Joseph Docker - Thornwaite


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JOSEPH DOCKER

Thornwaite, Scone

In November 1844 Governor Gipps, his wife and suite travelled from Aberdeen, passed through St. Aubin's and proceeded to the parsonage at Scone. Here they inspected the church and proceeded to the court house where several gentlemen of the district were in waiting to receive them with a suitable address. His Excellency made a brief reply and remained about twenty minutes before driving off in the directions of Mr. Docker's 'Thornwaite', calling on his way at John Bingle's 'Puen Buen'.

The Governor and his entourage arrived at 'Thornwaite' in the afternoon with the intention of leaving Lady Gipps there while he himself and some gentlemen proceeded over the Cedar Brush to 'Warrah' to 'have a peep at the Liverpool Plains'. However the Governor became seriously indisposed while at 'Thornwaite' and was confined to his bed where he remained until he was well enough to make the journey home.

The Governor would have been well cared for here as Joseph Docker had long ago qualified as a medical practitioner, having being apprenticed when he was 13 years old. He had previously been engaged by the East India Company and arrived in Australia as Surgeon Superintendent of the female immigrant ship 'David Scott in October 1834. Soon after he acquired 'Thornwaite', a 10,000 acre estate on Dartbrook.

The 'Australian Dictionary of Dates & Men of the Time' gives the following account of his life - 'Joseph Docker has spent a large portion of his life in this country having lived chiefly on his estate near Scone in the Hunter river district. He was once a candidate for election to the Legislature but was defeated. He was, however appointed a Member of the Upper House. Mr. Docker was made Postmaster-General in the first Martin Administration, in January 1866; and just before the close of that Administration, in September 1868, he was appointed Colonial Secretary........Mr. Docker is a man of large reading and information.'

For more information see Australian Dictionary of Biography

For more information see Australian Pioneer Medical Index