Geraldton Express and Murchison and Yalgoo Goldfields Chronicle 22 January 1897, page 9
A TRAGIC FATALITY AT LAKE WAY
The sad news is just to hand from Lake Way that Jack Tulloch, the well-known and respected partner in Tulloch Willis and Co’s butchery business at Cue, Day Dawn and Leonora, has perished near Lake Way from want of water. The deceased and his partner, James Willis, were travelling with a large mob of sheep. A few strayed away, and the deceased and a native boy went after and found them, and started back for the main road, the boy being sent ahead to return with water, but went direct to the main camp instead.
Coolgardie Pioneer 23 Jan 1897
When Tulloch didn’t arrive Willis left at once with the boy to try and find him, but when he succeeded, he found that he had been dead several days. Where the deceased was found was within four miles of water and the body was surrounded by pools of water from a recent thunderstorm.
Great sympathy and regret are expressed by the deceased’s numerous friends.
Original grave and fencing surround of John Tulloch – Photo SLWA
John Aeneas ‘Jack’ TULLOCH was born in 1861 in Epping, Victoria to Aeneas TULLOCH (1827-1897 – born Scotland)) and Jane nee ROSE (1832-1864). He was a son of his father’s second marriage and was one of thirteen children. He came to Western Australia in 1893 with his half brother, Charles Robert TULLOCH, who died in Menzies WA on the 9 Nov 1896 and is buried there. John Tulloch was buried at Abercrombie Well in the Shire of Wiluna where he was found. A witness at the burial was Donald Ross. The informant of his death was James Betts Willis, his partner. He was registered as ‘Ted Tulloch’, a drover, who perished in the Bush for want of water.
A bronze plaque will soon mark derelict grave of a pioneer.
From – The Weekend Mail 7 Jan 1956
The grave of a Murchison pioneer who died of thirst along the trail 59 years ago (now 128 years) will soon be marked by a memorial plaque. The pioneer, John Tulloch, was buried where he fell, about 30 miles from Lakeway, now known as Wiluna. Since then his grave has crumbled into disrepair. Well known pasturelist Gordon Gooch came to Perth from his Wandagee Station, 120 miles from Carnarvon, to buy a plaque for the grave. The Lake Way station owner Herbert Lukin will erect a new railing to replace the ant-eaten bush railing around the grave.
Murchison Times & Day Dawn Gazette – 19 Jan 1897
John Tulloch formed Tulloch, Willis & Co, with James Bett WILLIS and William KERR, a butchering business at Cue and Day Dawn, five years later they started business in Leonora. Mr Gooch’s father, George Gooch, was appointed their northwest buyer and the sheep were overlanded from his Wandagee Station to Leonora. On New Year’s Day in 1897 there was little feed around Leonora so it was decided to shepherd the sheep, 5000 wethers, near Lakeway.
Gordon GOOCH – Dalgety’s Review 8 December 1932, page 3
The plan was to take them over in mobs of 1000 as the butchering firm could accommodate them. The first 1000 were successfully overlanded by John Tulloch, James Willis and a native boy. When the second flock reached Lakeway and counting began, it was found that they were 100 short. Tulloch, a fine bushman, offered to go back alone for them but Willis insisted on sending a native stockman with his partner. He argued that a small mob of 100 may break up and be troublesome, so they set out together.
Nor-west cattle on Goldfields Pastures – Tulloch & Co Leonora
The next day the stockman returned with Tulloch’s Horse and told Willis that the boss was bringing the sheep in on foot. This didn’t worry Willis because Tulloch was hardy and often preferred to walk. When he didn’t arrive the next day, a search party was sent out. They found where Tulloch tracks had turned back, but there was no sign of him. A bigger party went out the following day. They found him dead from thirst.
But for the memories of other pioneers John Tulloch would have been forgotten. Soon the sons of these pioneers will ensure that he is remembered. The inscription on the simple bronze plaque reads –
Erected to the memory of John Aeneas ‘Jack’ Tulloch,
a pioneer of Lakeway, who perished from thirst
January the 2nd 1897, age 35 years.
A tribute by his friends.
Note – It is thought that this version of events might not be accurate, as no experienced bushman would ever let his horse go. Locals think he must have been suffering from sunstroke and became delirious, frightening the young native boy enough to make him leave Tulloch, yet too frightened to tell Willis. This is the only explanation that the locals would accept, knowing that Tulloch was such a fine bushman. He died only three miles from water.
Another version is that the native boy was sent Abercrombie well to get water. He reached the well but drank too much water and became ill and was able to was unable to return to Tulloch, who perished within 3 miles of the well.
Ledger with bronze plaques and the remains of the original headstone at Abercrombie Well – Photo Find a Grave – 26°53’05.0″S 120°20’36.0″E
James Bett WILLIS was also from the same town as Tulloch, Whittlesea Victoria. James was born in 1864 to Abraham WILLIS (1830-1903) and Isabella BAND (1834-1898). He married Louisa WILLIAMS in Perth WA in 1904, the couple had one child, James Thomas WILLIS born Leonora WA in 1911. After Louisa’s death in 1939 he re married to Lillian Beryl McKEOWN in Albany WA in 1942, nine years before his death in 1951 aged 87 years. He is buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth WA.
James Bett WILLIS – Photo TROVE
William KERR was born in New Zealand and arrived in Western Australia with James Bett WILLIS in 1891. They joined in partnership with John Tulloch. When they extended their butchering business, William stayed behind in Cue to look after their interests there. He later purchased Moorarie Station in the Murchison and Opawa in the Mingenew area. He died in 1938 and is buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth.
References: Information on James B Willis supplied by Elizabeth Kenny (Granddaughter) – West Australian Lonely Graves by Yvonne and Kevin Coate – Article in the Weekend Main by Owen Harkness – Find a Grave
Moya Sharp
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