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John Oxley Library

Mr. Jarrot’s Orangery

By JOL Admin | 20 June 2018

In 1859 Robert Jarrot senior (b. 21st April 1813, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, d. 9th January 1879, Brisbane Queensland) purchased land at Milton on what is now Sylvan Road. He is listed among the first 30 settlers of Toowong and Milton in J.B. Fewing's book, Arcadian Simplicity: Memoirs of Toowong. Robert and his family cleared and farmed this land for several years.

On 24 February 1857 Robert and his wife Laura left Birkenhead on the ship Hastings, which arrived in Moreton Bay on the 29 May 1857. Their children were William, Sarah, Edward, Anne, Robert and Fanny.

Early view of Indooroopilly taken from Finneys Hill United Silver Mine. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 80004

Early view of Indooroopilly taken from Finneys Hill United Silver Mine. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 80004

Robert junior began his working life as a storekeeper, but later decided to try his hand at farming. An article in The Queenslander of 26 October 1878, lists Robert Jarrot junior farming at Indooroopilly.  He took over the six acres of land that his father had purchased in 1867 and continued to farm there for several years and also became known as an apiarist.  The Orangery was very successful and every variety of orange was grown from the monster Shaddock to the tiny Cumquat, Robert's crops were plentiful, enough to supply preservers, exporters and the people of Brisbane.  Robert junior took up farming at Toowong, Indooroopilly and Laidley. While at Laidley he entered the services of Barns and Company as a buyer. An article in The Morning Bulletin of 14 March 1942 states that in 1898 he pursued a venture with the Department of Agriculture & Stock, moving to Central Queensland to manage the State Farm at Gindie. He and his family later lived on a property called “Aylesbury” at Gindie until his death.

Robert Jarrot and family Gindie State Farm Emerald district. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 15023

Robert Jarrot and family Gindie State Farm Emerald district. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 15023

The Jarrot family moved to various parts of the state and branches of the family are now found at Emerald, Mackay, Toowoomba, Bundaberg and Brisbane as well as interstate in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Information can be found by consulting the Queensland Post Office Directories, Pugh’s Almanac, Queensland Electoral Rolls and newspapers of the day. To research your family and community history, visit the State Library of Queensland to access our historical collections.

Janette Garrad – Library Technician, State Library of Queensland

 

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