NameFenwick, ThomasPlace of Residence'Lake House', Basset-Darley EstateBiographyThomas Fenwick was born in 1823 in Hull, Yorkshire, England, to John and Ann Fenwick.
In 1844 when he was 22 years old, he sailed on the 'Royal Saxon', with his wife Harriett (nee Downs) to Australia. Thomas was a blacksmith by trade.
Thomas came to Shellharbour under the engagement of Captain Addison (son-in-law of original land grantee D’Arcy Wentworth) and for nine years Thomas managed Addison’s estate 'Lake House'.
When the estate passed away from Addison, Thomas moved to Wollongong for a few years before returning to Shellharbour. He farmed part of the Bassett-Darley Estate (Stoney Range) where he lived for 25 years, contributing much to the Municipality.
Thomas and Harriett had four children;
Robert Thomas b.1845 (married Helen Rankin, died 1929, QLD))
Charlotte Ann b. 1847 (married Stephen Fryer, died 1934, Waverley)
Thomas b.1852 (married Frances Elizabeth ‘Fanny’ Sharp, died 1937, Bulli)
William b.1855 (married Mary Wilson, died 1932, Waverly)
Thomas was an alderman on Shellharbour Council for 22 years including three times as Mayor. He was active in all public movements in the area including the Shellharbour breakwater and jetty works and the local Steam Navigation Company, and was appointed Magistrate.
Harriett died in 1894, and Thomas two years later in 1896. They were both buried at the Albion Park Anglican Cemetery.