In Australian history, 'squatter' referred to those who occupied large tracts of Crown Land in order to graze livestock. Initially often having no legal rights to the land, they gained its usage by being the first (and often the only) Europeans in the area.

Evolution of meaning

The term ‘squatter’ derives from its English usage as a term of contempt for a person who had taken up residence at a place without having legal claim.  The use of ‘squatter’ in the early years of European settlement of Australia had a similar connotation, referring primarily to a person who had ‘squatted’ on unoccupied land for pastoral or other purposes.  In its early derogatory context the term was often applied to the illegitimate occupation of land by ticket-of-leave convicts or ex-convicts (emancipists).

From the mid-1820s, however, the occupation of Crown land without legal title became more widespread, often carried out by those from the upper echelons of colonial society.  As wool began to be exported to England and the colonial population increased the occupation of pastoral land for raising cattle and sheep progressively became a more lucrative enterprise.  ‘Squatting’ had become so widespread by the mid-1830s that Government policy in New South Wales towards the practice shifted from opposition to regulation and control.  By that stage the term ‘squatter’ was applied to those who occupied Crown land under a lease or license, without the negative connotation of earlier times.

The term soon developed a class association, suggesting an elevated socio-economic status and entrepreneurial attitude.  By 1840 squatters were recognized as being amongst the wealthiest men in the colony of New South Wales, many of them from upper and middle-class English and Scottish families.  As unoccupied land with frontage to permanent water became more scarce, the acquisition of runs increasingly required larger capital outlays.

Eventually the term ‘squatter’ came to refer to a person of high social prestige who grazes livestock on a large scale (whether the station was held by leasehold or freehold title).  In Australia the term is still used to describe large landowners, especially in rural areas with a history of pastoral occupation.

Background

When the British settled at Sydney Cove in 1788 the colonial government in Australia claimed all lands for the Crown.  Governors of New South Wales were given authority to make land grants to free settlers, emancipists (former convicts) and non-commissioned officers.  When land grants were made they were often subject to conditions such as a quit rent (one shilling per 50 acres to be paid after five years) and a requirement for the grantee to reside on and cultivate the land.  In line with the British government's policy of concentrated land settlement for the colony Governors of New South Wales tended to be prudent in making land grants.  By the end of Governor Macquarie’s tenure in 1821 less than 1,000 square miles of land had been granted in the colony of New South Wales.

During Governor Brisbane's term, however, land grants were more readily made.  In addition regulations introduced during Brisbane’s term enabled settlers to purchase (with his permission) up to 4,000 acres at 5s an acre (with superior quality land priced at 7s 6d).  During Governor Brisbane's four years in office the total amount of land in private hands virtually doubled.^[1]

Darling and the ‘Limits of Location’

From 1824 there were acts and regulations to limit squatting. The limits of location, also known as the Nineteen Counties, were defined from 1826; beyond these limits land could not be taken up although squatters were farming there. From 1833 Commissioners of Crown Lands were appointed under the Encroachment Act to manage squatting. 1824 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Nineteen Counties were the limits of location in the colony of New South Wales defined by the Governor of New South Wales Sir Ralph Darling in 1826 in accordance with a government order from Lord Bathurst, the secretary of State. ... The oldest surviving photograph, Nicéphore Niépce, circa 1826 1826 (MDCCCXXVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1833 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

From 1836 legislation was passed to legalise squatting with grazing rights available for ten pounds per year. The 1847 Orders in Council divided land into settled, intermediate and unsettled areas, with pastoral leases of one, eight and 14 years for each category respectively. In Victoria, the 1860 Land Act allowed free selection of Crown land including that occupied by pastoral leases. Equivalent New South Wales legislation, the Crown Lands Allienation Act and Crown Lands Occupation Act was passed the following year. These acts ended the squatting era, but did not succeed in their intent to move Australia from a pastoral to agrarian economy.^[2] October 2, Charles Darwin returns from his voyage around the world. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... An Order-in-Council is an executive order issued in Commonwealth Realms operating under the Westminster system. ... Emblems: Pink heath (floral)Weedy Seadragon (Aquatic) helmeted honeyeater (bird) Leadbeaters possum (faunal) Motto: Peace and Prosperity Slogan or Nickname: Garden State, The Place To Be, On The Move Other Australian states and territories Capital Melbourne Government Const. ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... It has been suggested that Pastoralist be merged into this article or section. ... Agrarianism is a social and political philosophy. ...

