Recently, I posted on Facebook a photograph of my great-grandparents’ house on their property “Mons”, Rannes, Central Queensland. To my surprise, the photograph generated a huge response, especially when I posted it on Vintage Queensland and Central Queensland Old Pictures and Yarns Facebook pages.

c.1920. Home of Thomas and Elizabeth Beaumont, of Mons, Rannes
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c. 1920. Home of Thomas and Elizabeth Beaumont, of “Mons”, Rannes. Photo source: Beaumont family archives.

As a result, I decided to tell this story of the grand old house and its owners, Thomas Bloomfield Beaumont and Elizabeth Mary Ann Beaumont (nee Tancred).

If you would like to provide feedback on any aspect of this story, and contribute to the Beaumont family history, you are welcome to add your comments on my website at the end of this story or on my Facebook page: Love in a little black diary.

Alfred Beaumont and family

Thomas Bloomfield Beaumont was the first child of Alfred Beaumont (28) and his wife Emma Marion (nee Collins, 19). Thomas was born on 20 January 1853 on the ship “Bussorah Merchant”, near the Cape of Good Hope, en route from England to Australia. His parents named him “Bloomfield” after the ship’s Superintendent Surgeon, D. Bloomfield. [References 1 and 2]

Along with Susannah, Alfred’s 2-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, Alfred and Emma Beaumont were bound for Australia as “assisted immigrants”. The family came from Colchester, 83 kilometres (about 50 miles) northeast of London, in Essex. According to the ship’s register, Alfred’s calling was “shepherd”. [References 1 and 2]

The family arrived in Sydney on 19 March 1853, 4 months after leaving England.

Thomas spent the first 6 years of his life in Sydney, where his parents had two more children, William and Emma. Towards the end of 1858, Alfred joined up to 15,000 prospectors who flocked to Canoona, near Rockhampton, in search of gold. Before the rush, Rockhampton consisted of just two buildings and a Native Police Camp. It was “hundreds of miles” north of Sydney, in a remote and practically unknown part of the (then) New South Wales colony. Emma and the children joined Alfred in Rockhampton in 1859. [References 3 and 4]

The Canoona gold rush was a furphy, so Thomas’ father Alfred sought employment in the local area. In 1860, Alfred and Emma and family relocated to Calliungal Station, about 50 miles southwest of Rockhampton. Calliungal was a huge pastoral lease, extending from Mount Morgan in the north to Rannes in the south, east to the Don River and west almost to Westwood. Alfred was employed first as a general station hand, later as a carrier. Here, in 1861, Emma gave birth to twin daughters, Caroline and Sarah, possibly the first twins to be born to any of the new settlers in the district.

In 1863, Alfred and Emma Beaumont settled in the Parish of Dundee, where Alfred purchased a couple of blocks of land.

Their land was near a small township called Dundee (later renamed Deeford), located on the banks of the Dee River, 5 kilometres (3 miles) from Wowan. Wowan, 80 kilometres southwest of Rockhampton, later became the main town of the parish. [Reference 5]

2015, Wowan. The former Wowan railway station, now part of the Wowan Museum.
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2015, Wowan. The former Wowan railway station, now part of the Wowan Museum. Photo source: Judith Salecich.

Alfred and Emma had 10 children in all, five of whom were born in the family home at Dundee. A daughter, Ellen, was born in 1864. Two more sons, Alfred and Alexander John, were born in 1866 and 1868 respectively and the couple had two more daughters: Anna Maria (1871) and Lily Edith (1874).

Thomas Bloomfield Beaumont and family

Like his father Alfred and brothers Alfred Junior and Alexander, Thomas (Alfred’s oldest son) was a teamster. He started working with a team of bullocks out of Gladstone at the age of 9. His working life was spent with teams (mainly horses) and he mustered in the Mount Morgan area before gold was discovered there. In 1875, Thomas was head stockman at Calliungal Station.

On 9 November 1878, Thomas Bloomfield Beaumont married Elizabeth Mary Ann Tancred.

