A bit of history from around Collinsville:
Born in 1879, near Ayr, Arthur Henry Wickham Cunningham bought Strathmore Station in 1902. In 1910 he married Nellie Maud Wharton of Birralee Station. Cunningham was well known as an accomplished horseman and he was involved in several graziers associations across the district.
At the end of World War 1, Cunningham negotiated with the government and purchased four properties on the Burdekin, combining them to create Scartwater. The land was stocked with donated cattle and all profits were contributed to business grants for returned servicemen. The service was extended to help educate the children of these servicemen as well.
Cunningham died in 1942 from injuries caused by a car crash. Today a retirement home in Bowen bears his name.
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