Thomas Ward (HN:1256)

Birth place

Thomas Michael Ward was born in 1871 at Nagambie Victoria, the 6th child of Michael and Ann and remained unmarried throughout his life.

Life and times

Thomas was a partner in the "Ward Bros" partnership, and had his name on a block of Greencamp of approximately 2,064 acres when it was acquired in 1887. "Ward Bros" later acquired Delta, Beetree and Euroka in the Megalong Valley. This partnership was dissolved in 1923, Thomas getting Greencamp less his brother Patrick’s portion which he sold to McLaughlin’s Whitewood. See Michael Ward & Ann Ryan for more details on the "Ward Bros" and land acquisitions.

The partners bought and sold parts of Greencamp during the years, Needlewood was purchased in 1917 from McLaughlin. When Greencamp was sold after Thomas died in 1960, it totaled 10,706 acres. It was purchased by the Griffith’s family.

Tom was very frugal, he objected to jam being put on the table for the men, he said golden syrup was good enough. Also he was banned from the newsagents for reading the paper in the shop and not buying it. That said, he paid for his sister Margaret’s hospital and medical expenses when she became sick and paid her funeral expenses when she died.

Thomas’s obituary stated that he was a life member of the PA & H Association and had been a regular exhibitor of fat lambs for over 40 years.

Thomas and his sister Hanora may have lived at Euroka after he and his brother purchased the founding acres in Megalong Valley in 1888/90 then came back to Greencamp in the early 1900’s and later they moved to a house in Minor Street, Nyngan. Thomas died on 11 January 1960 after spending several months in hospital. His sister Hanora had died only 4 days previous to this.