Thomas was 25, Elizabeth 19. At the time, they both lived in the Dundee area. Prior to their marriage Elizabeth resided with her father, John Deas Tancred, a widower, who had recently been appointed as the schoolteacher at Deeford.

Thomas and Elizabeth (“Liz”) had a long and fruitful marriage. On 9 November 1938, they celebrated their diamond (60th) wedding anniversary. Their marriage produced 10 children, six sons and four daughters. At the time of their their 60th wedding anniversary, they had 18 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Elizabeth died in 1940, aged 81, and Thomas four years later in 1944, aged 91. In all Thomas and Elizabeth had 61 years of marriage. [Reference 6]

c.1937. Thomas and Elizabeth Beaumont, at Mons, Rannes.
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c. 1937. Thomas and Elizabeth Beaumont, at “Mons”, Rannes. Photo source: Beaumont Family archives.
The names, dates and places of birth of Thomas and Elizabeth Beaumont’s 10 children:
  1. Emma Quinn Beaumont, born 30 September 1879, Dundee.
  2. Charles Frederick Thomas Beaumont, born 1 April 1881, Dundee.
  3. Thomas (“Tommy”) Beaumont, born 18 November 1882, Dundee.
  4. Donald William Beaumont, born 17 November 1884, Dundee.
  5. Elizabeth Ellen (“Bessie”) Beaumont, born 3 April 1887, Dundee.
  6. James John Beaumont, born 4 February 1890, Rockhampton.
  7. Arthur Alfred Bloomfield Alexander (“Alec”) Beaumont, born 8 June 1892, Westwood.
  8. Hannah Jane Beaumont, born 28 October 1894, Westwood.
  9. Herbert Walter (“Bert”) Beaumont, born 1897, place not known.
  10. Beatrice Maude Caroline (“Beattie”) Beaumont, born 31 October 1900, Mount Morgan.

The Beaumont Family homes

Over the years, along with their ever-expanding family, Thomas and Elizabeth dwelt in several locations in Central Queensland. They resided first at Dundee, then Westwood, Barcaldine, Westwood (“Greenmount”), Rannes (“Mons”) and, finally, Yeppoon. Clearly, they made their home in at least 5 different houses.

The family’s Barcaldine home

In 1893, Thomas, Elizabeth and their (then) seven children moved from Westwood to Barcaldine. That’s about 320 miles (520 kilometres) west of Rockhampton. At the time, Thomas operated his teams of horses out of Barcaldine. There, Thomas purchased a small cottage, of iron and timber construction, comprising four rooms and skillion. It was one of numerous cottages in Barcaldine located on the northern side of the railway line.

Not long after the family moved into their new home, in February 1894, disaster struck. Elizabeth was home alone with the children; Thomas was away with his teams. Around 11.00 pm, when Elizabeth went to light a candle in one of the bedrooms, “the blazing head of the match she was striking broke off and struck a mosquito net”. The net caught fire, which rapidly spread to the calico lining of the room. Elizabeth frantically tried to stop the fire, but the flames were too much for her. Emma (14) awoke on hearing her mother’s screams and helped rescue the other children.

In just a few minutes the whole house was engulfed in flames, and in 10 minutes the roof fell in and the iron and wooden walls collapsed. The family escaped with their lives, but lost all their material possessions, bar a rocking chair. The house and contents (including a piano, sewing machine and all their furniture) were uninsured. It was a terrible setback. [Reference 7]

The family’s Westwood home

Soon after the fire, Thomas and Elizabeth moved back to Westwood. The family first came to Westwood in the late 1880s and resided there about 6 years prior to their move to Barcaldine. Their property, “Greenmount”, was located 2 miles (about 3 km) from the township of Westwood. After returning from Barcaldine, the family lived at Westwood until 1915. During this time at Westwood, Thomas and his three older sons ran teams of horses carrying goods from Rockhampton to stations in the Banana and Clermont areas.

