Ellen White: Woman of Vision

Planting And Building At Cooranbong

Two things were on Ellen White's mind as she hastened back to Cooranbong from Sydney—planting the orchard and constructing a place to live. Preparation of the land and planting had the priority. Right after she returned, W. C. White learned that J. G. Shannon, a good Adventist builder from Tasmania, was in Sydney looking for work. For the Whites it seemed most fortunate, for they were at a loss to know who to get to put up the home on the land just purchased. For eight shillings ($2) a day, this master builder was employed and dispatched to Cooranbong to begin work on a five-room cottage (8 WCW, p. 46). Ellen White wrote of the activities at her place: WV 334.1

Today [Sunday] I am rushing the workmen on preparing ground for the orchard. We have today captured a part of the students’ manual training company to clear the land for fruit trees which must be set this week and next, or give up the matter and lose one year. WV 334.2

Emily and I are driving a span of horses hither and thither and are hunting for cows and gathering all the information possible in regard to planting, growing, et cetera (Letter 125, 1895). WV 334.3