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Max Schober, an independent and hard-working man, was
born in Germany in 1885. About 1911 he allegedly ‘jumped ship' on the
east coast of Australia and remained. He was naturalised in 1914 and
moved to the Territory in 1919.
In 1928 he was working on the railway extension from Katherine to
Mataranka and Birdum - most of this work was done with a shovel and
wheelbarrow. He then established a store at the new railhead at Birdum.
In 1935 he went to Newcastle Waters where he established and operated
the Junction store and hotel.
Newcastle Waters was then strategically located, at the junction of the
stock routes from the Victoria River and Kimberleys (the Murranji), from
Katherine and north to Central Australia along the Telegraph Line (the
North/South route), and to Queensland via Anthony Lagoon (the Tablelands
route).
Schober's store was a vital part of this aspect of the Territory's
pastoral industry. He extended credit to the passing drovers, on the
basis that their accounts with him were guaranteed by the owners of the
passing cattle. Vesteys were the biggest owners, but other were
significant. In one year (which would have been typical) 48 droving
plants passed Newcastle Waters, and each plant owed Schober an average
of £2 000 for provisions and plant purchases.
Schober was firm and straight in business, but generous to charity,
particularly toward anything involving children. He never married. In
1953 he was awarded a Coronation Medal for his service to droving.
In about 1955 the store was moved to Elliott, and the liquor licence was
transferred to the Junction Hotel there.
About 1966 Schober sold out to Peter Sherwin, who later became
Australia's largest cattle owner. Sherwin was then a drover, contract
musterer, and small pastoralist. The Elliott business is popularly
supposed to have given Sherwin his start.
Schober retired to Darwin, and lived with friends who ran a chicken farm
at the Twelve Mile. Schober died in 1973. He is buried in the Darwin
Cemetery at Jingili. In his Will, Schober provided for a scholarship to
benefit young Territorians. Although not highly educated himself, he
recognised clearly the benefits of education for others in the fast
developing Territory he had helped to build. |