On 26 April 1911, Donald William (26), the third son of Thomas and Elizabeth, married Flora Jane Balchin (24). The wedding ceremony was conducted by Reverend Joseph Addison White (of the Church of England) in the Beaumont family home at Westwood. Donald was the first of his siblings to marry. (Donald and Flora were my grandparents.)

1911. Donald and Flora Beaumont, my grandparents, on their wedding day.
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1911. Donald and Flora Beaumont, my grandparents, on their wedding day. Photo source: Beaumont Family archives.

Thomas, Elizabeth and family move to Rannes

In 1912, Thomas (father), Donald (son) and Alexander John Beaumont (Thomas’ brother) purchased land at Rannes. Thomas and Donald purchased adjacent blocks, each a “prickly pear selection” of 640 acres. Alexander purchased two portions, a much larger homestead grazing property of 5160 acres. [Reference 8]

Thomas and Donald built houses on their respective properties, using local timber as the main building material. This must have taken them some time. Along with their wives and families, they moved to Rannes in 1915. Thomas and Elizabeth named their property “Mons” and Donald and Flora called theirs “Woolein View”.

2015, Rannes. Sign at entrance to Woolein View today.
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2015, Rannes. Sign at entrance to “Woolein View” today. Photo source: Judith Salecich.

Thomas and Elizabeth named their property “Mons”, after the first major battle of World War I, which occurred at Mons (France) in August 1914. Three of their adult sons, Charles, Thomas (“Tommy”) and Alexander (“Alec”) enlisted in support of Australia’s war effort in Europe during World War I. Donald and Flora chose the name “Woolein View” because of the property’s proximity to Woolein Creek, a tributary of the Don River.

The house Thomas built on “Mons”, Rannes, was the Beaumont family home for at least 22 years.

Thomas and Elizabeth lived there from 1915 until 1937 (or thereabouts) and various members of their family for some or all of this time. In 1937, Thomas and Elizabeth sold their property to one of their grandsons and later retired to Yeppoon.

 1920s. Beatrice (Beattie) Beaumont in front of Mons, Rannes.
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1920s. Beatrice (Beattie) Beaumont in front of “Mons”, Rannes. Photo source: Beaumont Family archives.

The house Donald (my grandfather) built on “Woolein View” was similar in style to the “Mons” house, but not so grand. I remember it well, as I often visited my grandparents there when I was a little girl. It sat on high roughly-hewn stumps, had a wide mostly open verandah on three sides, a kitchen at the end of one verandah, a bathroom at the end of another verandah, a central living room, two bedrooms, front and back stairs leading downstairs to the laundry, car accommodation and storage areas underneath the house. There was no sewerage, so the family had an outhouse dunny. They had several water tanks on high stands, which supplied the family with rain water for drinking and household use.

c.1916, Rannes. The house Donald Beaumont built on "Woolein View".
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c. 1916, Rannes. The house Donald Beaumont built on “Woolein View”. Photo source: Beaumont Family archives.

More about Thomas and Elizabeth and family

During their 61 years of marriage, Thomas and Elizabeth were greatly blessed. They had 10 children after all, and they had many happy times with their large family. They witnessed the marriages of six of their ten children, commencing with Donald’s marriage in 1911.

The marriages of Thomas’ and Elizabeth’s other five children were as follows:
  1. Elizabeth Ellen (“Bessie”) married Alfred Thomas Brown, on 14 April 1913.
  2. Hannah Jane married Thomas Swetenham Lewis, in Brisbane, on 17 April 1916.
  3. Herbert Walter married Lillian Elizabeth White, on 16 February 1922.
  4. Beatrice Maude Caroline (“Beattie”) married Josiah Hindmarsh Elms, in Rockhampton, on 17 June 1925.
  5. Arthur Alfred Bloomfield Alexander (“Alec”) married Ivy Wallis, on 5 January, 1926.

