Land Selection Files for John Singer

Lucy experienced great difficulties securing the allotments of land which were in John Singer’s name. She applied for a lease of the Yarrowee allotment from the Department of Crown Lands and Survey. However, as Lucy neither lived on nor cultivated the allotment, she failed the requirements of the Land Act 1869.

Lucy wrote in desperation to the Minister of Lands:
‘Sir, will you please reconsider your decision about the cultivation condition … I beg of you to remember that I am only a woman and am not able to clear and fence off the land myself nor am I able to employ any other’.

Six months later, the department explained that she also needed to produce letters of administration over her husband’s estate. Lucy finally obtained these in 1876, but the leases for the Yarrowee and Lynchfield allotments were delayed until 1878. Lucy Campbell finally obtained the grant of the Yarrowee land in 1880.
VPRS 625/P0 Land Selection Files, sections 19 and 20, unit 78, item 4127/19.20