James Telfer (1829–1913)

Role: First son of James Telfer (1796–1863) to emigrate — pioneer of the South Australian Telfer line
Born: 12 August 1829 — Hermitage Castle, Liddesdale, Roxburghshire, Scotland (corrected from 3 September 1829 — see Notes)
Died: 6 July 1913 — Port Lincoln, South Australia (aged 84)
Spouse: Janet Welsh (1826–1885) (m. 6 November 1855)
Father: James Telfer (1796–1863)
Mother: Elizabeth Beattie (1802–1891)

⚠️ Same-name note: This James Telfer — born 1829, Hermitage Castle, first son to emigrate to South Australia, married Janet Welsh — is a distinct person from the earlier Castleton/Sorbietrees Jameses: James Telfer (1761–1845) (bap. 14 Jul 1761, father of SA immigrant Francis), James Telfer (of Sorbietrees) (~1740–?) (m. Margaret Armstrong), and James Telfer (bap.1762). He is also a different generation again from those men. Do not merge them (see Corrections Log, 30 Aug 2026).

Family

Life Summary

James Telfer was the eldest son of James Telfer and Elizabeth Beattie. Born at the ruins of Hermitage Castle in Liddesdale, he emigrated to South Australia at age 25 on the ship "Oliver Lang", arriving in Melbourne in 1854 with his brother Robert and sister Elizabeth. He went on to manage Koppio Station near Port Lincoln for 39 years and became one of the colony's leading wool experts.

Family Stories

James Telfer was born on 3rd September, 1829 at Hermitage Castle, Liddesdale, Roxburghshire, Scotland — the eldest son of James Telfer and Elizabeth Beattie. He came to Australia at the age of 25 on the ship "Oliver Lang", in company with his brother Robert and sister Elizabeth.

According to the official shipping list, the "Oliver Lang" departed Liverpool on 25th July, 1854, and arrived in Melbourne on 25th September, 1854. The Master was Henry Manning, tonnage 1736, and the ship carried 445 passengers. James, Robert and Elizabeth were listed as "adults" and "English" — though they were of course Scots — but with so many folks emigrating, officials weren't fussy about accuracy.

After landing in Melbourne, the three made their way to South Australia where they made contact with their Uncle Francis Telfer at Kersbrook in the Adelaide Hills.

James was under contract to Mr. Alexander Borthwick Murray and worked as a shepherd at Tungkillo for five years. While still there, he married Janet Welsh, the daughter of John and Margaret Welsh of Nisbet, Scotland. The marriage took place at "the Manse", Wakefield Street, on 6th November, 1855, according to the rites of the Church of Scotland, conducted by the Rev. Robert Haining. The witnesses were Robert and Elizabeth Telfer — his brother and sister.

After his five years at Tungkillo, James took over the management of Koppio Station near Port Lincoln for Dr. John Harris Browne. He managed Koppio for 39 years and in addition looked after "Talia", "Kalka" and "Pondanna" Stations in the Gawler Ranges. This meant many miles of arduous travel over unmade roads in all weathers.

James was recognised as one of the State's leading experts in wool production. Koppio Station carried 25,000 sheep, and the wool produced there and on the West Coast and Gawler Ranges stations was noted for its very high quality.

James and Janet's family of seven children grew up at Koppio Station. Two gum trees that still stand near the entrance were named "James" and "Janet" after the twins.

Janet died in 1885 after a long illness. James wrote a letter to his son James that described her last hours — it's preserved in the family records.

(From the Borders to the Bush, pp. 189–192)

Sources

• Source: Donald Telfer, From the Borders to the Bush (ISBN 0 7316 6387 X), pp. 22–23, 189–192
• Source: SA Death Index — James Telfer, died 6 Jul 1913 aged 84, Port Lincoln; reg. Flinders, vol. 376 p. 19 (cited in WikiTree Telfer-150 Research Notes) — accessed 10 Aug 2026
• Source: WikiTree — James Telfer (abt. 1829–1913) Telfer-150 — accessed 10 Aug 2026
• Source: A Brief Account of the First Telfer Families to Settle in South Australia (1986 reunion booklet) Swing 2 findings — death year 1913, corroborated by southaustralianhistory.com (Koppio) and SLSA holdings
• Source: southaustralianhistory.com.au — Koppio, Eyre Peninsula — "Telfer died on 6 July 1913. His wife had passed away 28 years earlier." — accessed 13 Aug 2026
• FindAGrave: James Telfer (1829–1913)