Two broadsheets: (a) "The Last Rake" 1887; (b) "Australian Song" n.d.

Component identifier:

Item 7

Content Summary:

With these are manuscripts of two poems: Old Songs, and Lines on Gordon's Memorial, the latter prompted by the sight of an old photograph of Gordon, which once hung in the Court House at Penola, South Australia, where Gordon competed in hurdle-races. These scripts are in the writing of the poet's son.

William Neilson was born at Glasgow, 7 September 1842. He did not accompany his parents to Australia but arrived later with his uncle and members of the McFarlane family.

Included are six autograph letters from W.S. Neilson to James Devaney, J.K. Moir, and H.F. Chaplin. He records that his father wrote many verses but failed to find a publisher. One set of manuscripts, sent to England, went astray. After this misadventure he assembled another set of his verses and sent them to a school-mistress in the town of Penola. She was transferred to another place, and again they were lost. No copies were kept. At one time William Neilson was Bard to the Mount Gambier Caledonian Society.

All the foregoing tipped into folder, together with photographs and other items of interest.

Names:

John Shaw Neilson

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