Donald Fraser Gollan. Arrived in Esperance in 1896, originally from Scotland went to farm in South Australia.
He farmed at Grass Patch for ten years, being engaged by the Esperance Farming Company to look after the property. The company was a Coolgardie syndicate.
In 1896 or 1897, the first crop at Grass Patch failed, due to putting the seed into raw ground that had just been rolled and the Mallee burnt. The main reason for the crops was to grow chaff for the teams.
The second crop was a ton to the acre, after Donald Gollan carried out an experiment using stable manure on one plot, and the other plot using no manure. The result was 7 cwt. from the land without manure, and 21 cwt. from the manured land.
Donald Gollan obtained authority for using artificial manures after going to Adelaide, and after consultation with Professor Lowrie, obtained the necessary manures.
Help Us Improve this Entry
How Your Donations Can Help
By adding your information during time spent in the Esperance district you help expand this online biographical dictionary library. We welcome anything and everything, especially the following items:
- Stories, recollections, reminiscences, biographies, memoirs, personal history, anecdotes, day book dairy, journals, record of experiences, accounts, letters, notes, logs
- Memorabilia (of people’s childhood or those of their parents)
- Books, articles, newspapers, comic book, periodicals, gazettes, magazines, calendars, programs
- Maps, Brochures
- Oral History, Video/Films
- Photographs (that we can briefly borrow, scan and return).
If you would like to contribute to this library entry, please complete the form provided or email us at: admin@esperancehistory.com.au
