George "Fireball" Bates

See George Bates KI Pioneers 

See Australian Dictionary of Biography

1824  George ‘Fireball’ Bates Accompanied by John Randall, left the Nereus in May when it was loading salt. He was born 1800 at Old Street, St Lukes London and lived on KI in a stone cottage, of which there is a painting by A. Scott Broad in the SA Library. 

Lived with Tasmanian Aboriginal wife Woor.rart.te.yet; and Dinah. 

References:  

Cawthorne p. ii; Hallett Shueard “Forgotten Men” 2013;  

Philip A Clarke, “The Aboriginal presence on KI 1998”.

A KANGAROO ISLAND RELIC.

One of the visitors to the Old Colonists' Court last week was George Bates, the pioneer settler of Kangaroo Island — a thorough relic of the old rough days when the mainland was a terra incognita and the Adelaide Plains were the hunting-grounds of aboriginals in happy ignorance of the contemplated invasion of the superior race who were to civilize them off the soil. Old George is very proud of having been born in the first year of the century, and speaks of events that came within his own personal observation in England before South Australia was founded. His memory is truly surprising, and the old man's intellect is clear, although he is getting physically feeble. He must have had a splendid constitution, and have been a good specimen of the hardy pioneer half a century ago. He is a medium-sized man, with a frame that must have been as hard and wiry as a sheaoak, and his physical powers must have been remarkable judging from the hardships and exposure to which he has been subjected during his Robinson Crusoe like life on Kangaroo island for sixty-five years. 

The old man does not say much about what took place on the island in the earliest years of his existence there when he and a young fellow who stood in the position of a man Friday to him were the only whites on the place. Although his memory is quite clear, his keen glance simply rests on the questioner awhile, and he goes off on another tack if asked about those times. 

About later experiences he is ready enough to speak, and furnishes reminiscences enough to entertain any old colonist by the hour. He was shown over the Jubilee Exhibition, and was, to use his own expression, ' taken all aback, and brought up all standing' by what he saw of South Australian progress, especially when he remembered that sixty or more years ago he hunted with the blacks over the Adelaide Plains when there was nothing but kangaroos, emus, and wild game of all sorts there. 

Mention the name of an old identity, and Bates straightway twists a yarn 'as long as the maintop bow line ;' refer to events of half a century ago within his ken, and his eye brightens as he talks of seal- fishing, kangaroo hunts, and the arrival of the first settlers' ships in the South Australian waters before his middle-aged hearers were born. 

He was especially interested in the Old Colonists' Court, and identified a good deal there that he had known of in the old days. 'I landed on Kangaroo Island,' said he, ' in 1824 in Smith's Bay, and I remember we had a south-east wind. She was a brig that I came out in named the Nemus. She came from Sydney, and I was in the employ of Sir Robert Campbell. We were on a cruise, and when we landed on the island there were three boats' crews of us. We were working along from the Australian Bight right up to Cape Leuwin on a sealing voyage. I wanted to go back to Sydney and get home to England, so I stopped at the island hoping to be taken back by a vessel bound for Sydney. Another young fellow landed with me ; we were active, young chaps, and were not afraid of a stay on the island, but when the brig had gone in the morning I was a bit sorry. 

Where was I born ? I was born in Old-street, St. Luke's, London, in 1800, and my parents were not rich, 1 can tell you, for there were several of us. I was sent to the Marine Society School, and then I was drafted on board the Warrior, seventy-four guns, in 1811. No, I was not in any naval engagement ; the French was afraid to come out. I went to the West Indies, and I have seen some eights there, I tell you. I was at Leith when we went there with George the Fourth, who was in his own yacht. I was aboard Colonel Bacon's yacht. 

How long was I on Kangaroo Island before I went on the mainland ? Well, I think it was about eight years. We used to cross over in a boat and hunt on the Adelaide Plains. I think the first time I landed on the mainland was in 1826. I know that in 1827 I was on the Adelaide Plains, that was before any of your settlers had been there by a good bit,' he added with a grim smile. ' There was any amount of kangaroo and emu, and fine kangaroo at that, regular boomers. We used to get plenty skins in those days. I have known Captain Hart take away 7,000 skins in one trip. We used to take it out in rum and tobacco, specially rum,' with a quaint humorous look. The old man told his story with a sort of dry humour and many a quaint remark. He continued— 'I was three years on the island without seeing a bit of bread or tea or sugar. We lived well on kangaroo meat. No, there were no natives on the island — except what were fetched there. When I went there first there were herds of kangaroos — big boomers — but bush fires and we with dogs soon cleared them off. I remember one bush fire that swept the island. No; there is no truth about what they say of a black lubra escaping and swimming across to the mainland. She went off from Antechamber Beach, but was never seen again. Why, sharks were swarming in those times as they are now. Besides, the tide runs like a horse. I was there. She was brought from Rapid Bay. I think she did not like stopping. 

The first pig was landed in 1832. We never saw any dingoes on the island, and I don't believe there ever was any there. Snakes, black ones, and guanas were in plenty. Me and a person named Walker set fire to American River, and the fire went right across to Cape Willoughby. 

I know all about Tolmer and the bushrangers, and remember Harry Alford well. He was a light, smart, plucky young chap. I got a black woman to track the bushrangers. No, there never was a prisoner (convict) on Kangaroo Island ; we would not have them there ; we used to ship them off the first chance. One or two tried to stay, but we would not let them. I remember when the Americans built the General Gates in American River in 1824, and some of the old piles are there now. Yes, we used to do a good bit of sealing ; there was plenty of fur seal then, skins worth £3 apiece. We got 6s. 6d. each for them. It was all the fashion then, fur was.' 

And so the old man ran on until he was escorted off to see the picture of his old hut and to 'do' the Exhibition, His memory never seems to fail him, and what he could tell if he chose would make a rather sensational tale.