Like many folk of their era, Thomas and Elizabeth actively participated in community, church, social and sporting events, and encouraged their children to do the same. The adults and children alike played various sports: tennis and cricket were among their favourites. They loved horses, horse-riding and gymkhana events. Fishing in the local streams was also a popular pastime. In the following photograph, taken at Rannes, Thomas is seated, far left; Elizabeth is seated, second from the right. Donald is standing, far left; Flora is seated in the middle, holding her daughter Evelyn (my mother), with Evelyn’s brother Harold seated next to Flora (at right).

c.1917. Beaumont Family gathering, Mons, Rannes.
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c. 1917. Beaumont Family gathering, “Mons”, Rannes. Photo source: Beaumont Family archives.

Both Thomas and Elizabeth were musical. The family had a piano, and their children (and grandchildren) learnt to play the piano, piano-accordion or mouth organ, and sing. My mother, Evelyn, who lived on “Woolein View” with her parents, used to ride her pony one mile each way, or call in as she rode home from school, to practise the piano at Granny’s place (“Mons”). Evelyn’s family didn’t own a piano, but Elizabeth (“Granny”) did. Evelyn took piano lessons from a lady called Mrs Puddyfoot, the wife of a railway night officer, who lived in Rannes.

At “Mons”, sing-a-longs around the piano and social evenings were a common occurrence. Thomas and Elizabeth opened their home on many a happy occasion. The following report, in The Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton) on 5 May 1931 [Reference 9], supports this claim:

A coin evening was held in aid of the Church of England at “Mons”, the home of Mr and Mrs L [sic.] Beaumont, on Saturday night last. There were over 50 people present, including the tennis players (The Hornets) from Rockhampton. Dancing, singing, games and competitions were indulged in until midnight. Supper was provided, the tables being decorated with chrysanthemums and ferns. The takings were fair and an enjoyable time was spent by all present.

However, Thomas and Elizabeth did not have easy lives: they experienced many hardships and times of great sorrow.

Thomas and Elizabeth led a pioneering life. They moved several times, and started afresh, from scratch. In the Rannes district, they were among the early settlers. They must have lived roughly, in make-do accommodation, while they waited for their houses to be built. Three of Thomas’ and Elizabeth’s children predeceased them, two under tragic circumstances.

Thomas (“Tommy”) was the first to die. Thomas enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 11 January 1916, but was discharged medically unfit for service on 6 December that same year. Weak and depressed, he returned home on 12 December 1916. He committed suicide 3 days later. His mother Elizabeth found him.

I wrote about Thomas (Junior) in the postscript to my story Henry’s World War I postcards to Flora (September 11, 2015). Click the link if you would like to read more about Thomas.

The second untimely death was that of Beatrice (“Beattie”). As the youngest child, sophisticated and beautiful, she was much cherished by her parents. Beattie is the woman pictured on the horse in front of the “Mons” homestead. She lived there with her parents until her marriage in June 1925.

c.1921, Rannes. Beatrice (Beattie) Beaumont, aged 21.
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c. 1921, Rannes. Beatrice (Beattie) Beaumont, aged 21. Photo source: Beaumont Family archives.

Beattie married Josiah Hindmarsh Elms, of Brisbane, at St Paul’s Cathedral, Rockhampton, on 17 June 1925. It was a joyous occasion for the whole family, especially Thomas and Elizabeth. Beattie’s oldest sister, Emma, was bridesmaid, and Josiah was attended by Beattie’s brothers James (best man) and Alexander (groomsman). Two nieces of the bride, Evelyn Beaumont (9) and Dawn Lewis (7) were flowergirls. The girls wore dainty frocks of pink and blue net respectively, and tulle caps trimmed with tiny roses and forget-me-nots, from which streamers of black bebe velvet hung down and were caught on the wrist. They each carried a basket of gerberas and roses tied with blue streamers, and each wore a gold armlet, the bridegroom’s gift. [Reference 10]

1925. Flowergirls Dawn Lewis (left) and Evelyn Beaumont (right).
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1925. Flowergirls Dawn Lewis (left) and Evelyn Beaumont (right). Photo source: Proposch Family archives.

