Samuel Moffatt

Samuel Moffatt was born in Athlone, Ireland, in 1832, and came to Queensland as a young man in the 1850s. He was the son of the Reverend James Robet Moffatt, Rector of Athlone.

In 1863, Samuel married Maria Susanna Panton of Ipswich.

Samuel's brother was Thomas De Lacey Moffatt, who was the Colonial Treasurer in the new state of Queensland. Thomas was married to Mary, a daughter of Thomas Bell of Jimbour Station. Thomas Moffatt was the owner of many properties, including Cumkillenbar, which he purchased in the early 1860s.

Thomas did much to develop the property, however he died suddenly in 1864 at the age of 38.

Samuel became manager of Cumkillenbar, and for the next 20 years, Samuel and his wife Maria lived in the station homestead. The Moffatts kept a large staff and employed Chinese workmen to tend the livestock and the vegetable garden.

The Moffatts were familiar figures at the races, driving a four in hand, with a liveried groom in attendance, and made frequent trips to Jimbour Station, as Maria Moffatt was an old friend of Lady Bell, having been a bridesmaid at her wedding. With the Bells, the Moffatts often made trips to the Bunya Mountains by buggy, sending grooms ahead to pitch camp in the hills.