The Simpson Family, of Bellevue House
Thomas Rollings Simpson, a coal miner from Lancaster, arrived in Australia in 1913, on advice from his doctor. Despite having lung damage from his 20 years in English mines, he obtained work at Metropolitan Colliery, Helensburgh. Thomas sent for his...
Thomas Rollings Simpson, a coal miner from Lancaster, arrived in Australia in 1913, on advice from his doctor. Despite having lung damage from his 20 years in English mines, he obtained work at Metropolitan Colliery, Helensburgh.
Thomas sent for his wife Maria and his children, Tommy and Gladys. They had four more children in Helensburgh – Bobby, Ruby, Doris and Margaret, and their first known address was “School Road” Helensburgh.
Thomas and Maria bought a property of 13 acres off Otford Road, where Thomas built a big stone cottage named “Bellevue House” and ran a mixed farm of cows, pigs, chickens, fruit trees and vegetables. Due to ill health, Thomas retired from mining in about 1932 but continued working on the farm until his death in 1950. Maria Simpson stayed at Bellevue House until she died in 1976.
To read more about the Simpsons and other pioneer families of Helensburgh, go to our website www.historichelensburgh.org.au and click on the FAMILY STORIES tab.
We welcome your own family stories: please email us at info@historichelensburgh.org.au
