Gunning & District Historical Society

Tom Alchin: Jerrawa Farmer, Gundaroo Miner by Garry Norman Smith Thomas (Tom) Alchin (1853-1925) Thomas Alchin was born at Jerrawa, on 15 April 1853, the son of William James Alchin and Maria Bayley. Thomas, aka Tom, was baptised on 21 June 1853 at the Methodist Church, Jerrawa by the Reverend Benjamin Hurst of the Goulburn Circuit. At the age of 26 years Tom married 20-year-old Jane Robinson at Gunning in 1879. Jane Robinson, born at Gunning in 1858, was the daughter of John and Sarah Robinson (nee Niblett). Tom lived in Jerrawa and was a farmer like his father and uncles until 1894 when he moved his family to Gundaroo to the south of Gunning. Map showing Jerrawa, Gunning & Gundaroo Tom and Jane’s children at the time of the move to Gundaroo were Annie (1880-1996), Matilda Maria (1882-1962), Thomas (1884-1967), Sarah Jane (1886-1951), Amy Edith (1888-1970), James (Jim) Harold (1890-1963) and Sydney Herbert (1893-1982). Jane gave birth to two more chil...

  Gladstone Weatherstone’s older brother Claude (left) and younger brother Wilbur (atop draught horse) at Allenby, Parkesbourne circa 1920.   You will meet Wilbur and   the horse again in the story of Gladstone’s life and times by following the link shown below.   Photo courtesy Wayne Weatherstone Lyndfield Park:  The Prequel Gladstone Weatherstone’s life of quiet achievement certainly merits recording.  His story, and that of his property Lyndfield Park at Oolong near Gunning, also tells us something of life in the recent past – a time very near to us today yet so far away in many respects.   In particular, it shows how much farming practices and our relationship with the natural environment have changed over time.  Lyndfield Park under the stewardship of Gladstone's son John was a significant Australian pioneer of what has now become known as regenerative farming.  Gladstone lived much of his life in a totally differ...

Gunning's real-life story of lovers, betrayal and murder