Anthony Cottrell was the Constable and Poundkeeper (stock controller) at Gordon Plains just south of Evandale when he was raided by hostile Aboriginal clansmen in 1827 and it was no surprise that stockmen were rarely seen without a musket at hand. The law at the time was executed by military and appointed constables with the gentry, or senior military, officiating as magistrates. Military posts were established upstream at Glen Esk, downstream at the Perth punt and at Campbell Town, primarily as defence against the aboriginal threat.