Patrick Durack (March 1834 – 20 January 1898) was a pastoral pioneer in Western Australia. His family were struggling tenant farmers from Magherareagh near Scarriff in County Clare, Ireland, who moved from Ireland to

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

in 1853. Two months after arriving in New South Wales, his father, Michael was killed accidentally. He settled his mother and siblings, and moved to Victoria, returning 18 months later with £1000. On 31 July 1862 Durack married Mary Costello, only daughter of Michael Costello, a native of County Tipperary, and his wife Mary Tully, a native of County Galway. Patrick and Mary had eight children (two of whom died in infancy), including

Michael Durack Michael Patrick Durack, (22 July 1865 – 3 September 1950) was a Pastoralism, pastoralist and Western Australian pioneer, known as "M.P." or to the family as "Miguel". He was the son of Patrick Durack and Mary Costello, both Irish-Australians. ...

. Goulburn provided insufficient outlets for Durack's energy, land hunger and organizing powers. Along with his brother Michael and brother-in-law John Costello, they set out to establish a property in South West Queensland in 1863. Drought conditions almost killed the men, but they continued around the country pegging claims to some . The men established both Kyabra and

Thylungra Thylungra Station is a pastoral lease that operates as a sheep station in Queensland. Description The property is situated approximately north west of Quilpie and south east of Windorah. Neighbouring properties include the Milo and Budge ...

Stations in 1868 with 100 cattle. By 1877 the Duracks had a herd of approximately 30,000 head of cattle. Durack and his brother Michael trekked across the north of the continent from Thylungra at Coopers Creek in

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

. They left in 1879 with 7250 breeding cattle and 200 horses, heading for the

Kimberley Kimberly or Kimberley may refer to: Places and historical events Australia * Kimberley (Western Australia) ** Roman Catholic Diocese of Kimberley * Kimberley Warm Springs, Tasmania * Kimberley, Tasmania a small town * County of Kimberley, a ...

region of

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

near Kununurra, arriving in 1882. The journey of cattle to stock Argyle Downs and

Ivanhoe Station Ivanhoe or Ivanhoe Station is a pastoral lease and cattle station located just north of Kununurra in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Founded in 1893 by the Durack brothers, station is presently owned by the Consolidated Pastoral C ...

is the longest of its type ever recorded. In 1885, he retired to Brisbane. Later that year he purchased gold-crushing machinery from Sydney and began mining on the Kimberley goldfields. In 1889 he learned that financial disaster had overtaken his Queensland interests. He died in

Fremantle Fremantle () () is a port city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River in the metropolitan area of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth. The Western Australian vernacular diminutive for ...

on 20 January 1898. ''

Kings in Grass Castles ''Kings in Grass Castles'' is a 1959 book of history by Dame Mary Durack (1913–1994). The book is considered a classic of Australian literature. It is the story of Durack's pioneering family establishing its pastoral interests in the Austral ...

'' is a 1959 novel based on his life and times by his granddaughter Dame Mary Durack. In 1998 it was the basis of a TV mini-series of the same name.

References

External links

Australian dictionary of Biography Online
{{DEFAULTSORT:Durack, Patrick 1834 births 1898 deaths Australian pastoralists Irish emigrants to colonial Australia Settlers of Western Australia 19th-century Australian businesspeople