The very first ships bringing Europeans to Australia carried goats on
board to supplement the rations of those on board with fresh milk. Breeding pairs
of goats were often left on remote islands as a food source for passing ships
and for possible shipwreck survivors.[1]
When the celebrated German explorer Ludwig Leichhardt set off on his
second great expedition he took with him flock of 280 Angola goats.[2]
In his second
expedition, Dr. Leichhardt will take with him a number of goats, as well as
mules, - the last mentioned useful animals are now in training, and are to have
bells suspended to their necks.[3]
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| Caricature of the daily life of the suburban goat. |
In the early days of the settlement of Brisbane, goats were popular
with many residents, particularly with small landholders in South Brisbane, as
a source of milk and meat. Goats were very hardy, did not need as much space as
cows, and were not fussy eaters. This
last attribute could also be a curse for victims of the voracious and indiscriminate
diet of the goat.
The goat owners of South Brisbane were often subject to the ire of
fellow residents for not controlling the foraging habits of their milk
producers. Given their proclivity for climbing and jumping, the animals were
also in the habit of seeking shelter of neighbours’ verandas.
A local storekeeper named Ebenezer Orr took particular offence when returning
home he was confronted by a particularly disagreeable billygoat which had
taken up residence on his veranda. It was not long before Orr lodged a
complaint at the Police Office across the river.
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| Advertisement in the Moreton Bay Courier 4.7.1846 |
BREACH OF THE POLICE ACT.-
At the Police-office, on
Tuesday, three of the inhabitants of South Brisbane were summoned to answer
informations for suffering goats to stray about the public streets. They were
fined 5s. each and costs.
The informations had been laid at the instance of Mr.
Orr, to whom the animals had become a serious nuisance, in consequence of their
congregating under the verandah of his house, at night time, during the wet
weather.
Mr. Orr was about ascending the steps of his house a few
evenings since, when a huge billy-goat disputed possession of the premises, and
rushing at him knocked him head over heels on to the ground.
Not relishing this kind of treatment, he proceeded
forthwith to eject the intruder, which was accomplished after some little
difficulty.
The Chief Constable, we understand, is about to file
informations against "all and sundry" who do not keep their goats
tied up on their own premises. [4]
Over the following years much police work was given over to rounding up
miscreant ruminants and locking them up in the town pound. Advertisements were
frequently run in the local press posting the descriptions of the current
internees.
 |
| The Moreton Bay Courier Saturday 21 August 1847 |
Despite the efforts of the constables, The Moreton Bay Courier continued to raise the issue. Goats were
particular damaging to the small landholders who grew much of the fresh produce
consumed in the settlement.
ANIMALS STRAYING IN THE PUBLIC STREETS. We are glad to
see that the Police are at last turning their attention to clearing the public
streets of the numerous nuisances which in the shape of animals abound in them.
Several goats have been impounded and, as we understand, sold.
These animals, on account of the familiar habits which
they soon acquire when kept in a state of partial domestication, are a great
nuisance to many of the inhabitants, and, particularly to those who keep
gardens.
If a door is left
open and unguarded for any length of time, one or more goats are sure to pop
in, and if anything be lying about suited to their tastes (and they are by no
means nice) they make an appropriation without any ceremony.
There are few, we believe, of these animals that are not
owned by some person or another, but we suppose the number is very small who
derive any benefit from them. In some cases they may be advantageous to many
poor families in furnishing them with a luxury which they may find it inconvenient
to purchase-and provided they keep their "nannies" from annoying
their neighbours, no interruption will be offered to their doing so; but it is
absolutely necessary to abridge the number roaming about in the street, and
ready to enter into mischief the moment an opportunity for doing so presents
itself.[6]
Most of the impounded goats seemed to come from South Brisbane but the
pond was located across the river in North Brisbane. This caused particular
inconvenience to the constables who not only had to take the offenders into
custody but had to wrangle them aboard a punt to cross the river, often at
night.
The Moreton Bay Courier
suggested that a pound needed to be constructed at South Brisbane for stray
goats and another for their human counterparts.
 |
| South Brisbane panorama |
TWO OF THE WANTS OF SOUTH BRISBANE
Amongst other wants at South Brisbane, are two of a
restrictive character, namely, a pound for men, and a pound for goats and other
animals destructive to the gardeners there.
In other words a watch-house in the first place is much
required for it is highly inconvenient for the two constables stationed there
to have to bring offenders whom they may apprehend at night, over the river to
North Brisbane, besides the danger arising from leaving that part of the
township entirely unprotected in their absence.
The other nuisance arising from the destructive ravages
of stray animals, is highly injurious to the small agriculturists, and robs
them often of their slender profits: and the remedy might be found in the
establishment of a public pound; the keeper of which might also act as
watch-house keeper. We beg to commit these suggestions to consideration in the
proper quarter, as they refer to evils of real importance.[7]
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| Children with their pet goat |
Despite their misadventures goats continued to be popular with many
residents and pet goats were cherished by children. Small carts were
constructed as miniature sulkies and goat races were keenly contested.
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| Child in her goat sulky |
Eventually some of the domesticated goats wandered off into the bush and embraced a feral lifestyle. As of 2010 were are at least 2.3 million feral goats in Australia, with estimates of up to 240,000 in Queensland.[8]
[1] viz.
the fictional character Robinson Crusoe.
[2]
The Moreton Bay Courier Saturday 7
November 1846
[3]
The Moreton Bay Courier Saturday 3
October 1846
[4]
The Moreton Bay Courier Saturday 5
December 1846
[5]
The Moreton Bay Courier Saturday 21
August 1847
[6]
The Moreton Bay Courier Saturday 22
April 1848
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