The story of George Best and his descendants
Does Our District Have the Longest Continuous Family Farm in Australia? family farm
George Best was sentenced to be hanged for stealing a silver watch but his sentence was later commuted to transportation for life.
Arriving in NSW as a convict in 1791, he put his farming experience to good use and eventually was rewarded with land grants and the opportunity to purchase more land, including holdings at Middle Dural. George, wife Mary and their 9 children went on to establish properties in many parts of NSW.
The Best story in our area pre-dates the building of Old Northern Road in the 1820s. In 1819 George and Mary’s son Thomas became the first settler in Middle Dural and the family is still in the district. In 2019 this amazing continuity prompted the ABC Landline program to ask if the Bests have the longest continuous family farm in Australia?
At our next Dural and District Historical Society meeting on Saturday 10 July at 2pm eighth generation Best descendant Jo Hambrett will relay the amazing Best family saga. This talk will be held in the Uniting Church, School Road Galston. All are welcome.
OUR LAST MEETING family farm
Special thanks to Jenny Fawbert who gave us a fascinating talk about local identity Tom Scott who cycled, motorcycled and organised competitive car racing in the early years of the 20th century.
DATE CLAIMER! family farm
Our August meeting Saturday 14 August 2pm at Galston Uniting Church. This is our commemorative June Roughley Lecture. Our speaker will be the distinguished local resident Mark Tedeschi AM QC. Barrister Mark is prominent in the Law, photography and as an author. His talk will be based on his 2016 book Murder at Myall Creek about the infamous Myall Creek Massacre.
Galston community Current and past issue
