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Patrick Durack

Patrick Durack (March 1834 – 20 January 1898) was a pastoral pioneer in Western Australia. His family were struggling tenant farmers from the townland of Magherareagh near Scarriff in County Clare, Ireland, who moved from Ireland to New South Wales in 1853. Two months after arriving in New South Wales, his father, Michael was killed accidentally. He settled his mother and siblings, and moved to Victoria, returning 18 months later with £1000. On 31 July 1862 Durack married Mary Costello, only daughter of Michael Costello, a native of County Tipperary, and his wife Mary Tully, a native of County Galway. Patrick and Mary had eight children (two of whom died in infancy), including Michael Durack. Goulburn provided insufficient outlets for Durack's energy, land hunger and organizing powers. Along with his brother Michael and brother-in-law John Costello, they set out to establish a property in South West Queensland in 1863. Drought conditions almost killed the men, but they continued around the country pegging claims to some . The men established both Kyabra and Thylungra Stations in 1868 with 100 cattle. By 1877 the Duracks had a herd of approximately 30,000 head of cattle. Durack and his brother Michael trekked across the north of the continent from Thylungra at Coopers Creek in Queensland.…

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Article summary

Patrick Durack (March 1834 – 20 January 1898) was a pastoral pioneer in Western Australia. His family were struggling tenant farmers from the townland of Magherareagh near Scarriff in County Clare, Ireland, who moved from Ireland to New South Wales in 1853. Two months after arriving in New South Wales, his father, Michael was killed accidentally. He settled his mother and siblings, and moved to Victoria, returning 18 months later with £1000. On 31 July 1862 Durack married Mary Costello, only daughter of Michael Costello, a native of County Tipperary, and his wife Mary Tully, a native of County Galway. Patrick and Mary had eight children (two of whom died in infancy), including Michael Durack. Goulburn provided insufficient outlets for Durack's energy, land hunger and organizing powers. Along with his brother Michael and brother-in-law John Costello, they set out to establish a property in South West Queensland in 1863. Drought conditions almost killed the men, but they continued around the country pegging claims to some . The men established both Kyabra and Thylungra Stations in 1868 with 100 cattle. By 1877 the Duracks had a herd of approximately 30,000 head of cattle. Durack and his brother Michael trekked across the north of the continent from Thylungra at Coopers Creek in Queensland.…

Key claims

  1. date of death: 1898-01-20 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
  2. date of establishment: 1868 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

  1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
  2. The record states that the date of death is "1898-01-20". What evidence would count against this claim?
  3. The record states that the date of establishment is "1868". What evidence would count against this claim?
  4. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
  5. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

  1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1344501573

Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.