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The Suttor's Of Bathurst, Cowra & Ilford

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This history project looks to pull together interesting stories of the Suttor family who first settled at Bathurst in 1822 (Photo of "Warrangunyah" Ilford)

Members: 4
Latest Activity: Nov 12, 2011

INTRODUCTION

George Suttor, and his wife Sarah and their first child left England on the 17th March 1800 on board HMS Porpoise and after a voyage of 8 months arrived at Sydney on 6th November. George was 26 years old at the time.

They brought with them some plants that were survivors of a collection assembled by Sir Joseph Banks. George’s father had worked for Sir Joseph’s uncle and in February 1798 George had met with Sir Joseph and apparently made a good impression. Three months later he received a letter from Sir Joseph offering to employ him as a botanical collector in charge of a consignment of plants destined for NSW. He would be granted 200 acres in the Colony, a house, livestock, several convicts as laborours and provisions until he became self-supporting.

On his arrival in the colony George established an orchard he called “Chelsea Farm”, on his 200 acre grant at Baulkham Hills and became the first person to supply oranges commercially in the colony.

He supported Governor Bligh during the “Rum Rebellion” in 1808 and was imprisoned for 6 months for refusing to recognise the authority of the rebels. George had to return to England for 2 years (1810-12) to give evidence in support of Governor Bligh whilst his wife and children were left in charge of “Chelsea Farm”

Following the discovery of a route over the Blue Mountains in 1813 and the subsequent establishment of a settlement at Bathurst, George sought a grant in the new pastures west of the mountains. He had to wait until the arrival of Governor Brisbane before his request was granted in 1822.

He selected land about 15 kilometres north east of Bathurst and called the property “Brucedale” after his grandmother, Miss Bruce.

“Brucedale” has been held by the Suttor family ever since.

When George came over the Blue Mountains, his third son William Henry, only 16 at the time came with him and within a couple of years he was running "Brucedale".

The problem with studying the Suttor's is that there is so many branches of the family. In 1914 eleven of William Henry's children were still alive and a total of 138 direct descendants.

This project will focus therefore mainly on Walter Sydney Suttor, the eleventh child of William Henry and Charlotte Suttor, who lived at "Warrangong", Koorawatha near Cowra and subsequently moved to "Warrangunyah" at Ilford where he built the imposing homestead pictured above in about 1912.

One of his sons, Colin Dudley Suttor played Rugby for the AIF and before the war in 1913 was a capped member of Australia's first international touring Rugby team to tour New Zealand, then named the Waratahs (later to be called the Wallabys).

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Comment by Greg Blackmore on November 12, 2011 at 6:26am: Web Link to COOEE History & Heritage Historians

Andrew Kilsby. Andrew is compiling the Australian Army Rugby Union project that includes Dudley Suttor. Andrew is a professional historian completing his doctorate at the Australian Defence Force Academy and has authored books on family history, the colonial military experience and WWI. He has worked in the Defence Department, Foreign Affairs and Trade and in corporate and consulting roles in public relations, mostly in Asia. Andrew has also produced a number of historical events for societies and acted as MC. As a historical researcher and writer he has strong interests in military and business history, family history and biographical history.

Comment by Greg Blackmore on November 12, 2011 at 6:22am: Australian Army Rugby Union Andrew Kilsby of COOEE History & Heritage has been commissioned by the AARU to develop an indicative history of Army Rugby consisting of both written stories and oral histories of AARU highlights suitable for its website over 2011. Formed in 1931, the AARU was forged in the trenches of the Western front in WWI, when a Trenches team combined with an AIF HQ team to form the great AIF team of 1919. AARU players, both men and women, have played prominent roles in Interservice Rugby and some have gone on to represent Australia.

This history project will include profiles of various players including Dudley Colin Suttor mentioned in the Forums above.

COOEE History & Heritage is a team of professional historians and history consultants based in Melbourne. We specialise in unlocking and reconstructing the past for any individual or organisation wanting to do more with history than just file it away.

They work on all kinds of commissioned history projects including corporate histories; district, family and biographical histories and service and army unit histories.

Their team of professional historians consult on heritage overlay, archive and document preservation and commemorative events management. Cooee History consultants help clients to publish and market histories, stage historical reenactments and assemble engaging historical exhibitions.

COOEE believe history is not just for professional hitorians, but also for amateur family historical researchers, living history re-enactors, war-gamers, modellers, restorers and collectors. There is so much more to history than just writing and researching it!

Comment by Greg Blackmore on March 25, 2010 at 2:37pm: This project is now focusing on Walter Sydney Suttor of "Wartrangong: Koorawatha near Cowra and then "Warrangunyah" near Ilford and Mudgee and one of his sons Dudley Colin Suttor who played rugby union for Australia's first international team. Any information on Walter Sydney Suttor and family would be most appreciated

Comment by Greg Blackmore on January 8, 2010 at 5:17pm: Hi Bev, You're back at Tweed I guess. I am at Yeppoon till Monday. There are some good stories and cuttings on the Suttors and much has already been written on them. My mother was a Suttor and the "Wallaby" was her father. Norm is going strong on Watson's and is very thorough. Book should be out mid year. Cheers Greg

Comment by Bev O'Hara on January 8, 2010 at 3:47pm: Hi Greg,

This should prove to be as interesting as the Watson History and look forward to reading more. Cheers, Bev