Family stories have a way of linking us to the deeper rhythms of a place, offering glimpses into the lives of people who shaped it long before our time. One such story comes from Pam McGann, whose family ancestors were part of the Riverina’s early pastoral years.
The great-grandparents of Pam’s late husband, James McGann — James Day and Phoebe Caroline Hatcher — were married in 1864, at a time when Toganmain and the surrounding stations were still being established along the Murrumbidgee. Both were working on the property where they met — James likely in the sheds or paddocks, and Phoebe as a maid or domestic worker.
Pam has preserved their marriage certificate, a rare document that captures a small but significant moment in local history — one that may well be linked with the early story of Toganmain. It’s easy to imagine the scene: a modest gathering, the sound of wind through the river gums, and two young people beginning a life together on the banks of the Murrumbidgee.
After their marriage, James and Phoebe worked and raised a family in the western Riverina. In later years, members of the Day family held land that formed part of Uardry Station — then known as Wardry — before purchasing “Sandy Valley”, near Barren Box Swamp and the old Groongal run.
Like so many pastoral families, they faced hardship during the 1896–1902 drought, which forced the sale of Sandy Valley to Robert Gibson of Hay. Yet through those difficult years, the family’s resilience and connection to the land endured — and so too did their link to the early pastoral story of the Riverina.
This story, shared by Pam McGann, adds another thread to the tapestry of people whose lives intersected with Toganmain. As new details emerge, it helps us picture the human stories that shaped the district — the working hands, the courage, and the quiet milestones that marked life along the river more than 160 years ago.
Comments powered by CComment