Robert HUCKSON
| First name | Robert |
|---|---|
| Last name | HUCKSON |
| Country of Origin | England |
| Date of Birth | 1824 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1849 |
| Submitted by | Heather Flint |
Story
ROBERT HUCKSON – 1824 – 1902
Robert was born 1824, the sixth of 13 children to Paul & Hannah Huckson, Tedbury, Herefordshire, England and died 1902 Bellerive, Tasmania. Robert followed his father into the architectural and building trade, which led to his work in Australia.
At 25 years of age and at a fare of 6 pounds each, Robert, his wife Sarah and 8 month old son, Herman, sailed May 1849 from London aboard ‘ELIZA’, arriving Adelaide 23 August, 1849. Sadly Herman died during the voyage.
1853 – Robert bought an acre of land in King William Street, Adelaide for 62 pounds.
1854/57 – At the beginning of the gold rush the family moved to Collingwood, Melbourne where it is believed there was quite a bit of money made with coach and horses ferrying people and supplies to the goldfields. Robert also tried the auctioneering business but this didn’t last long.
Robert soon returned to his trade – building Clarendon Terrace, East Melbourne. One of the first buildings constructed in Clarendon Street – now the headquarters of Menzies Memorial Trust. This was soon followed by more buildings. 1858 – The Melbourne Treasury Building in Spring Street, Melbourne. Robert tendered for 7,716 pounds for the construction of the Treasury which was built in four stages and still stands today.
Robert then turned his hand to building Gabo Lighthouse. At this stage it is recorded that he very nearly went bankrupt as a boat containing the light was lost in a storm and as a result the builders received a severe financial set-back – the authorities exercising a penalty clause in the contract.
A number of buildings in East Melbourne, some now under National Trust, were built and/or designed by Robert. Hodgkinson House, 157 Hotham St., Congregational Church; Baptist Church, Albert St.
1863 Robert, Sarah and four of their children now lived near Dandenong, Victoria, and was associated with various activities, having a saw mill at which ship-knees were cut for dispatch overseas. He had association with the early Dandenong market and the building of the old Stone Bridge and the old Royal Hotel are known.
1864 saw their family completed with the birth of their daughter, Bertha.
Robert tried at this time for a place on the Dandenong Districts Road Board but finished in second place.
1878 – Robert took a partner, Robert Hutchison, who married his oldest daughter, Laura, and returned to Adelaide where they built the basement and foundations of the Register General’s building, Wakefield Street, Adelaide. At this time he undertook the building of Martindale Hall, Mintaro, north of Adelaide. This contract cost 36,000 pounds, a formidable sum in those days, and the building was featured in the film ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’.
1881 – Dulwich House, East Adelaide was then built, which today is kept in wonderful repair.
c1883 – Robert and his family moved to Hobart, Tasmania. Here Robert was the building and/or architect of a number of residences and lighthouses around Tasmania’s coast – many of which are under National Trust and in excellent repair.
c1885 – Bluff House in Bellerive was built.
c1886 – Eddystone Point Light – Master’s residence and Assistants quarters. Lighthouses – Eddystone; Lowhead; Mersey Bluff; Table Cape; Maatsuyker; Capte Sorell and the leading lights at Mersey River and Macquarie Heads.
1888 – Wirksworth, Wentworth St., Howrah, Tasmania – an Italianate Mansion was completed.
1890 – Robert again nominated for local government, this time on the Bellerive Council, but again was unsuccessful.
1892 – The Huckson family suffered the loss of their home ‘St. Briavel’s’ by fire. This home had been built by Robert in Alma St., Bellerive.
Sarah died January 1901 pre-deceasing Robert who died November 1902. They are buried in an unmarked grave in the Rockeby Cemetery, Tasmania.
Robert & Sarah were survived by four children and descendants now live in Tasmania, Melbourne and Western Australia.
Allthough there is very little written about Robert and his family, he did leave a number of legacies for which his descendants can be very proud.