Hugh Proby, 3rd son of the Earl of Carysford, took up the Kanyaka and Coonatto leases for cattle in 1851. The next year, he was dead. Hugh and a native stockman were on the western portion of the run with cattle, during the night a violent thunder storm came, causing the cattle to stampede, the two men saddled their horses and rode out to the mob, the deluge caused a flash flood in the Willochra creek, it was while attempting to cross the creek, possibly in darkness that Hugh was swept from his horse and drowned. Proby was only 24 when he died in 1852.
Hugh came out to Australia with John Probyn his childhood friend, in the 'SS Wellington' which arrived in Port Adelaide on 30th May 1851. He obtained pastoral leases in the Quorn/Hawker district. During the fifteen months he lived in SA he wrote many letters home and these have been used to give fascinating glimpses into early settlement in the Mid-North.
Local notes
Hugh came out to Australia with John Probyn his childhood friend, in the 'SS Wellington' which arrived in Port Adelaide on 30th May 1851. He obtained pastoral leases in the Quorn/Hawker district. During the fifteen months he lived in SA he wrote many letters home and these have been used to give fascinating glimpses into early settlement in the Mid-North.