John Jackson Oakden

Upon reaching the Murray near present Morgan they were the first Europeans to visit the Riverland region, whether from Adelaide or from the eastern colonies, since Charles Sturt's open boat expedition in 1830.

[4] In 1839 Osmond Gilles was part of a syndicate of nine investors that established the Hutt River Special Survey in the Clare Valley.

Among these was Kadlunga (also spelt Cadlunga, Tadlunga and Katalunga in earliest times), held under an occupation licence by James Stein.

Kadlunga, beside Mount Horrocks and near Mintaro, was in later decades a premium sheep stud owned by Sir Samuel Way.

[5] In 1851, seeking fresh pastoralism opportunities on his own account, Oakden struck out into the remote and unexplored north of South Australia in partnership with Henry Stephen Hulkes (1812–1884), grandson of British M.P.

When Oakden had broken up his station in March 1852, and was leaving the district, his party was sleeping under a bullock dray when they were disturbed by a number of Aboriginals approaching in the night.

He then purchased Acheron Bank Station near Lake Coleridge in the Canterbury region, which he successfully developed and held until 1877, when he sold up to enjoy an affluent retirement at Riccarton.

From the late 1860s he was a committee member of the Canterbury branch of the Acclimatisation Society, being active in the introduction to New Zealand of trout and Chinook salmon, among other non-native fauna.

Always keen on sporting pursuits, particularly the turf and the Hunt Club, he rarely engaged in public life and he never married.