Adoniah Vallack had been surgeon in Singleton for nine years when he was appointed Surgeon to Edmund Kennedy's surveying expedition.

After his appointment to Kennedy's survey party, he placed an advertisement calling for debts to be settled. He had no intention of returning to the town that had been his home for almost ten years as all his belongings were auctioned at his Hunter Street residence by Mr. Crofton soon after. The furniture comprised 'excellent dining, Pembroke, dressing and other tables; chests of drawers, book case, sofas, chairs, two large chiffoniers, wash stands, looking glasses, bed stands, beds, blankets, bed and table linen superior violin, writing desk, medicine chest, brass and other fenders, glass and earthenware, a quantity of valuable books, chest carpenters tools  and culinary utensils'

A splendid white Arab mare broken in to saddle and harness, Eight brood mares and foals, a superior gig with single and tandem harness complete, were also go under the hammer as well as two saddles and bridles, nearly new, four tons of Lucerne hay and a small herd of cattle.

His substantial brick built cottage with its large garden in Hunter Street was also to be sold. The house contained two sitting rooms, 15 feet square, two bed rooms with verandah in front, and a detached kitchen. There were two stables, one with four and other three stalls and gig house; and a well with never failing water. The garden was said to be tastefully laid out and well stocked with choice fruit trees and vines and substantially fenced all round

Adoniah Vallack was well respected in the district. He lived in the town and entered town life, helping to establish an Agricultural Society, attending public dinners, raising funds for worthy causes, giving lectures at the Mechanics Institute and offering himself as candidate in elections. And he had attended the sick and injured in the town for all of that time.

The respect he held in the town is evident in the following account of a case that was heard by the Magistrates in Singleton in 1846. The case was one of assault and battery - Bailey v. Vallack - and caused a great stir in the town; the court house was crowded and much amusement was afforded . Dr. Vallack 'did not deny the assault, but admitted that the had given the plaintiff a sound thrashing, in consequence of being provoked to adopt such an alternative by the acrimonious and insulting manner of the plaintiff. The defendant was of necessity cast, as the law was imperative. A sixpenny subscription was immediately started in town, to indemnify the defendant in the fine and costs, and in the course of an hour one hundred sixpences were raised and duly presented. "Out of evil often cometh good," saith the proverb, and this sum, we have heard, will be handed over to the treasurer of the Singleton Benevolent Society  ' 

Adoniah Vallack's friends were to organise a public dinner in his honour before he left the district.

In March 1849 Dr. Vallack was thanked by the Government:

Sir - With reference to the extract from your journal, which was received on the 7th instant, I have the honour to state for your information, that the perusal thereof has satisfied the government that every thing was done which was possible, under the circumstances, for the relief of the unfortunate individuals belonging to the late Mr. Kennedy's expedition whom he found it necessary, from their exhausted condition, to leave at Shelbourne and Weymouth Bays; and especially that your exertions, under circumstances of great peril, surrounded by a numerous and hostile tribe of natives, in rescuing the survivors at the latter place, are deserving the thanks of the government. I have the honour to add, that your zeal and efficient performance of the important duties entrusted to you abundantly show that you possess in a high degree the qualifications requisite for the enterprise in which you so readily undertook to render your services available to the local government. E. Deas Thompson