An uncle, William Kirby, had built up a flock of merino sheep, as part of a project initiated by Joseph Banks.
[7] Spencer had a farm at Middle Swan, but unfortunately his entire establishment, dwelling house, out-houses, corn ricks, containing 200 bushels of wheat were burnt in a fire.
[15] Wool sent back to England by Trimmer in 1833 was sold by auction at 2 shillings and 2 pence per pound “although dirty and badly packed”.
[17] In February 1833, Trimmer and Bland’s shepherd went out as usual with his flock when he heard the voices of a number of natives in the bush.
[18] In September 1834, the Perth Gazette reported:[19] The success which has attended Messrs Bland and Trimmer’s flock of Sheep at York, has created a general desire to enter upon this lucrative speculation, and many of our Settlers on the Swan, who have the means, as well as some few residents in the towns, are making preparations to remove to their larger grants over the hills, where an unlimited run for the flocks, and a soil adapted for agricultural purposes generally awaits them.
[24] John Henry Monger Snr built and started operating the York Hotel (and his home) on Bland and Trimmer's property, which he later purchased.
[30] Trimmer and Edward Souper pursued the Aborigine who killed Knott, who “confessed to the murder, but says he was influenced by the constant chants of his mother and other old women, to commit the deed".
[31] Fervent missionary Louis Giustiniani accused "Trimmer and other gentlemen" of organising a "hunting party" to shoot as many Aborigines as possible.
The woman's ears were cut off and Trimmer hung them in his kitchen as a trophy, his house being next to Bland who was the Government Resident.
[34] Trimmer remained farming and living in the house up from Monger’s hotel at least until October 1837 when he was the subject of comment by Bunbury in one of his letters:[35][i] Thus lately, Mr A Trimmer, who is fast drinking up what little property he has remaining, having had the charge of Mr Yule's sheep, could not, when the flock was counted, account for the absence of eight wethers; these he must pay the value of, as well as of a Ram which was killed at a farm whither it had been sent by him without authority.
Monger bought York Suburban Lots A1 and A2 for £100 in April 1838,[37] but the Trimmer family continued to reside in their house.