It has been the belief of many that the main street of Muttaburra was named after the saddler who set up his camp then shop here at the river crossing. But after much research no saddler named Bruford can be found relating to Muttaburra. The only Bruford relating to Muttaburra is the Government Road surveyor who picked the site for the first bridge to cross the Thomson at Muttaburra. It was completed within its budget, £2,700 by the end of 1877.
[Extract] – The Mount Cornish township at the Thomson Bridge is shortly to have an official name given to it, viz.: — Muttaburra. The township has forged a-head wonderfully since the bridge was commenced; there are now three hotels, two general stores, a saddler’s and blacksmith’s shop and two other hotels in course of construction. The bridge will probably be completed by Christmas, and to the credit of the engineer. Mr. Bruford, will be completed within his original estimate of £2,700. We hope now that the detention at the Thomson in the wet season will be a thing of the past.
[Source: Peak Downs Items. (1877, November 13). Rockhampton Bulletin (Qld. : 1871 – 1878), p. 3. Retrieved October 2, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51912917]
BRUFORD, A.B.
Mr. Alexander Blake Bruford
Department of Public Works,
Roads Branch, Brisbane, 27th May, 1873.
HIS Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, has been pleased to appoint
ALEXANDER BLAKE BRUFORD to be District Road Inspector, Central Division.
WM. HENRY WALSH.
[Source: Queensland Government Gazette]
The road between Copperfield and Clermont (about four miles) is also in very bad order, and the Government road surveyor (Mr. Bruford) has asked for £1000 to repair it; all the traffic from the coast to the western country passes along the road, and there is also a good deal of traffic between the two towns, so that the road is quite deserving of some attention.
[Source: Peak Downs. (1876, April 8). The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 – 1939), p. 7. Retrieved March 29, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18341744]
We are informed that our western friends will soon have one of their greatest wants supplied, in the shape of a bridge over the Thomson River, as Mr. Bruford, Engineer of Roads, CD., has gone out there to locate the most advantageous site to commence this very necessary structure.
[Source: Peak Downs. (1876, December 30). The Capricornian (Rockhampton, Qld : 1875 – 1929), p. 844. Retrieved March 29, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65738283]
The Mount Cornish township at the Thomson Bridge is shortly to have an official name given to it, viz.:– Muttaburra. The township has forged a-head wonderfully since the bridge was commenced; there are now three hotels, two general stores, a saddler’s and blacksmith’s shop and two other hotels in course of construction. The bridge will probably be completed by Christmas, and to the credit of the engineer Mr. Bruford, will be completed within his original estimate of £2700. We hope now that the detention at the Thomson in the wet season will be a thing of the past.
[Source: Peak Downs Items. (1877, November 13). Rockhampton Bulletin (Qld. : 1871 – 1878), p. 3. Retrieved March 29, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51912917]
WRITING from Aramac off December 7, our correspondent says:- Mr. Jardine, of the Roads Department, is at present in town, and has just defined the position of our racecourse reserve, the Pastoral Society’s ground, and the hospital allotment. These public reserves are all situated on the high, rising ground at the north of the township, about a milo along the Bowen Downs and Muttaburra loads. The Roads Department are pushing on work energetically, having nearly finished a high level bridge over the Thomson at Mount Cornish, opposite the new township of Muttaburra, and are preparing dams on the new road from Aramac to the bridge. This new road is a decided step in advance, shortening the great western road to the Diamantina by about fifteen miles, and traversing as it does, high downs instead of flooded country, like the old road. Provision is to be made for a good supply of water for this township, by the exeivation of a large reservoir within half-a-mile of the place, and unconnected with the unwholesome water of the creek, our present supply. Trade is brisk, supplies plentiful and arriving Large quantities of wool are constantly passing coast-wise. If we only get our accustomed rain early in January, all will go well as a marriage bell for some time to come.
[Source: Telegraphic. (1877, December 22). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 – 1933), p. 5. Retrieved April 2, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1368725]
PEAK DOWN’S ITEMS.
The road from Blackall to Emerald Downs (says the P. D. Telegram) is now partly complete, it has been surveyed between Beaufort and Blackall and this portion of the road will be ready for traffic in about a fortnight. Mr. Bruford is starting out for the purpose of surveying the road from Beaufort to Emerald Downs. This portion of the road will cross the Springsure road near KHamkete. The distance from Beaufort to Blackall, by the new road, is 128 miles. Thirty men are at work at present on the road.
[Source: PEAK DOWNS ITEMS. (1878, January 19). The Capricornian (Rockhampton, Qld : 1875 – 1929), p. 12. Retrieved March 29, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65768780]
Shipping.
ARRIVAL.
JUNE 25.-Queensland, AS N. Company’s p., 303 tons, Captain G. M. Wynn, from Rockhampton, via Gladstone, Bundaberg, and Maryborough. Passengers: Mrs. Porker, Mother Mary and servant, Miss M’Allister, Miss E. Wilson, Miss Rodgers, Miss A. Wilson, Rev. J. Buckle, Messrs. A V. Bruford, H. Coutts, H. P. Bourne, Tyrell, Parker, and 11 in the steerage, W. Williams, agent.
[Source: Shipping. (1879, June 26). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 – 1933), p. 2. Retrieved March 29, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article892320]
THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE
The undermentioned gentlemen have been authorised to act as surveyors under the provisions of the 134th section of the Transfer of Land Statute 1866: – Geo. Stafford, Thos. H Lightfoot, Fred Smith, J Seaver, Chas. W. Thomas, J. J. Muir, W. J. Crowther, Jas. Walker, Thos. M Goodwin, Thos. H Braim, Alex B. Bruford, F. M. Krause, Sam Wilson.
[Source: THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. (1881, January 22). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1956), p. 8. Retrieved March 29, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5959779]
Mr. Alexander Blake Bruford married Louisa J Magill in Sydney in 1887 [NSW Ref: 1528/1887]