It is known that many squatters fought battles with advanced European weapons against the local Indigenous Australian communities in the areas they occupied, though such battles were rarely investigated and modern historians dispute the number of Indigenous people killed in these skirmishes. Squatters were only occasionally prosecuted for killing indigenous people. The first trial of white men accused of murdering Indigenous people was the trial following the Myall Creek massacre, in 1838, fifty years after the arrival of British colonists. See also, List of Indigenous Australian group names Indigenous Australians are the first human inhabitants of the Australian continent and its nearby islands. ... The Myall Creek Massacre was a massacre of twenty-eight Aboriginal Australian people by twelve white stockmen and squatters on 10 June 1838, at the Myall Creek sheep station near Inverell, in northern New South Wales. ... | Jöns Jakob Berzelius, discoverer of protein 1838 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Whilst life was initially tough for the squatters, with their huge landholdings many of them became very wealthy and were often described as the "squattocracy". The descendants of these squatters often still own significant tracts of land in rural Australia, though most of the larger holdings have been broken up, or, in more isolated areas, have been sold to corporate interests.

A large squatting demonstration was held in Melbourne in 1844. The lessees of the Crown lands came into Melbourne on horseback, and marched to the place of the meeting with flags flying, preceded by a Highland piper playing martial airs. At this meeting petitions were adopted to be transmitted to the several branches of the Home and Colonial Legislatures, requesting alterations in the law of Crown lands and a total separation from the Middle District (New South Wales). A new association was formed at this meeting, and designated the 'Pastoral Society of Australian Felix'. ^[3] ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... 1844 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

The squatters' iron grip on Australia's agricultural land was challenged in the 1860s with the passing of Selection Acts that allowed ex-miners from the 1850s gold rush to claim areas of farmland at no cost. Whilst squatters tried tactics (legal and illegal) to discourage "the selectors", (for instance, taking out selections of their own which covered vital land such as watercourses), eventually closer settlement took place and smaller farms (though still huge by European and even United States standards) became the norm in the more fertile parts of Australia. // Events and trends Technology The First Transcontinental Railroad in the United States is built in the six year period between 1863 and 1869. ... The Crown Lands Acts 1861 (NSW) were introduced by the New South Wales Premier, John Robertson, in 1861 to reform land holdings and in particular to break the squatters domination of land tenure. ... // Events and Trends Technology Production of steel revolutionised by invention of the Bessemer process Benjamin Silliman fractionates petroleum by distillation for the first time First transatlantic telegraph cable laid First safety elevator installed by Elisha Otis Science Charles Darwin publishes The Origin of Species, putting forward the theory of evolution... A California Gold Rush handbill A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers into the area of a dramatic discovery of commercial quantities of gold. ... This article is about the continent. ...

Cultural resonances

The power of the squatters, including their affinity with the police, is alluded to in "Waltzing Matilda", Australia's archetypal folksong. Waltzing Matilda is usually sung in informal settings, but it was played with a 90 piece orchestra and the 100 voice Melbourne Chorale at the 2005 Classical Spectacular Waltzing Matilda is Australias most widely known folk song, and one that has been popularly suggested as a potential national anthem...

References

1. ^ La Croix, Sumner J., ‘Sheep, Squatters, and the Evolution of Land Rights in Australia: 1787-1847’ (University of Hawaii-Manoa) – paper presented at "Inequality and the Commons”, 3rd annual conference of the International Association for the Study of Common Property, Washington DC, USA, September 18-20, 1992.
2. ^ NSW Government Archives information
3. ^ Heaton, J.H. 1984, The Bedside Book of Colonial Doings, Angus and Robertson, Sydney, published in 1879 as Australian Dictionary of Dates containing the History of Australasia from 1542 to May, 1879, p.226)