Edwards Family

Henry Edwards, born in Bristol, England in 1833 married Ellen Shipway. They had ten children, William Henry (married Elizabeth Pollard), Eliza, Emily, Alice, Isabella, Eleanor, Alfred, Rosina, Ada and Jessie. The family including William’s three children, Helen (died at sea), Henry and George emigrated from England in the early 1880’s and settled in Katoomba, New South Wales. Around 1895 brothers Henry and George moved to Western Australia. George began a contract carrying business in Bayview Terrace, Claremont and married Priscilla Gibbs of Cannington. They had eight children, William Henry George ‘Harry’, Dorothy, Violet, Jessie, George Roy ‘GR’, Stanley, Elizabeth ‘Queenie’ and Norman George ‘Jack’. While still retaining his carrying business, George selected land near the Candlelight soak about 1906. A team of Italians was employed to clear the land and a home was erected of timber and iron for the family who arrived by train approximately 1913. Later when cows were introduced to Katoomba, butter and eggs were sent by rail to Walkers Store in Bayview Terrace. The Edwards’ garden attracted the attention of the Editor of the Southern Argus in 1922 when he visited the area just prior to the first Kukerin Show. “It was reported recently in a Perth Weekly that fruit and vegetables would not thrive in these districts, which is a reflection on the soil. As there are several lovely gardens and orchards around and a visit to Mr Edwards will convince anyone what the soil is capable of”. Bricks were railed from Perth to the new Candlelight siding and a large country home was built about 1924 and named ‘Katoomba’.

PICTURED: Edwards family at Katoomba Homestead c 1942

Back: Snow ‘George’ Edwards holding brother Noel Edwards, Dorry Franks (n Edwards), Alf Edwards, Roy Willmott, Violet Willmott (n Edwards), Jessie Bartlett (n Edwards), Dulcie Cronin (n Willmott), Hazel Buck (n Edwards), Norm Matthews with mother Queenie Matthews (n Edwards), Ellie Edwards (n Dunham), Harry Edwards holding son Howard Edwards. Middle: George Edwards Jr, Jack (Norman George) Edwards, Jean Waddell (n Bartlett), Priscilla Edwards ‘Grand mother’ (n Gibbs), June Patterson (n Bartlett), George Edwards

Sr ‘Grand father’, Ruth Franks, John Bartlett,George Bartlett, Eric Edwards. Front: Catherine Bartlett holding Geoffrey Willmott, Jonathon Willmott.

PICTURED: Crutching time at 'Katoomba'

George Sr and his son WHG 'Harry' Edwards, George's wife Priscilla and grandchildren. Roy Matthews and George Jr were crutching.

PICTURED: Shifting Wool at 'Katoomba' during World War II

Back: George and John Bartlett. Middle: Theresa Edwards with Jean and June Bartlett. Front: Harry Edwards driving with son, Noel and Cath Bartlett. The Bartlett children were Harry Edwards' nieces and nephews and like many families whose fathers had joined up, they returned to their family in the country for the duration of the war. Rubber tyres replaced the original steel wheels. SE