Mathews took up a 40 acre station on the Darling in 1865 which he named Louth after his Irish birthplace. After building the obligatory hotel, the Daniel O'Connell (which Mary operated), he increased his holding to 200 acres and divided the area into allotments, a bonded store was set up, the paddle boats began to stop, and Louth became known as 'The Port of Louth' and Mathews, the 'King' of Louth.
While Mathews furthered his empire by organizing overland transport routes to connect the Cobar mines with the river trade, Mary continued to work the Daniel O'Connell and raise the family. But this was colonial Australia, times were hard, goods were scarce, and in the event of an illness, medical supplies could be days away, and death was usually a lot closer.

Mary (Devine) Mathews died from an inflammation of the lungs August the 19th, 1869 just forty two years old.

A World of Men

I've said goodbye to Mary Divine, she lies in her sickness bed
And by the time I return from the mine, Mary Devine will be dead
I go by the river to weep now and shed the tears grief brings
For I have sons in a world of men and a tear is a dangerous thing

I have men beneath me now and I have commerce at stake
I have a future set foe me that a sign of weakness could break
So now I go to crack the whip and leave my love to die
And as long as I live, I swear, it's only the river that sees me cry

Sing those Irish songs no more, I cannot stand their tune
The Darling mirrors a hundred faces of the rising moon
It's here I come alone at night to play the grieving part
For Australia is a world of men
I place myself in front of them
And I'll break stone and flesh and bone before I show my heart

Carve a headstone for her Finn, marked with an Irish cross
Let it show the world that Mathews has no sense of loss
The river only knows my heart because no person can
They'll not say T.A.Mathews was a sympathetic man

Virtuous wife, indulgent mother, that's her epitaph
Engrave no words of love on her widowers' behalf
But use a special granite Finn and use your special skill
Then though I show now sign of love the nightly sunset will.

Sing those Irish songs no more, I cannot bear their tune
The Darling mirrors a hundred faces of the rising moon
It's here I come alone at night to play the grieving part
For Australia is a world of men
I place myself in front of them
And I'll break stone and flesh and bone before I show my heart

©2002. Words and Music, Andrew Hull and Tonchi Macintosh

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