1861. T. McCombie, `Australian Sketches,' p. 119:
"Squatting, in its first phase, was confined to the region round about Sydney; it was not until the pass through the Blue Mountains was discovered that the flocks and herds of the colonists began to expand."
<hw>Squattage</hw>, <i>n</i>. a squatter's station. The word can hardly be said to have prevailed.
1864. W. Westgarth, `Colony of Victoria,' p. 272:
"The great Riverine district, which is one vast series of squattages . . . the toil and solitude of a day's journey between the homesteads of adjacent squattages."
<hw>Squatter</hw>, <i>n</i>. (1) One who squats; that is, settles on land without a title or licence. This is an English use.
1835. T. A. Murray (Evidence before Legislative Council of New South Wales on Police and Gaols):
"There are several parties of squatters in my neighbourhood. I detected, not long since, three men at one of their stations in the act of slaughtering one of my own cattle. I have strong reason to suspect that these people are, in general, illicit sellers of spirits."
1835. W. H. Dutton (Evidence before same Committee):
"These persons (squatters) are almost invariably the instigators and promoters of crime, receivers of stolen property, illegal vendors of spirits, and harbourers of runaways, bushrangers, and vagrants."