Summary

Arthur Shepherd (b. 4 August 1862, Middlesex or Isle of Wight, England) began his working life at the age of fourteen as a sailor on a windjammer. He was a crew member of the ill-fated Scottish Prince on her first and last voyage but in 1878 jumped ship in Australia where he spent many years in the Gulf and Peninsula country droving and learning bush craft, stock raising and management. He worked his way from station-hand to manager of Wandovale Station and became a life-long friend of the owner, Edward Mytton.

The first property Shepherd bought was Pandanus, north of Pentland, then Oak Park and later Wandovale. In 1904 Arthur Shepherd bought Milray Station on which he ran cattle. Shepherd was also Chairman of the Dalrymple Shire Council and served as the shire's representative on the Townsville Harbour Board.

Arthur's wife, Laura Matilda, died (aged seventy-nine) and was buried at Milray in May 1947. Arthur and Laura had several children, including: Henry "Harry" Nighley [m. Bertha Booth Cockburn, 26 February 1929]; Arthur; "Mick;" Edward "Ray" Milray [m. Clare Hollis Greenham, 4 January 1936]; Doris; Noleen; Rene; and Helen Elizabeth [m. John Maurice De Tourneur of Wetherby, Mt Molloy, 1926].