Josiah and Beattie made their home at Lithgow, where Josiah was head surveyor of the Lithgow colliery. A son, Colin, was born in April 1926. It was a happy marriage. In 1929, on her way home after a visit to her parents at Rannes, Beattie came down with what appeared to be influenza, but which was in fact typhoid fever. She died in hospital in Brisbane on 7 September 1929. She was just 28 years old. Her entire family was devastated.

The third of Thomas’ and Elizabeth’s children to predecease them was Charles Frederick. He died in June 1932 of liver cancer. Charles, 51, never married.

A move to Yeppoon

In 1937 (or thereabouts), after they sold their property at Rannes, Thomas and Elizabeth, and their daughter Emma, moved to Spring Street, Yeppoon. Here they lived out the rest of their days. Their Yeppoon home was a low-set timber cottage, with enclosed verandas, not nearly as grand as the elegant house they left behind on “Mons”, Rannes.

1940s, Yeppoon. The Beaumont's Spring Street home.
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1940s, Yeppoon. The Beaumont’s Spring Street home. Photo source: Proposch Family archives.

After Elizabeth’s death, Thomas lived with his daughter Emma. Emma never married. “Aunt Emma”, as my mother called her, was an amazing woman. She was a talented seamstress, the one who gave my mother much of her early instruction in dressmaking. Emma was the child described previously in the Barcaldine fire article as “lame”. It is true, Emma had part of her leg amputated as a little girl. My mother told me that Emma fell on the stairs, and injured her leg on a nail. Most of her life Emma had a prosthetic leg. My mother always spoke of Aunt Emma having “a wooden leg”.

c.1900, Rannes. Emma Quinn Beaumont, 21 years old.
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c. 1900, Rannes. Emma Beaumont, 21 years old. Photo source: Beaumont Family archives.

With my mother I visited Aunt Emma at Yeppoon on a number of occasions, and I remember her well. She was tall and stately, a gracious, noble-looking woman. Like many other members of the Beaumont family, she lived to an old age. Thomas bequeathed the Spring Street home to Emma, where she lived until a few years before her death in 1974, at 94. She spent the last few years of her life at the Eventide Aged Persons’ Home, Rockhampton.

Thomas and Emma are pictured in the following photograph, taken in January 1941, at the entrance to their Yeppoon home. A friend, Mrs Goree (centre) and others unknown are standing on the veranda.

January 1941, Yeppoon. Thomas Beaumont and his daughter Emma.
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January 1941, Yeppoon. Thomas Beaumont and his daughter Emma. Photo source: Proposch Family archives.

The remains of Thomas Bloomfield Beaumont and Elizabeth Mary Ann Beaumont are buried in the North Rockhampton Cemetery.

My great-grandparents died long before I was born. I never knew them personally. What I do know is what my mother told me, and what others have written about them. Here is a brief summary.

Like so many of the Beaumont men, Thomas had a retiring personality. Today, we might say he was an “introvert”. One of his grandsons and a cousin of my mother (Ken Lewis), described Thomas this way:

Grandad was small in stature, wore a ‘General Smut’s Beard’ in later life. He was a very quiet, modest man. Always a gentleman, he scarcely fitted the image of a teamster. I remember him well at ‘Mons’ and he was my hero as a young lad. He had great patience. He plaited me my first whip at the age of 4, then taught me the ‘Sydney Flash’ and I can still do it.

c.1939. Thomas and Elizabeth Beaumont.
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c. 1939. Thomas and Elizabeth Beaumont. Photo source: Beaumont Family archives.

Elizabeth (“Granny” to my mother) was a strong, capable and upright woman. To raise 10 children, a lot of the time on her own, she had to be extremely resourceful and resilient. She was sensitive and refined, but tough. Elizabeth would have been the main disciplinarian, to be sure. In fact, I think my mother, as a child, was a little afraid of Granny at times. Nevertheless, Elizabeth was hospitable and kind, and sought to raise her children in the knowledge and way of the Lord.

