Robert Henry Purvis

Robert Henry Purvis or Bob Purvis (c. 1885 – 30 September 1965) was a bush worker and pastoralist that spent much of his life in Central Australia in the Northern Territory.

Early life Purvis was born in Aberdeen in Scotland in about 1885 and very little is known of his early life and education but there is evidence that he began, but did not complete, a law degree. He was particularly skilled in gymnastics, boxing and wrestling.

Soon after their purchase of these camels though, and on his first trip, most of them died after eating Gastrolobium, a poisonous bush, which passing through Murray Downs Station. he was there in October 1916 and the director of mines reported that he was 'getting fair ore'. While at Hatches Creek he also took out work on surrounding stations sinking bores and finding water for pastoralists.

Purvis was recovered by 1924 and returned to the Northern Territory where he was granted another pastoral lease, Woodgreen Station and, while establishing it, he also took on work repairing wells for the Overland Telegraph Line between Burt Well and Kelly Well. Between 1926 and 1928 he also had the contract to sink wells of the Sandover Stockroute, now the Sandover Highway. it was during this period he earned the nickname “The Sandover Alligator” which was also in reference to his ability to eat large amounts including one instance where, in one meal, he ate a small goat with soup made from its head, 60 boiled eggs and most of a pie which had been prepared as a meal for 10 railway gangers. He was not able to finish consuming the pie as the cook had placed soap in it and he lost the bet.

In the 1930s, Purvis bred horses there for the British Indian Army as well as race horses (with the brand "RTP") as well as carrying sheep and small amounts of cattle until, around 1940, changing to primarily become a cattle station. The property was expanded at some point, but as the government stipulated minimum livestock numbers, the land was overgrazed, and likely mismanaged, according to reports of his son. In 1954 the station was badly affected by drought and, again, in 1957 drought led to culling and sale of many horses.

In the 1930s Purvis also formed the Barrow Creek Racing Club, which is now known as the Aileron Bush Club, and he acted as an officiant and judge at their events. Before 1940 he would also represent people in court in Alice Springs who could not afford a lawyer, using the knowledge gained in the law course he did not complete in his youth. Adela, known most commonly as Adele was also a keen local historian, and founded the National Trust of Australia (Northern Territory). She published articles, and was also the first person to donate a box of papers to the Northern Territory Archives, now Library & Archives NT in Alice Springs office after it opened in 2003.

Purvis handed over the management of Woodgreen station to his son in 1960 along with a large debt, largely due to land degradation and poor grazing practices; the debts exceeded the property's value, and three quarters of the land was unusable.

Purvis died on 30 September 1965 in Alice Springs and is buried at Woodgreen Station.