William Hutchinson

Story

William Hutchinson married Harriet Palmer in Manchester Cathedral, England, on 18.2.1833. They lived in Green Lane, Ardwick, a suburb of Manchester. William was a carpenter and joiner so he may have worked in some association with his father-in-law, John Palmer, a noted architect of many buildings including Blackburn Cathedral and Pleasington Priory.

In 1839, William, Harriet and two children, Harriet 3 and William 10 months, sailed from Liverpool for South Australia on the ‘Lysander”. Their eldest child Eleanor must have died as she did not accompany them.

They arrived on 6.7.1839 and landed in the southern reach of the Port River known as Port Misery – a mosquito infested mangrove swamp across which passengers were carried or rowed to the muddy bank.

For the first 2 years William lived at Port Adelaide and worked as a joiner, possibly helping to build the new Port which opened in 1840. The first official census taken in 1840 gave a population of 8489.

In 1842 William purchased 76 acres of land at Hackham for 76 pounds. When the family moved there to live only a few tracks wound their way over the hills from Adelaide to Hackham in the south. They called their farm ‘Ardwick’, after the Manchester suburb from which they had come 4 years earlier.

Records show that in 1844 William had 9 acres wheat and 8 acres barley sewn to crop. He was also in demand for his carpentry skills and in 1843 he worked on the erection of the Noarlunga steam and flour mill. The mill enabled local farmers, such as William, to have their grain ground into flour both for their own use and to sell.

Between 1848-49 he sold 70 acres of land for 240 pound, leaving him with only 6 acres of his original purchase. There was much land speculation and he bought and sold other property as well.

Six more children were born to William and Harriet in South Australia – Elizabeth 1840, Mary 1843, John Palmer 1845, Eleanor 1847, Thomas Palmer 1850 and Frederick William 1852.

Harriet’s longing for her family in England is evident by the following letter she wrote to her brother, William Palmer, on 16.3.1857 to inform him she had sent a box via a Mrs Darby who was returning to England.

“Dear Brother and Sisters,

I am writing to let you know the box I promised has gone on the ship ‘George Caning’, which sailed on 17th March. Mrs Darby, the lady I sent it by will deliver it to you as soon as she arrives. I hope the few things I have sent you will wear in remembrance of your sister who has been gone 18 years from you and I hope we shall meet in a better world with God’s blessing.

Tell my sisters, Sophia and Mary, the rings I had made of Melbourne gold which I hope they will wear for the love of their sister that is far from them but often wishes I could see you all. The earrings I sent to Sophia’s daughter, I hope she will wear them for the love of her Aunt, they are pure Melbourne gold which I had made. The locket with my hair in is for Mary’s daughter which I hope she will wear for my sake. Give my love to Aunt Susan and tell her I wish I could take a pinch of snuff with her, what a comfort it would be to me.

Give my love to brother Thomas and wife and hope they will accept the few things I have sent them. I often wish I had some trifle belonging to my dear Mother but I suppose you have nothing left now my sister Elizabeth is gone and I was sorry to hear of her husband’s conduct towards you in depriving you of what my father and mother kept together so many years.

I should have sent more things but the time was shorter than I expected but will sent them by another person that is going to England. Dear brother write by return of post as soon as you get the box as I shall be anxious to know if you get it safe.

Give my love to all the children and all old friends.”

Harriet passed away on 20.7.1880 aged 65 and William on 8.2.1884 aged 69 years.

In 1989, to celebrate the 150th year of William and Harriet Hutchinson’s arrival in South Australia, a park, ‘Hutchinson Reserve’, was named in their memory at Paringa Parade, Old Noarlunga.

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