He purchased a large block at Magill, in the foothills of Adelaide, and there built a fine mansion which he named after Rostrevor, a seaside resort close to his birthplace.
[citation needed] By 1861, the Reid brothers had moved into the Bourke area and were in possession of West Bogan runs 20, 21, 22 (Tarcoon) and 30 (Mooculta).
While Tolarno was in the hands of the Reid brothers the only practical freight communication was by steamboat on the Murray-Darling system to ports such as Echuca, Mannum and Goolwa.
In 1875, the Reid brothers and Hugh King purchased the Jane Eliza from captains Davies and Dorward, and also had an interest in steamers Gem, Jupiter, Menindie and Shannon.
[citation needed] Tolarno was in the 1880s badly infested with rabbits and was used as a test bed for Dr. Butcher's experiments with "Tintinallogy disease",[6] which proved to be a false hope.
He retired to Glenelg, South Australia, where in his home, "St Leonards", he died, aged 82, and was buried in the family vault, Magill.