Summary

On 7 November 1861, nineteen year old William Gordon Farquhar accompanied by his brother, Arthur, boarded a three-masted schooner, Natal, en route to Port Natal. Late that evening, Farquhar recounted his day's experience by writing a short entry in a small, brown-covered journal. This was the first entry of many that Farquhar entered over the next ten years in this and a subsequent journal. Both journals remained in the Farquhar family until donated to James Cook University by Farquhar's grandson, Bill Farquhar, in November 1985 "for safekeeping" in the university's archives. Both journals have since been held under climate-controlled conditions in JCU Special Collections. Transcribed copies are available in the library's main collection.

While Farquhar's journal entries span the period from 7 November 1861 to 18 January 1872, there are several gaps during which no entries were made for extended periods. Farquhar's first journal entry is followed by several more until 30 November 1861 after which they are not resumed for almost another five years on 4 October 1866, by which time he is resident in Queensland. There are a few more entries over a period of several weeks until 19 November 1866, then a lapse of almost two years before the next entry on 1 September 1868. From this date, Farquhar's entries become more frequent at intervals until ceasing on 18 January 1872.

See extended summary (including diary analysis) in archival listing attachment.