Arthur John Turner

The birth of Arthur John Turner, my great grandfather was probably unremarkable at the time.  It occurred on 10 January, 1867 in Ferry Street, Kangaroo Point, Queensland.  Kangaroo Point is the oldest suburb of Brisbane.  Before white settlement, it was occupied by the Turrbal People.

In 1823, explorer John Oxley described Kangaroo Point as a "jungle, fringed with mangroves with the higher land open forest, covered with grass".  During the time of the subsequent convict settlement (1825-1841), Kangaroo Point was cleared and used for cultivation of crops.  Following that the area was opened up for free settlement, the first land sales taking place on 13 December, 1843.  Among the early purchasers was Captain J C Wickham, the Police Magistrate.  Surveyor James Warner built the first house at Kangaroo Point in 1844.

Kangaroo Point 1910 wikipedia.org/wiki/kangaroo_Point_Queensland

Arthur was the second son born to Thomas Clarke Parker Turner and Eliza Pennell who had both migrated earlier from Gravesend, Kent in England.  Arthur's father, Thomas was known to be a ferryman.  Kangaroo point is close to the water, so perhaps Thomas was working on the water given his trade.

At some time, the family moved up into North Queensland where Arthur eventually settled in Chillagoe as shown on the electoral rolls during the early 1900's and up to 1943.  His occupation was a horse driver but family stories have said he was a bullock team driver.  It is said he used to drive the bullock teams taking supplies from Townsville out to the tin and silver mines in the area.  I expect this was a very hard occupation for him as the story was written into the lines of his face in photographs.

Bullock Team

When Arthur was 26, he married widow, Catherine Duncan (nee Meston) on 16 January, 1893 in Townsville.  Catherine was 14 years older than him.  Their marriage certificate shows that both parties changed their ages possibly to cover this fact up, Arthur putting his age up and Catherine lowering her age down.  Catherine's former husband, Peter Duncan had died as she was listed as a widow.  Arthur and Catherine had only one child, a daughter, Dorothy born 29 May, 1894 in Wills Street, Townsville.  It is known that Catherine had other children to her first husband, Peter Duncan.

Arthur John Turner died of a coronary occlusion on 30 July 1946 at the age of 79 at 37 Milton Street, Mackay which was the home of his daughter, Dorothy.  He was buried at Mackay Cemetery in the Church of England section on the same day.