Arnold

DESCRIPTION

NameArnoldDescriptionCubitt ‘George’ Arnold was born at Kings Lynn, County Norfolk 26 December 1833. His father Samuel, was a baker and produce merchant in England and was in contact with masters of the ships. George as a young boy accompanied his father, and acquired a love for the sea. He came to Australia on the ‘Waterloo’ in 1853, and worked for some time at Miller’s Point, returning to sea again and working between Sydney and Melbourne.

George married Mary Ann Szarka at St. John’s Church of England, Glebe in 1859. After settling in Sydney, they moved to Campbelltown where he worked as a baker, then moved to Kiama in 1870 and started a bakery business in Manning Street.

George and Mary Ann had seven children,

Mary Ann ‘Polly’ b. 1857 (died 1936, Shellharbour)
Samuel b.1859 (died 1871)
Rachel Welbury b.1865 (married Thomas James)
Hannah E b.1866 (died 1866)
Emily Frances b.1868 (died 1869, Campbelltown)
Ellen Frances Leek b.1869 (died 1964, Shellharbour)
Jemima b.1870 (died 1953, Kiama)

Sadly in 1871, their son Samuel aged eleven years, was accidentally drowned in a water hole at the “Old Toll Bar” Kiama while delivering bread. The family left and returned to Sydney for a time. (Excerpts ‘My Name is Jemima’ by Arnold and Lorna Spackman).

In 1873, they returned to Shellharbour and ventured again in the bakery business at No. 8 Addison Street, Shellharbour, where they leased the premises from Robert Wilson. (Shellharbour Valuation Books and The Tongarra Heritage Society archives).

George purchased some 12 acres 12 perches of land on the northern side of town where he built his home “Beau Vista” in Eastern Avenue Shellharbour Section 7 lots 6E,7E,8E,9E. Lot 9 of the acreage held “The Keep” meaning ‘to preserve food’.

The Illawarra Mercury 22/12/1882 advertised G.C.Arnold, baker was erecting a building and would start bacon curing. The Shellharbour Valuation Book 1883 records 12a 12p bacon factory and residence owner Arnold.

On 18 December 1900, George Cubitt Arnold, conveyed to Thomas James of Dunmore the 12 acres 12 perches. After the bakery in Addison Street was sold at auction in 1885, George moved his bakery business to Albion Park where he dispensed ‘the staff of life’ until 1912.

His advertisement in the South Coast Herald dated April 1903 stated ‘G.C. Arnold, the Pioneer Baker, who for the past 30 years has purveyed the “Staff of Life” to the residents of this district’.

On retirement, George Cubitt Arnold returned to Shellharbour to live with his daughter at “Aronda” in Mary Street until his death on 5 August 1926 aged 92 years.

Rachel Welbury Arnold married Thomas James and spent her married life at ‘Rosemont’ farm, Dunmore.

Mary Ann had predeceased him in 1909. The ‘Beau Vista’ home and’ Keep’ has been replaced with suburban development.

External LinkObituary Miss Jemima Arnold 1953Mrs Rachel Welbury JamesThe Late Mrs Thomas JamesA Parent's GoftSocial to the Arnold FamilyShellharbourObituary GC ArnoldMr Thomas James - 70 yearsObituary Mrs ArnoldObituary Miss Mary Ann Arnold - 74 Years oldLife on the South Coast 50 Years Ago