ABSTRACT

Historians have rarely mentioned Wilhelm from the time he moved to Australia in 1853. Owen Wright’s book Wongwibinda, for example, acknowledges Wilhelm as a co-purchaser with Julius Duboc of the sheep run of the title (then named Kangaroo Hills), but states that “the history and character of Clairmont remains unknown” (1985: 62). He reproduces parts of the purchasing contract between Duboc and Wilhelm and the seller, William Dangar, but otherwise leaves Wilhelm a mystery and provides no information as to the level of Wilhelm’s involvement in these matters. In Our Grandchildren Won’t Believe It, Wright contributes a chapter on Kangaroo Hills in which he concludes that “William Clairmont” was “probably French” (McInherny and Schaeffer 2004: 72). Similarly, Jacqueline Voignier-Marshall records Wilhelm’s arrival in Australia, but admits she knows nothing of him thereafter (1983: 25).