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Wilson, Robert
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NameWilson, RobertConvictTransported 1837 'Norfolk' for housebreaking - LifeOccupationBlacksmith, Miller, Farmer, Storekeeper, AldermanPlace of ResidenceTullimbar, Shellharbour Village, Oak Flats.BiographyRobert Wilson was born about 1807 in Suffolk, England. He married Sarah Moon or Mary Moore (two names listed on certificates) in about 1826. The couple had two children, William and Emma Eliza.
In 1836, Edward Moss, Robert Wilson and John King were indicted for breaking into the house of Joseph Till, grocer of Butley, and stealing a quantity of gold and siler, a five pound note, two cheques and other articles. Wilson was a blacksmith at Snape. They were initially sentenced to death. (Bury and Norwich Post Wed Aug 3, 1836).
In 1837, when he was 30 years old, Robert was transported to Australia for life aboard the 'Norfolk'. He was 5 foot tall, had brown hair and a pock-pitted complexion. He was assigned to the Illawarra and on obtaining his ticket-of-leave was allowed to remain in the area.
Robert's children William and Eliza, eventually joined him in the Illawarra, probably in the 1850's.
Robert married Sarah Stratford (nee Thornbury) in 1847 at Dapto. Sarah had arrived in Sydney with her daughter Jane Elizabeth Stratford c.1845. Jane's father William Stratford, was also a convict. He had died one year earlier.
In 1856, he remarried Sarah (this time her name is listed as Thornbury). Robert may have discovered his first wife was still alive at the time of his marriage in 1847.
In the 1850’s, Robert Wilson and his wife Sarah operated the Tullimbar Store in the Macquarie Valley. The business was eventually taken over by his step-daughter Jane and her husband Joseph Dunster.
Robert and Sarah moved to Shellharbour Village where Robert opened his steam flourmill in 1857, built of local basalt stone and powered by a 10-horsepower steam engine.
The foreshore at the harbour was known as “The Driftway” and the Flour Mill stood on rising ground south of the boat store, approximately near the eastern entrance of the later named Wilson Street, where his home was built. The Mill was also used for Divine Services prior to the building of Churches in the Village.
The first hustings to form a Municipality of Shellharbour were held at the Mill in 1859. From 1859 to 1876 Robert Wilson was an Alderman of the Municipality of Shellharbour and Mayor in 1863.
In 1858, Robert Wilson advertised his 'Sea View Store' at Shellharbour. He operated this store for 10 years, before selling the business to Walter Allen, whose family continued to conduct the business in Addison Street for generations.
In the 1860's Robert leased a farm at Oak Flats, presumably this farm was 'Lake House', one of the original Peterborough Estate properties, farmed by Captain Addison and later Reddall's.
An advertisement in the 'Kiama Independent' 15 May 1873, reads 'To Let, To Let, To Let, Central Store, Shellharbour. The above store with comfortable dwelling house attached is newly erected on one of the most eligible business sites in the important township of Shellharbour, having a frontage to Wentworth and Addison Streets. This shop was built and fitted up with counters and shelves expressly for the purpose of a general store; and there being less competition than for years past, there is a fine opening for a business man. For terms and particulars apply to the proprietor, Robert Wilson.' This store is what is today known as the 'old corner store' on the corner of Addison and Wentworth Street, Shellharbour.
In 1875, Robert Wilson purchased the above site (part of Lot 1 on Section 3B) north east corner of Addison and Wentworth Street Village of Shellharbour from T.A.Reddall. He leased the store to Thomas Davis, and a bakery on an adjacent block, was leased to Shellharbour baker George Cubitt Arnold. (Researched copy of deeds Tongarra Heritage Society Inc.
By the 1860s, the local grown wheat was attacked with a rust disease, which brought about the abandonment of wheat growing in these coastal areas.
Robert carried on the business at the mill for ten years before advertising it for sale.
