, which is now in ruins. This area figured prominently in the search for Ludwig Leichhardt. Charles Todd ran the Overland Telegraph Line from Port Augusta to Macumba Well, with Benjamin Babbage supervising that part of the line, which was contracted by Bagot. His son, Ted, died there in 1881. The property, of of excellent grazing country was purchased by John Lewis in 1896.
He was persuaded to take up a mining lease in 1874, and set up the "Golden Reef Company", but dissolved it as soon as he found the claim worthless.
He was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1861 and resigned it in 1876. He was reappointed in 1877 after his insolvency had been settled.

Other interests

He was a successful breeder of cattle and horses, winning many trophies. One of his horses, Don Giovanni, sired the 1873 Melbourne Cup winner, Don Juan. His thoroughbred mare Cowra won the Adelaide Cup in 1866 and 1867. Another horse, Neetlee had only one start, in 1867, when she famously threw her rider. Ned was a committee member of the S.A. Jockey Club in 1880. He was used as a test case to prove the validity of the Totalizator Repeal Act, which had the curious effect of exempting "the tote", while not a lawful instrument, from the Lotteries Act.
A section of grazing land held by Bagot and Bennett at Mile End, bounded by the thoroughfares now known as Henley Beach Road, South Road, Darebin Street and Bagot Avenue, was used by them from 1–2 January 1838 to 1869 as a racecourse, notably for the South Australian Jockey Club. The first Adelaide Cup was held there in April 1864. Others were Saint Patrick's Day races in 1853 and Grand Annual Steeplechase in September 1866.
His skills as a judge of livestock were regularly called for by the Show Society.

Death

His end was a matter of newspaper speculation for nearly a week. He had gone missing after leaving a Hunt Club celebration at H. E. Downer's at Magill. He was well-known for his eccentric dress — knee breeches, gaiters, shooting coat, and a terribly out-of-fashion broad-brimmed belltopper hat, even in the hottest weather — and there was no shortage of sightings up to North Adelaide but then the trail went cold for the hundreds of citizens and police out searching for him. Eventually he was found dead at the bottom of a Dry Creek quarry where he had presumably stumbled and fallen.
His residence on Brougham Place was purchased by George Edward Fulton.

Family

Edward Meade "Ned" Bagot married Mary Pettman on 1 August 1853. He married again, to widow Anne Smith, on 30 July 1857. Anne had at least one child, James Churchill-Smith from her previous marriage.
Bagot's family included his 13 children:
  • Edward Meade "Ted" Bagot Jr.
  • James Churchill-Smith
  • George Wall Wall Bagot
  • Richard Neetlee "Dick" Bagot
  • William Watermit Bagot
  • Charles Mulcra Bagot
  • Mary Bagot
  • Lucy Cowra Bagot
  • Lille Nellnell Bagot
  • Sophie Rose Bagot
  • Annie Meade Bagot
  • Edgar Watermeit Bagot
  • Allan Walter Bagot
His 9 grandchildren:
  • James Churchill-Smith Jr.
  • George Wall Wall Bagot Hughes, MBE,
  • Frank Neetlee Bagot
  • John Neetlee "Jack" Bagot
  • Richard Neetlee Bagot Jr.
  • Edward Meade "Ned" Bagot III
  • Charles Ernest Bagot
  • Almerta Annie "Girlie" Bagot
  • George Edgar Bagot