Clan Munro (Association) Australia : The Official Registered Website of the Clan in Australia

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Today, Palm Tree presents a very different picture. In 1935 the mill closed and was dismantled along with the railway. The mill houses were old and sold for removal and today, a handful of farming properties nestle in the cleared areas against a backdrop of forest covered hills. The school, which closed in 1960, has also vanished and the row of pine trees remains to show where it once stood. What have survived are the splendid palm trees that still flourish just as they did when the first timbergetters came into the district more than 100 years ago.

Almost 40 years later, in 1974, the remains of the old locomotives were taken to the Illawarra Light Railway Museum near Sydney where one has been restored.

But what of Archibald & Duncan?

In 1894, at the age of 59, Archibald married Catherine Black in 1894. He was very active in the community and was Mayor of Toowoomba in 1894. He was also a council alderman for eight years between 1890 and 1900. Archibald n 1retired from his sawmilling business in 1888 and died in Toowoomba in 1912 at the age of 78.

Duncan married Matilda Crawford on August 25, 1870 and they had 10 children. In 1881, he built the imposing “Argyle” homestead and the family lived there for 33 years. It is thought that the house with its steep pitched roof is based on Canadian lines, probably as a result of his trips overseas. Duncan built two other houses exhibiting this Canadian influence –"Bunya" and “Haddington” in Toowoomba. Duncan was born in 1844 died in 1926

Barry Munro’s grandfather was William, one of Duncan’s sons. His father, KC (Pat) Munro was a fat lamb producer with his brother Alan at Barnaline until the property was split in two. Pat’s new property was called Dalkeith Cambooya just outside Toowoomba and to say that he was a successful fat lamb producer would be an understatement. Just look at the following – Brisbane - 13 championships, 2 reserve championships & 7 champion carcasses: Smithfield London - 4 championships. Toowoomba - 8 championships & 2 champion carcasses: Pittsworth & Dalby - 1 championship in each: and Warwick - 1 champion carcass. Pat also judged fat lambs and sheep at the shows. Now that is a record to write home about!

© Donald Munro Mount Nasura Western Australia with Barry Munro Hodgsonvale Queensland, Clan Munro Scotland and the Toowooba Chronicle, Geoff Harding and Peter Krammerer

Argyle Homestead - Image 2009 from Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection