Simon Cadden
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Simon Cadden (1838 to 1891) was a farmer, Ballarat pound keeper and Chief President of the Australian Natives' Association while Ballarat was a prosperous and growing city.
- Keeper of the Ballarat City Corporation's cattleyards
Simon Cadden | |
|---|---|
 Simon Cadden, Second ANA Chief President 1879-80 | |
| Born | 5 January 1838 Hobart |
| Died | 1891 (aged 52–53) Ballarat |
| Occupation |
|
| Known for | Elected Second Chief President of the Australian Natives' Association |
Simon Cadden was born in Hobart in 1838.[1] His father, Alex Cadden, was a Scottish emigrant and a Presbyterian; his mother Euphemia Brough was an assisted immigrant from England. Alex Cadden was a farm manager with special skills with cattle,[2] and his son followed his father's calling.
Two bushrangers held up Cadden at his Mount Gap Station North West of Learmonth on 4 March 1862.[3] They sacked his house and stole two of his horses.[3] In 1865 he applied for a lease on the Yaloak Swamp in the Western District as part of a swamp reclamation scheme but the proposal was objected to by the station owner, deferred and never progressed.[4]
On 21 January 1870 he married Eliza Jane Swifte, eldest daughter of the late Theophilus Swifte, of Campbelltown, Tasmania.[5][6]
At Ballarat
Cadden was elected to the Ballarat Shire Council despite an objection that he was not qualified.[7] In 1864 he was appointed as Ballarat City Corporation's Cattle Inspector. He was the keeper of the Ballarat cattle-yards.[8] As the municipality's functions grew he became pound-keeper and inspector of markets, often in the news for taking people to court for disregarding the city regulations.[9]
He was the winner of prizes at the Ballarat show for best sheep dog, best cattle dog and best cattle dog bitch.[10] He was an inveterate competitor at agricultural shows in and around Ballarat, extending his range across the decade to include prizes for cattle and fat lambs, vegetables and flowers.[11][12] He was also secretary of the Ballarat Coursing Club, which organised dog races with running rabbits or hares as the lure.[13] He was the secretary the club continuously from 1875 to 1888. He was responsible for organising coursing events at Ercildoune, Plumpton and other stations.[14] He was secretary to the club during Samual Wilson's presidency.
By 1874 Cadden was already a man of some standing in Ballarat, rumoured several times to be a parliamentary candidate.[15] He was a member and held responsible positions in a number of agricultural organisations and other organisations around Ballarat. These include:
- Ballarat District Road Board, member 1862;[16]
- The Ballarat Farmers Club, secretary 1975;[17]
- Ballarat Horticultural Society, AGM Chairman;[18]
- Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society, member from about 1864 for many years;[19][20]
- Australian Natives' Association, Ballarat Branch, founding member and president 1874.[21]