John Collerson
| Town/City | Brisbane |
|---|---|
| First name | John |
| Last name | Collerson |
| Country of Origin | England |
| Date of Birth | 1839 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | c1863 |
| Submitted by | Neville Collerson |
Story
John Blows Collerson was born in Welney, Cambridgeshire in 1839 & his wife Mary Elizabeth nee Simpson was born in Kings Lynn, Norfolk in 1837. The Collerson family moved to Kings Lynn by 1841.
The state of Queensland was formed in 1859, (after self-government), the Agents-Generals office for Queensland was opened in London in 1860. A concerted drive was mounted to increase development, dependent on immigration, Henry Jordan returned to Britain in 1861 as Immigration Commissioner, secured an agreement with the shipping firm Baines and Co, which instituted a regular monthly service to Morton Bay. He gave lectures all over the British Isles & superintended the selection of eligible candidates, and supervised the conditions on the transport ship, staff and medical officers, teachers, matrons and cooks for the health and welfare of the immigrants.
When the family left London for Queensland sometime between late 1863 to 1864, John would have worked for the Queensland Govt. , in fact it was probable that the family had their fares paid, as the government at that time wanted carpenters, to be indentured for 5 years.
They lived in Fortitude Valley, just out of the centre of Brisbane. It was here that two children Fredrick Youngs 1865 and Pricilla 1868 were born. It seems likely that JB Collerson was working on a bridge over the Broadwater Creek, Grafton in August 1870 where my great uncle Robert Henry Collerson was born with sisters Elizabeth and Helen. Mary Elizabeth Collerson and other pioneering women like her are the unsung heroes, living in rent cities while their husbands were building bridges. After the Broadwater bridge, the family moved on to Boorawa, a township on Boorawa River on the main road to Wagga. During the 1800\’s there were many other trades relating to building conducted at Boorawa. JB Collerson was listed as an engineer, as well as being a joiner and locksmith. The family then moved on to build bridges over the Darling at Brewarrina and the four mile bridge at Walgett. Here they also lived in Calico Township. From Walgett they must have travelled to Dungog.
I came across a story at the Brisbane State Library taken from the Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, dated 24 October 1882. The heading ‘The opening of the Tillegra Bridge over the Williams River.’
‘The Bridge is situated nearly midway between Dungog and Underbank. The first pile was started some seven months ago, the first stroke being given by VF Dowling, esq. Some slight idea may be formed of the bridge when I mention that it is about 30 feet above the river bed, and the main or centre span will be about 80 feet wide, the side spans will not be so great , they being two 25 feet each and one 35 feet. They had a christening ceremony and a banquet. They had children from three public schools to sing the national anthem and a large gathering of townspeople. Thomas Irwin Esq proposed Messrs Bell and Collerson, the contractors, in his usual happy manner. (T. Bell and JB Collerson were contractors to the NSW Dept. of Public Works) In JB Collerson\’s reply, he gave them an account of the materials required to build the bridge, like 62,000-63,000 cubic feet of timber, 1640 of bolts and 115 cubic feet of concrete. When the banquet was brought to a close, after which the whole public joined in various games. here was a grand ball and refreshments on the bridge at night where dancing dancing was kept up till broad daylight.’
I would like to thank my cousin Robanne and her husband Jim Howie for permission to se heir research notes on John Blows and his wife Mary Elizabeth who are buried in Waverley Cemetery, Sydney NSW. Grave 393, General Special 21.