That did not eventuate, however, as at the age of 19, McKail secured a place on board Parmelia, the ship carrying the first British settlers (including the new governor, James Stirling) to the Swan River Colony.
[2] After arriving in the new colony, McKail and a friend initially camped out on Mount Eliza, overlooking the Perth townsite.
McKail reputedly confessed to shooting Gogalee, but because the circumstances were disputed the colonial authorities believed it was unlikely that a jury would convict him.
An acquittal would have angered the local Aborigines, so it was decided that, instead of a trial, McKail would pay blood money to Gogalee's family, and then be expelled from the area.
The ship would carry sandalwood to those countries and return to Australia with a cargo of sugar and tea, which were sold in Adelaide.
McKail also had interests in whaling, and acquired several pastoral properties, including in the Porongorup Ranges, on the Hay River, and at Torbay.