Thomas Chirnside
Encyclopedia
Thomas Chirnside was an Australian pastoralist who developed much of what would become western Melbourne
.
Thomas Chirnside was born in Berwickshire
, Scotland
, the elder son of Robert Chirnside and Mary Fairs. His father was also a farmer
.
In 1839 Chirnside came from Liverpool
in the Bardaster. He arrived in Adelaide
in January and Sydney
in March of that year. The drought of 1839 affected the sheep he had left on the Murrumbidgee
, so he joined his brother in Melbourne
.
In April 1842 the brothers established a station in the Grampians
, and Thomas employed Aborigines
on another station in the area. Throughout 1843 they built developments in the Western District.
The elder Chirnside settled in Werribee
just before the gold rushes, eventually buying 80,000 acres (320 km²) of land. He built a sandstone
mansion
which is now the Werribee Park Mansion.
On 2 September 1853 he purchased through a government grant Section 14, Parish of Cut Paw Paw, County of Burke. This allotment was 89 acres (360,170.5 m²), and is now the new town of Kingsville
.
Thomas Chirnside was a member of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria from 1857 to 1859 and the Royal Society of Victoria
from 1860 to 1866.
In 1874 the elder Chirnside sold land to his brother Andrew. From 1874 to 1877 the elder Chirnside built Werribee Park Mansion.
Thomas Chirnside committed suicide
in 1887. He was found dead in the laundry at Werribee Park with a shotgun lying beside him. Andrew Chirnside then passed on the land.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
Thomas Chirnside was born in Berwickshire
Berwickshire
Berwickshire or the County of Berwick is a registration county, a committee area of the Scottish Borders Council, and a lieutenancy area of Scotland, on the border with England. The town after which it is named—Berwick-upon-Tweed—was lost by Scotland to England in 1482...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, the elder son of Robert Chirnside and Mary Fairs. His father was also a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
.
In 1839 Chirnside came from Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
in the Bardaster. He arrived in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
in January and Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in March of that year. The drought of 1839 affected the sheep he had left on the Murrumbidgee
Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area
The Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area is geographically located within the Riverina area of New South Wales was created to control and divert the flow of local river and creek systems for the purpose of food production...
, so he joined his brother in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
In April 1842 the brothers established a station in the Grampians
Grampians National Park
The Grampians National Park is a national park in Victoria, Australia, 235 kilometres west of Melbourne. The Park was listed on the Australian National Heritage List on 15 December 2006 for its outstanding natural beauty and being one of the richest indigenous rock art sites in south-eastern...
, and Thomas employed Aborigines
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
on another station in the area. Throughout 1843 they built developments in the Western District.
The elder Chirnside settled in Werribee
Point Cook, Victoria
Point Cook is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 25 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Point Cook had a population of 14,162, now it is estimated that the population of Point Cook is 32,167...
just before the gold rushes, eventually buying 80,000 acres (320 km²) of land. He built a sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
mansion
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
which is now the Werribee Park Mansion.
On 2 September 1853 he purchased through a government grant Section 14, Parish of Cut Paw Paw, County of Burke. This allotment was 89 acres (360,170.5 m²), and is now the new town of Kingsville
Kingsville, Victoria
Kingsville is a suburb 9 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Kingsville had a population of 3350....
.
Thomas Chirnside was a member of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria from 1857 to 1859 and the Royal Society of Victoria
Royal Society of Victoria
The Royal Society of Victoria is the oldest learned society in the state of Victoria in Australia.The Royal Society of Victoria was formed in 1859 from a merger between The Philosophical Society of Victoria and The Victorian Institute for the Advancement of Science , both founded...
from 1860 to 1866.
In 1874 the elder Chirnside sold land to his brother Andrew. From 1874 to 1877 the elder Chirnside built Werribee Park Mansion.
Thomas Chirnside committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
in 1887. He was found dead in the laundry at Werribee Park with a shotgun lying beside him. Andrew Chirnside then passed on the land.