Biographical entry: Davidson, John Ewen
Summary
Journal, 1865-1868. Journal of John Ewen Davidson, 20 April 1865-29 January 1868 daily entries in diary form, incontinuous, pp.214. Covers voyage on the Pera from Southampton to Melbourne, visit to north Queensland, and from March 1866 the establishment of his cattle run and sugar plantation south of Tully, called The Plains, later renamed Bellenden Station. Details of frontier difficulties, pioneer society, coastal settlements, especially Cardwell and Townsville. From July 1887 outlines his second venture, Alexandra Plantation in the Mackay hinterland, where he first plants cotton and later sugar. Mention of Pacific Island labour, Mackay society etc.