Australian Dictionary of Biography

William Talbot (1784?-1845), pastoralist, was the youngest son of Richard Talbot of Malahide Castle, County Dublin, Ireland, and his wife Margaret, the daughter of James O'Reilley of Ballinlough, Westmeath, whose family belonged to the Milesian princely house of Breffney, and who was later created Baroness Talbot of Malahide. In 1796 he was sent to the Manchester School and in 1814-17 travelled in Europe and the Middle East. In November 1820 he arrived in Hobart Town in the Caroline, went on to Sydney where he disposed of his investment to Edward Lord and on the strength of his assets of £6057 received a location order for 2000 acres (809 ha). Returning to Van Diemen's Land next April with six convict servants, he heard of George Meredith's discovery of good land at Great Swan Port on the east coast, and asked him if he might share in its proposed settlement. He received permission from Lieutenant-Governor William Sorell on the understanding that Meredith had prior right of choice. Ignoring this proviso, Talbot selected land, built a hut, began farming, and was firmly established when the deputy surveyor general came to measure off the east coast grants. It was then discovered that Talbot had taken land chosen by Meredith. Sorell supported Meredith's claim to the land and favoured compensating Talbot with extra land elsewhere, but fifteen months passed before the Sydney authorities agreed. Sorell's successor, Colonel (Sir) George Arthur made the final decision to reinstate Meredith, giving Talbot six months to vacate the land and choose 3000 acres (1214 ha) elsewhere. Further compensation for his vacated premises, a five-roomed house, dairy and fencing, was refused, though the government did allow him to choose a very extensive river front at Fingal and supplied convict labour to re-establish Malahide there.

As a wool-grower his success was remarkable. He invested most of his capital in stock, and only two years after taking up residence at Swan Port, he owned more than 3000 sheep and over 300 cattle. Too far from a market to grow crops profitably at Fingal, he concentrated on improving his flocks. By 1827 his Saxon and merino fleeces brought prices well above average on the London market and yielded him a profit of £1000. With extensive use of adjoining crown lands, the advantage of the first settler in the district, his flocks increased to 7000 by 1829 and his cattle numbered 1000. As a reward for his contribution to the wool industry despite the setback of a false start he was granted an additional 1500 acres (607 ha).

William Talbot's success enticed other members of the family to emigrate. In 1830 his nephew Samuel Rodbard John Neil Talbot arrived; too late for a grant, he began buying land in the Fingal neighbourhood. Other nephews came out later, served apprenticeships to sheep farming at Malahide and managed the property while William Talbot visited England and made extensive tours through the Australian colonies. He died unmarried on 22 December 1845.

Samuel Talbot inherited Malahide, which soon afterwards was reckoned to include 40,000 acres (16,188 ha). Although he had brought members of the anti-government party to court for challenging him to a duel not long after his arrival, he took no further part in public affairs. Well informed, kind hearted and affable, he was well liked in the colony where his success was the admitted result of sound judgment and judicious economy. On his return to Ireland, Malahide was managed by another nephew, Richard Gilbert Talbot, who was appointed in 1852 to the Legislative Council by Lieutenant-Governor Sir William Denison whose transportation policy he supported.