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James Murray of "Warrawang"

James Murray, one of the original "Black Murrays". His black hair, brown eyes inherited from his Indian mother, Contiby of Cannanore, Kerala, India, stand out in this oil portrait. The olive colour of his skin is less reliable in a painting. However it was his birthplace that probably disinherited he and his brother, resulting in the decision to migrate to Australia, in 1843. He became a "Squatter" in New South Wales, settling at Mt Lambie between Lithgow and Bathurst, NSW. He called his property "Warrawang". Later, his older sons also squatted on the northern pastoral frontier at "Wuluga" (= Woolooga, Queensland). His daughter Jessie married Squatter Henry Corfield, and they squatted at Teebar, Wide Bay District. Indigenous Australians resisted the dispossession of their land, for they successfully used fire and mustering in their counter offensive. (Both Teebar and Wuluga were surrendered by Murray Brothers and Corfield.) Consequently, some of his sons including John, Robert and George became officers in the Queensland Native Police. In this role they sought to maintain British law, order and justice in the pastoral frontier. James Murray's family are a litmus indicator of race relations in colonial Australia.

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