James Milson

Postcard of Milsons Point. The caption reads: "Milson’s Point – Probably in the early Seventies [1870s]. Kirribilli on the farther shore. Eastern Road Wharf is front. Alfred St to the right, the Arcade and clock are within speaking [?] distance of the spreading tree."
James Milson
Milson (1785–1872)[1]
Born(1783-11-25)25 November 1783
Grantham, Lincolnshire, England
Died25 October 1872(1872-10-25) (aged 88)
Milsons Point, New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia
NationalityEnglish
OccupationFarmer
Known forMilsons Point named after him
SpouseElizabeth Kilpack (1793–1850)
ChildrenSophia Milson (1811–1877)

James Milson (1814–1903)
David Milson (1817–1890)
Elizabeth Milson (1819–1872)
John Milson (1821–1891)

Robert Milson (1824–1886)

James Milson (25 November 1783 – 25 October 1872)[2] was an early settler on the North Shore of Sydney, Australia.

He was born on 25 November 1783 at Grantham, Lincolnshire, England and died at the age of 88 on 25 October 1872 at Milsons Point, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

23-year-old James Milson arrived in Port Jackson (Sydney) on Albion on 19 August 1806[3] as one of the earliest free settlers in the Colony of New South Wales. His motivation for immigrating was the same as the many who followed him, the promise of free land. He was a native of Lincolnshire experienced in farming and was welcomed by the colonists, desperate for men with agricultural knowledge.[1] He married in 1810 and subsequently raised a family of 6 children.[4]

Milson did well in the Colony of New South Wales, and established a number of prosperous businesses, which included supplying ships with stone ballast, fresh water, and the produce of his dairy, orchard, and vegetable gardens.

In his own words, in the years before 1825 Milson had "principally resided in District of Parramatta"[5] (more specifically in the area in the District of Parramatta then called the "Field of Mars"[nb 1][2][4][6]).

In the early 1820s[7] Milson settled in the District of Sydney in the vicinity of today's Jeffrey Street, Kirribilli, a Sydney suburb on the North Shore of Sydney Harbour. He was a prominent resident of the area for more than 50 years until his death in 1872 at home at "Gratham" in the modern suburb of Milsons Point in what was then called the Municipality of East St Leonards.[8]

Milson and his sons and grandsons built several homes in the area: "Brisbane House" (James Milson), "Grantham" (James Milson), "Fern Lodge" (James Milson), "Wia Wia" (John Milson), "Elamang" (James Milson Jnr), "Coreena" (Alfred Milson, son of James Milson Jnr), and "Wayala" (Arthur Milson, son of James Milson Jnr). Milson's son-in-law William Shairp also built "Carabella".[9] Fern Lodge (heritage listed)[10] and Elamang (in the grounds of the Loreto Convent) were still standing in 2008.[4][11][12]

Milsons Point, the headland into Sydney Harbour on which the north pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge stand, and the suburb on this headland to the west of Kirribilli, are both named after James Milson.[13] A retirement village at North Sydney that includes a nursing home is also named after him.[14]

In addition Milson Island in the Hawkesbury River (previously known as Mud Island, renamed in 1976), Milson Passage the passage in the Hawkesbury River between Milson Island and the southern bank (previously known as South(ern) Channel or The Gutter, renamed in 1976), and Milson Passage the suburb on the southern bank of the Hawkesbury River opposite Milson Island (previously known as Prickly Point, renamed in 1995) are all named after Milson's son Robert Milson (1824–1886).[15]

  1. ^ a b Warne, Catherine (1984). "James Milson's Point". Pictorial History, Lower North Shore. Kingsclear Books Pty Ltd. ISBN 0-908272-83-9. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  2. ^ a b "James Milson (1783–1872)". Milson, James (1783–1872). Australian Dictionary of Biography, ANU. 2006. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  3. ^ "Arrival of Vessels at Port Jackson, and their Departure". Australian Town and Country Journal, Saturday 3 January 1891, p.16. 3 January 1891. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  4. ^ a b c "A walking tour from Milsons Point to Careening Cove" (PDF). North Sydney Council. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  5. ^ "James Milson's Letter To The Editor Of The Sydney Gazette". The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, Thursday 3 November 1825, p.4. 3 November 1825. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Memorial was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Historical was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "James Milson Death Notice". Empire, Monday 28 October 1872, p.1. 28 October 1872. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  9. ^ Warne, Catherine (1984). "A Milson Link". Pictorial History, Lower North Shore. Kingsclear Books Pty Ltd. ISBN 0-908272-83-9. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  10. ^ Heritage Branch, NSW Department of Planning. "NSW Government Heritage Database - Fern Lodge". Online database or State Heritage Inventory. New South Wales Government. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  11. ^ Hoskins, Ian (2008). "Kirribilli". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  12. ^ "From Milson to Medium Density: A Walking Tour of Kirribilli" (PDF). North Sydney Council. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  13. ^ Park, Margaret (2008). "Milsons Point". Dictionary of Sydney Trust. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  14. ^ "James Milsons Village". Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  15. ^ Clugston, Niall (2008). "Milsons Passage". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 28 January 2013.


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