Michael and Hannah Starkey

M. Starkey's widow, nee Hannah Broadribb, of Gumeracha, was a remarkable woman. Her parents had arrived with the Randell family aboard the HARTLEY in 1837 and she came into the world soon afterwards - one of the first white children born in the colony. Hannah was christenied at the weatherboard St John's-in-the-wilderness, Halifax St, Adelaide. 

After the death of her husband, Hannah brought her considerable family to a farm at Tungkillo, where she earned great respect for sterling duty as a district midwife. 

Hannah was widowed in 1875, left with 7 children aged 20 years to 1 year

Purchased Section 7073 Hd Talunga in 1877 from John Burton. 

Purchased block 70 Mount Pleasant in 1898, from Walter Purchase.

After the death of Hannah, sons William and Edward took ownership of block 70, finally selling to the South Australian Railway Commission in 1918.

There is little to suggest that Hannah was in charge of farming the property, with her husband listed in Directories until 1888 for Pewsey Vale, however, it would have been that she made a living from the property to support her large family. Her son, Edward, took over the property on Section 7073 Hd Talunga, now known as Hill View, with the transfer of ownership in 1896, and it has been in the hands of the Starkey family until very recently, 2023.