This watercolour was painted c. 1832/3. The painter is unknown, but was probably one of the ‘Bristol School' of artists. Frederick Strachan (1807-1862) was the son of an outfitter and habit maker of 52 Park Street. He emigrated to Australia in April 1833, and this painting may have been done for his family just before he left.

AT THE STORES OF MR. FREDERICK STRACHAN, WILLIAM STREET BY PUBLIC AUCTION ****************** On WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28th, and Following Days, Messrs, TRESS & ASHE Have received instruction from Mr. STRACHAN To Sell A VARIETY OF MERCHANDISE without reserve, in order to Clear Out as much as possible previous to Taking Stock on the 1st July. The Articles will comprise the usual assortment of Goods generally kept in a Country Store, such as – Tea, Sugar, Ironmongery, Slops, Drapery, Cordage, Woolens, Hosiery, Porter and Ale, in hogsheads Ditto Bottled Port and Sherry, in draught and bottle, And a variety of Merchandise too numerous to particularize. To Dealers, storekeepers, Publicans, Private Families and others, such an opportunity of selecting rearley offers. Terms Liberal – Declared at time of Sale.

At Kelso, on the 7th instant, by special license, by the Rev. R Lisle, Mr. Frederick Strachan, of Bathurst, to Lucy Jane Petit, second daughter of Mr. Thomas Petit, many years clerk in the Bank of England, London.

STRACHAN versus FISHER To the Editor of the Empire SIR – There is an error in the report of this case in your issue of this day, which, as it affects the character of Mr. George Strachan, a partner in the late firm of Park and Strachan, you will, I am sure, permit me, in justice to that gentleman, to correct. The action was in trover for the recovery of ten thousand hogsheads of brandy, which where presented by ten certificates, well known to merchants as Bonded Warehousekeepers’ Certificates. It was proved that by the custom of merchants the delivery of these certificates, not only transferred the rights to the possession of, but the right of property in, the brandies they represent. Mr Frederick Strachan, a well known storekeeper of Bathurst, is the plaintiff; George Strachan is the plaintiff’s cousin. You state that, on the part of the defendant, it was “asserted that Park, Strachan, and Co. obtained the certificates as a loan in order to examine the strength of the spirits, and that they obtained then under a promise either to return them or to pay for them.” Now, it was no so asserted, for it was in evidence that Mr. George Strachan was at the time (September, 1855) not in the colony, that he was then on his voyage from England here; and that, on his arrival in Sydney, on the 7th November, 1855, finding the firm had, during his absence, been irretrievably ruined by misconduct of his late partner Park, ho on the thirteenth November, 1985, sequestrated the partnership estate, Mr, George Strachan his since obtained his certificate. The value of the brandies was admitted to be £360 and not £350 as you report; the Solicitor-General emphatically disclaimed imputing improper conduct to the plaintiff, and his good faith and honour were …

Before his Honor Mr. Justice Dickinson. FRAUD. James Reid was indicted under the 11th Victoria No. 4, 37, for having at Bathurst, on the first day of December, 1858, sold and disposed of certain sheep which he had previously mortgaged to Frederick Strachan: the mortgage debt at the time of sale not having being satisfied. The defendant pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr Holroyd. It appears from the evidence, that on the 16th of February, 1856, the defendant, in consideration of £180 mortgaged 1500 sheep to Mr. Frederick Strachan. These sheep were of inferior quality. They were kept by the defendant, at first at Fitzgerald’s Swamp; from thence they were removed to Mount Macquarie, near Carcoar ; both places were ill adapted for sheep, especially the later station; the country being wet, and sheep depasturing there being subject to rot. At different times the defendant purchased other sheep; 500 of Mr., Smith, of which he afterwards gave 260 and £10 in exchange for dray and a team of bullocks. Smith was of opinion that these sheep were a portion of those he had formerly sold to the defendant. He also had from Andrew Rowan 700 sheep, on terms, and in March last, according to Rowan, he went to defendant, and he gave him 700 sheep back. It turned out from the evidence called by the defendant, that Rowan had forcibly taken away the 700 sheep, and that defendant was ill-used by Rowan’s son, in trying to keep them till he had see Strachan. In March last defendant met Mr. Thomas Jones, and he handed them over to Mr. Strachan. A balance was then struck, and it was found that defendant was still £90 5s. 6d. in Mr. Strachan’s debt. Defendant gave a promissory note at six months for this amount, and a continuing verbal lien on the sheep. The promissory note was dishonoured at maturity and Mr. Strachan sued the defendant upon it. Subsequently, he authorised Mr. Jones to take the sheep from the defendant, but Mr. Jones obtained none. The defendant stated that the sheep secured be the mortgage were all dead. The alleged disposals, therefore, were to Smith and Rowan. It was shown that, since the date of the mortgage, many of the sheep had died. Mr. Holroyd, for the defendant, contended that there was no evidence of a single sheep disposed of to Smith or Rowan ever having been a portion of the sheep secured by the mortgage. The statute was a penal on, and the jury must be satisfied of the identity of the sheep, of which there we no evidence. In a case like this, the statute must be construed more favourably in favour of the prisoner than the Crown. His Honor summed up the case with great care and minuteness, and the jury, after having retired for twenty minutes, found the defendant guilty; and his Honor sentenced him to be imprisoned, and kept to hard labour, in Darlinghurst Gaol for the term of three years.