BIRTH: Cert No NSW:V18561853 159/1856
4430/1856.

MARRIAGE: Cert No NSW:7134/1888.

DEATH: Cert No NSW:5574/1915.

BIOGRAPHY: David was the fourth son of the family and was born on the 16th of August, 1856 at "Brothers". He was baptised on the 14th of September, 1856. His early life was similar to that of his brothers, occupied in general station and farm work. This included cattle-mustering, fencing, ring-barking, clearing land, burning, horse-breaking, bullock-driving, cultivating and growing fodder for stock and vegetables for the use of the family. Around 1880, David heard of the rapidly increasing development of the fertile country in the Richmond River district on the far north coast of New South Wales. He was determined to leave the Williams River and move to the Richmond. This he did, first arriving at Tomki (te original station of the valley) where he lived and worked for several years. It was in this area at Casino, that David met and married Emma Pritchard, a spinster from from Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. By 1885, they had moved to Pearce's Creek, in the primeval rain-forest known as the "Big Scrub". During his time there, he assisted other settlers in the erection of the first school-building. Previous to this, children had attended lessons in a barn for several years. David prospered at Pearce's Creek, but he saw better opportunties in Lismore, and acquired a large area of good land there. For many years the property which David called "Greenacres" has been part of the city of Lismore. He worked there and retired there in about 1905, still supervising the operation of his properties. David Gorton, like many of the family, had an abiding interest in good horses. He was a very successful breeder of fine horses at "Greenacres" not only of saddle-horses, but also many excellent harness-horses were bred there. On one occasion a young saddle-horse was being ridden for the first time. David (and a number of other onlookers) lined the fence to witness the event. The animal was being ridden by George John Gorton, Junior, nephew of David, and son of George John Gorton, Senior, of "Mount Gorton" near Clarencetown. David was excitedly shouting instructions to his nephew, as the horse was trying very hard indeed to dislodge the trespasser on its back. In the flurry of excitement, the usually very gentlemanly David, used a few impolite terms in describing the spirited young equine. Suddenly David caught a glimpse of an approaching figure whom he recognised as the Presbyterian minister making a pastoral visit. Instantly, David's manner changed from the tough old station-bred horse-breaker, to that of a kind and amiable host. "Good morning, your reverence", he called out. Then, approaching the minister with a welcoming hand, he said quietly, "We'll go across to the house, I think, if you don't mind". Then, even in an even quieter tone he said, "We've got a few rough types here this morning". Had the approaching cleric heard any of the stockyard vocabulary, he certainly would have not have ascribed it to his worthy parishioner. Several of David's neices and nephews lived with him and their aunt Emma, following the death of their parents. Jolanthe Muirhead, and several of the children of his widowed sister, Emily Ellen Weller, lived with the Gortons at "Greenacres". David operated a dairy on a property some distance from his residence and the nieces and nephews assisted him in the work on the farm. David Gorton ws a kindly man and, having no children of his own, was glad to have the presence of these youngsters around him. David's generosity and patience is demonstrated in paying the fare for a relation of his wife, to enable her to migrate to Australia. The said relative-in-law did not like this country, so David paid her passage back to England. Only a short time elapsed before the long-suffering man was called upon once more to pay the lady's fare to Australia. This second time she settled down and grew to like the country. David Albert Gorton died in Lismore on the 20th of April, 1915 at the age of 58 years. Emma Gorton died at her home in Lismore on the 2nd of September, 1942. She was 89 years of age. They are buried in the Presbyterian section of East Lismore cemetry (Gorton Avenue, Lismore, perpetuates the name). David and Emma Gorton had a continuing association with the Presbyterian Church in Lismore. In 1928 when St David's Church was erected in South Lismore, Emma was a generous donor. In the year before her death, Emma Gorton had a Church Hall erected adjacent to St David's Church, and called the "Gorton Memorial Hall". This was built in memeory of David Albert Gorton by his widow, Emma Gorton and opened on the 20th of September, 1941. The first wedding in St David's Church was that of Lester Vivian Gorton and Muriel Rapmund on the 20th of February, 1932. (Lester Gorton was a son of George John Gorton, Junior, onetime prominent auctioneer and real estate agent in Lismore, and the horse-breaker when the minister paid a visit to David and Emma.)

• Married: 1888 in Casino, New South Wales, Australia.