In 1921 the old stone mill fell into a dilapidated and dangerous condition. Alderman Burns of Shellharbour Council regrettably supported the move to demolish the Mill saying ‘he was sorry to realise it was necessary in the public safety to demolish an old historical land mark, in the first mill for grinding of wheat erected in the district. (Kiama Independent 23 April 1921).
The mill was demolished in 1922 and the Shellharbour Tennis Club used the site as a rotunda for their tennis courts. By 1986, the site became a picnic and recreation area.
In 1880, Robert Wilson was living at Oak Flats on his dairy farm, and advertised the sale of his whole splendid dairy herd.
When Robert died in 1881, his obituary in the Kiama Independent 19 July 1881, lamented his passing as, ‘one of the first pioneers of the district and for a number of years during the wheat-growing time kept the mill in Shellharbour, also carrying on business as a storekeeper which he relinquished a few years since on account of Mrs. Sarah Wilson’s health failing, and settling down on a farm in the Oak Flats, where his death took place. He leaves a widow, son and daughter’. His step-daughter Jane Dunster had died just a week before.
In 1884 Robert’s wife Sarah died, and her obituary was published in the Kiama Independent 8th September 1884 ‘an old and greatly esteemed resident of this township departed this life on Monday 25th August, namely Sarah, the wife of the late Robert Wilson of this Borough’.
Robert and Sarah were buried at the old foreshore sand cemetery Shellharbour.
Robert’s son William Wilson, lived at Shellharbour and became Harbour Master and Master Mariner. He married Emma Pike in 1864.
Robert's daughter Emma Eliza married William Crawford in 1860.
External LinkSea View Store 1858Sea View Store 1859Shellharbour Robert Wilson 1863Wedding - Wilson Pike 1864Lake Farm Auction 1865To Let Steam Flour Mill 1866Sea View Store Sale 1868Sea View Store Shellharbour 1868To Let Central Store 1873Obituary - Robert Wilson 1881Obituary - Sarah Wilson 1884Important Unreserved Sale Lake Farm 1864
In 1836, Edward Moss, Robert Wilson and John King were indicted for breaking into the house of Joseph Till, grocer of Butley, and stealing a quantity of gold and siler, a five pound note, two cheques and other articles. Wilson was a blacksmith at Snape. They were initially sentenced to death. (Bury and Norwich Post Wed Aug 3, 1836).
In 1837, when he was 30 years old, Robert was transported to Australia for life aboard the 'Norfolk'. He was 5 foot tall, had brown hair and a pock-pitted complexion. He was assigned to the Illawarra and on obtaining his ticket-of-leave was allowed to remain in the area.
Robert's children William and Eliza, eventually joined him in the Illawarra, probably in the 1850's.
Robert married Sarah Stratford (nee Thornbury) in 1847 at Dapto. Sarah had arrived in Sydney with her daughter Jane Elizabeth Stratford c.1845. Jane's father William Stratford, was also a convict. He had died one year earlier.
In 1856, he remarried Sarah (this time her name is listed as Thornbury). Robert may have discovered his first wife was still alive at the time of his marriage in 1847.
In the 1850’s, Robert Wilson and his wife Sarah operated the Tullimbar Store in the Macquarie Valley. The business was eventually taken over by his step-daughter Jane and her husband Joseph Dunster.
Robert and Sarah moved to Shellharbour Village where Robert opened his steam flourmill in 1857, built of local basalt stone and powered by a 10-horsepower steam engine.
The foreshore at the harbour was known as “The Driftway” and the Flour Mill stood on rising ground south of the boat store, approximately near the eastern entrance of the later named Wilson Street, where his home was built. The Mill was also used for Divine Services prior to the building of Churches in the Village.
The first hustings to form a Municipality of Shellharbour were held at the Mill in 1859. From 1859 to 1876 Robert Wilson was an Alderman of the Municipality of Shellharbour and Mayor in 1863.
