| [Index] |
| Robert DOWNING (1810 - 1891) |
| Convict |
| b. 1810 at Kerry, Ireland |
| m. 20 Mar 1843 Margaret QUILTY (1827 - 1905) at Gobarralong, New South Wales, Australia |
| d. 13 Oct 1891 at Gadara, New South Wales, Australia aged 81 |
| Events in Robert DOWNING (1810 - 1891)'s life | |||||
| Date | Age | Event | Place | Notes | Src |
| 1810 | Robert DOWNING was born | Kerry, Ireland | |||
| 1830 | 20 | Immigration | New South Wales, Australia | Note 1 | |
| 20 Mar 1843 | 33 | Married Margaret QUILTY (aged 16) | Gobarralong, New South Wales, Australia | Downie | |
| 25 Dec 1844 | 34 | Birth of son Bartholomew Robert DOWNING | Gilmore, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| 1846 | 36 | Birth of son Thomas Joseph DOWNING | Tumut, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| 1848 | 38 | Birth of son John A DOWNING | New South Wales, Australia | ||
| 1850 | 40 | Birth of daughter Anne DOWNING | Gilmore, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| 03 Nov 1852 | 42 | Birth of daughter Mary Ann DOWNING | Gilmore, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| 25 Apr 1854 | 44 | Birth of son Michael Joseph DOWNING | Gilmore, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| 11 Jun 1856 | 46 | Death of daughter Anne DOWNING (aged 6) | Gilmore, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| abt 1857 | 47 | Birth of daughter Catherine Cecila DOWNING | Gilmore, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| abt 1858 | 48 | Birth of daughter Margaret Mary DOWNING | Gilmore, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| 1859 | 49 | Birth of son Charles DOWNING | Tumut, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| 28 Feb 1861 | 51 | Death of son Charles DOWNING (aged 2) | Gilmore, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| 24 Sep 1861 | 51 | Birth of daughter Johanna May DOWNING | Tumut, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| 14 Aug 1865 | 55 | Birth of daughter Ellen DOWNING | Gilmore, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| 1867 | 57 | Birth of son Charles Edward DOWNING | Tumut, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| 1870 | 60 | Birth of son Matthew Sylvester DOWNING | Gilmore, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| 05 Mar 1872 | 62 | Birth of son Frederick Simon DOWNING | Tumut, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| 13 Oct 1891 | 81 | Robert DOWNING died | Gadara, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| Note 1: per 'Andromeda' Sentenced 7 years |
| Personal Notes: |
|
Robert Downing arrived in Tumut in 1839 from County Kerry, Ireland. After arriving he was employed by J. A. Broughton on Mundongo Station worked there until 1842.
Shortly after their arrival they settled between Jugiong and Gobarralong and in 1842 moved to the Gilmore Creek where they settled a property which was later owned by William Rivers. In 1848 Robert held a property of 6,400 acres on the Gilmore Creek. 1850 Robert Downing and his brother-in-law Thomas O'Mara acquired from Timothy O'Mara a property known as Portion 62 of 4,300 acres at Rosebank on the Gilmore Creek. He continued to acquire land to graze his cattle and sheep and owned freehold properties in five separate parishes. In 1843 Robert Downing married, his wife being then sixteen years old. They had a family of fourteen children. Mrs. Downing was born in Ireland, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Quilty. She arrived in Austraha with her parents on the Alquis in 1839. There are many descendants of this fine pioneering family still residing in the Tumut district and scattered throughout the state. Robert Downing was also known as Downey. He was a very successful breeder of cattle and sheep and was active in commercial life and in any project that would benefit the district. During the gold rush at Reedy Creek (Batlow), in the sixties he purchased the Reily's Crossing Hotel at Upper Adelong from R. M. Reily. In 1850 he built the Killarney Hotel located near the old Gilmore Railway Station and conducted it for a period of twelve years. Selling out in 1862 he purchased the fine grazing property at Gadara. For over 100 years some of the descendants of Robert Downing have carried on the butchery business in Wynyard Street, Tumut. Matthew Downing, a son, whilst conducting the butchers shop advertised in the Tumut and Adelong Times of 7 August 1903 the following meat prices; Loin roast beef 6d., rib roast 5d., corned round 5 1/2d., ribs corned beef 5d., beef steak 5d., rump steak 6d., sausages 6d., corned beef 33/- for 100 lb., hind quarter mutton 5d., forequarter mutton 4 1/2 d., loin chops 5d. and side mutton 5d. Mention is made of these prices to indicate the cost of living at the time. Robert Downing died at his home at Gadara on 13 October 1891 aged 81 years. His wife died on 23 July 1905 aged 78 years |