COMPLETED: AUSTIN family, Victoria

[woodstockaus]

Herbert A. AUSTIN was Mayor of Geelong in 1910. I'm trying to work out if he was related to the Austin family of Barwon Park (Thomas Austin and his wife Elizabeth, who was largely responsible for the establishment of the Austin Hospital) or else Thomas's brother James who established the Avalon run but then moved back to England in the 1850s or 60s. At least one of James' sons stayed in Aust and took over the Avalon run. Can anyone help?

[alison2763]

Hello Woodstockaus,
There is a death:
Herbert AUSTIN died 1950 aged 88 Geelong- Thomas AUSTIN and Elizabeth Phillips HARDING # 18659

I don't know if this is the man you are after.

There is no birth for Herbert listed but a number of siblings born in Geelong and Barwon River from 1846- 1860

James AUSTIN and Matilda GEORGE had a son Herbert George  who was born in Merewether in 1879

Regards
Alison

[woodstockaus]

Thanks, alison, it certainly sounds like him - Mayor at 48 sounds about right and the parents' names are spot on. I thought he might be a nephew of Thomas & Elizabeth, but a son is even better!

[andycand]

Hi

The link below is to a newspaper article re the death of Elizabeth Austin. It names one of her children as Alderman H A Austin of Geelong.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/10457734

The Austin family was a well known family in the area and googling should find quite a bit of information. Thomas was reputed to have introduced rabbits to Australia.

Andy

[alison2763]

An online tree has Herbert's birth in 1862 in Glastonbury, Somerset.
Marriage to Elizabeth Strother WRIGHT 1885 Victoria
Children:
Eleanor, Elizabeth and Harold.

On Electoral Rolls.
1931,1936,1937 Herbert and Elizabeth are at 4 Victoria Crescent Geelong. He is a Grazier.
1942 & 1949 Herbert  4 Victoria Terrace Geelong. Nil { Occupation }

Regards
Alison

[woodstockaus]

Thank you all - great help. I've got him sorted now.