In 1858, Robert Wilson advertised his 'Sea View Store' at Shellharbour. He operated this store for 10 years, before selling the business to Walter Allen, whose family continued to conduct the business in Addison Street for generations.
In the 1860's Robert leased a farm at Oak Flats, presumably this farm was 'Lake House', one of the original Peterborough Estate properties, farmed by Captain Addison and later Reddall's.
An advertisement in the 'Kiama Independent' 15 May 1873, reads 'To Let, To Let, To Let, Central Store, Shellharbour. The above store with comfortable dwelling house attached is newly erected on one of the most eligible business sites in the important township of Shellharbour, having a frontage to Wentworth and Addison Streets. This shop was built and fitted up with counters and shelves expressly for the purpose of a general store; and there being less competition than for years past, there is a fine opening for a business man. For terms and particulars apply to the proprietor, Robert Wilson.' This store is what is today known as the 'old corner store' on the corner of Addison and Wentworth Street, Shellharbour.
In 1875, Robert Wilson purchased the above site (part of Lot 1 on Section 3B) north east corner of Addison and Wentworth Street Village of Shellharbour from T.A.Reddall. He leased the store to Thomas Davis, and a bakery on an adjacent block, was leased to Shellharbour baker George Cubitt Arnold. (Researched copy of deeds Tongarra Heritage Society Inc.
By the 1860s, the local grown wheat was attacked with a rust disease, which brought about the abandonment of wheat growing in these coastal areas.
Robert carried on the business at the mill for ten years before advertising it for sale.
In 1921 the old stone mill fell into a dilapidated and dangerous condition. Alderman Burns of Shellharbour Council regrettably supported the move to demolish the Mill saying ‘he was sorry to realise it was necessary in the public safety to demolish an old historical land mark, in the first mill for grinding of wheat erected in the district. (Kiama Independent 23 April 1921).
The mill was demolished in 1922 and the Shellharbour Tennis Club used the site as a rotunda for their tennis courts. By 1986, the site became a picnic and recreation area.
In 1880, Robert Wilson was living at Oak Flats on his dairy farm, and advertised the sale of his whole splendid dairy herd.
When Robert died in 1881, his obituary in the Kiama Independent 19 July 1881, lamented his passing as, ‘one of the first pioneers of the district and for a number of years during the wheat-growing time kept the mill in Shellharbour, also carrying on business as a storekeeper which he relinquished a few years since on account of Mrs. Sarah Wilson’s health failing, and settling down on a farm in the Oak Flats, where his death took place. He leaves a widow, son and daughter’. His step-daughter Jane Dunster had died just a week before.
In 1884 Robert’s wife Sarah died, and her obituary was published in the Kiama Independent 8th September 1884 ‘an old and greatly esteemed resident of this township departed this life on Monday 25th August, namely Sarah, the wife of the late Robert Wilson of this Borough’.
Robert and Sarah were buried at the old foreshore sand cemetery Shellharbour.
Robert’s son William Wilson, lived at Shellharbour and became Harbour Master and Master Mariner. He married Emma Pike in 1864.
Robert's daughter Emma Eliza married William Crawford in 1860.
External LinkSea View Store 1858Sea View Store 1859Shellharbour Robert Wilson 1863Wedding - Wilson Pike 1864Lake Farm Auction 1865To Let Steam Flour Mill 1866Sea View Store Sale 1868Sea View Store Shellharbour 1868To Let Central Store 1873Obituary - Robert Wilson 1881Obituary - Sarah Wilson 1884Important Unreserved Sale Lake Farm 1864
CONNECTIONS
CollectionPeopleConvictsFamilyDunsterLocalityShellharbour VillageTullimbarOak FlatsOrganisationShellharbour City CouncilPersonWilson, Captain WilliamPlaceWilson's Flour MillAllen Bros Post Office & StoreCorner Store (Former)Lake HouseRelated ItemThomas Davis' store at Tullimbar
Wilson, Robert. Shellharbour City Council, accessed 06/09/2026, https://discover.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/1661