NameDavisDescriptionThomas Davis was born in 1836, Bristol, England, to Alexander William Davis
In 1859 at Saint John’s Church, Parish of Paddington, he married Sarah Slocombe, County Middlesex. They both lived at Oxford Mews at the time. William’s father was an engineer and Sarah’s father was Robert and was a slate cutter.
According to family descendants Thomas and Sarah arrived in Australia aboard ‘Prince Alfred’ in 1859, sailing from Nelson, New Zealand. They lived in Balmain for a few years before moving to Tullimbar. Six of their 11 children were born at Tullimbar.
Thomas b.1860 St George (died 1892 Newton)
Mary Ann b.1862 Paddington (married Daniel Fraser, died 1946, Mosman)
George Slocombe b.1864 St George (married Sarah Emma Jones, died 1931, Burwood)
William Sidney Davis b.1866 St George (married Clara Hughes, died 1938, Balmain)
Robert b.1867 St George (died 1935, Newtown)
Sarah Jane b.1869 Tullimbar (married Robert Hartley, died 1946, Manly)
Edward David b.1871 Tullimbar (married Esther Maude Paddle, died 1944, Manly)
Alexander James b.1872 Tullimbar (died 1960 Manly)
Harriet Amy b.1874 Tullimbar (married Jacob Henley, died 1938, Drummoyne)
Edith b.1876 Tullimbar
Arthur Louis b.1879 Tullimbar (married Augusta Hall, died 1917, Sydney)
The store at Tullimbar was first operated by Robert Wilson, and sold to Joseph Dunster in 1856. About 1865, Thomas Davis purchased the store and conducted postal service from here from at least 1873. Davis also leased a store from Robert Wilson at Shellharbour.
In 1882, Davis sold the Tullimbar store and post office to his son-in-law, Daniel Fraser. The building, still owned by Fraser, but occupied by Thompson, was destroyed by fire in November 1891. A new store was built on the site. This is the building we know as the ‘Tullimbah Inn’, today.
Daniel Fraser carried on delivery of the mail until the official post office opened at Albion Park 10 July 1895.
Thomas and Sarah retired to Annandale where they lived with their daughter Sarah Jane and her husband Robert Hartley, at 347 Annandale Street.
Thomas died of intestine cancer in 1906. Sarah died in 1911. They are buried at the Field of Mars Cemetery in Ryde.
