Lost in the Bush events Day3 (Sunday 14 Aug 1864)

 A series of posts chronicling the daily experiences of the 'Lost in the Bush' children

By Sunday 14th in excess of 36 men were involved in a systematic but unsuccessful search, the largest party was under the direction of Mr Andrews (it was Andrews who provided the 'Hamilton Spectator' correspondent with details for the melancholy article, in a later post) who resided at Spring Hill. 

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Background: All In. A feature of the Lost in the Bush search was the manner in which everyone downed tools and lent a hand to assist. At the time, the country was sparsely populated, settlement was on a handful of large squatter runs.
The searchers would normally be engaged in daily tasks - shepherding, feeding stock, milking... so the absence of the men would have had a profound effect on the running of the farming operations.

•  The nearest town to the east was Horsham 45kms away. Horsham's first school, the National school opened in January 1857. In 1865 there were around 30 houses making up the town. The population in 1861 was 270, and in 1871 (shortly before the land was opened up for selection, with its resulting population influx) the number had only reached 294.

• In the west the only hamlet was the border crossing point at Apsley, (60kms) a post office was established there in 1849, and it was surveyed in 1851.
• Supplies arrived by bullock wagon from either Melbourne or up from Portland. The stations were basic, virtually self-sustaining settlements.