HELP ME COMPLETE THE STORY

What became of the house on “Mons”, Rannes?

I do not know. It was not there when I first visited Rannes in the 1950s. Do you know what happened to it? Do you know someone who might know?

REFERENCES

GENERAL REFERENCES

Halberstater, Ivy. (Undated). Thomas Beaumont, Elizabeth Beaumont (nee Lizzie Tancred) and their Family. Unpublished article. [Note: Ivy Lorraine Halberstater (nee Beaumont) died on 19 June 1998, aged 83. She is buried in the Rockhampton Memorial Gardens.]

Langford, J. E. (Undated). Alf and Emma Beaumont: A Pioneer Family. Unpublished article.

Newspapers & Gazettes. National Library of Australia. Trove. (Website).

Photographs and anecdotal information from the Beaumont and Proposch Family archives.

SPECIFIC REFERENCES
  1. Assisted immigrants (digital) shipping lists. State Records Authority of New South Wales. (Website). Online: Retrieved on 7 November 2016.
  2. Mariners and Ships in Australian Waters: Bussorah Merchant. State Records Authority of New South Wales. (Website). Online: Retrieved on 7 November 2016.
  3. WESTWOOD. (1907, August 17). The Capricornian (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1875 – 1929), p. 40. Retrieved November 10, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article68892753
  4. McDonald, L. (1979). In Queensland Heritage, Vol.3 No. 10. The Rockhampton Delusion. A Brief History of the Canoona Rush. Online: Retrieved on 10 November 2016.
  5. LAND SALE (1863, October 20). Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser (Qld. : 1861 – 1871), p. 2. Retrieved November 10, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51559629
  6. DIAMOND WEDDING (1938, November 15). Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 – 1954), p. 5. Retrieved November 12, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56001037
  7. Another Fire at Barcaldine. (1894, February 27). The Western Champion and General Advertiser for the Central-Western Districts (Barcaldine, Qld. : 1892 – 1922), p. 7. Retrieved November 12, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article79731715
  8. LAND COMMISSIONER’S COURT. (1912, November 2). Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 – 1954), p. 10. Retrieved November 10, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article53283422
  9. RANNES. (1931, May 7). Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 – 1954), p. 5. Retrieved November 10, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55386019
  10. PERSONAL NEWS. (1925, July 11). The Capricornian (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1875 – 1929), p. 23. Retrieved November 9, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article6976342
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Judith Salecich

Writer, researcher, former secondary and tertiary teacher and public servant, wife, mother, grandmother, child of God, photography enthusiast, lover of life, history, food and all things creative.

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18 thoughts on “Mons: Whose house is that?”

  1. As a child our family were next door neighbours to the Beaumont family at Rannes.We were very good friends and sometimes spent Christmas day together.I can just remember your gt.grandparents but have lots of memories of Don,Flora and family.I remember your mother before she was married and have a lovely studio photo of her which was given to my parents.She was very pretty.In the photo of your gt.grandparents in front of the Yeppoon house the 2 children in the photo are my sister and I and the photo was taken by my mother.I would like to get in touch with you to share a few memories.

  2. What a wonderful way to spend some time on a Sunday morning; reading about the lives and loves, the triumphs and tragedies of a past generation.

  3. A delightful family story. I do hope find the answers to your question re the Mons home. Thank you for a lovely read.

  4. a great story, love the way you have “bolded” some paragraph starting sentences. how lucky you are to have such lovely old photos

  5. Hi Judith. I am Ivy Halberstater’s (nee Beaumont) grandson. I really enjoyed reading this article. Ivy’s parents were Alexander John Beaumont and Mary Jane Beaumont (nee Kellaway). I believe Alexander John Beaumont (my great GF) and Thomas Bloomfield Beaumont (your great GF) were brothers, as Alexander’s parents were Alfred Beaumont and Emma Marion Beaumont (nee Collins). Unfortunately I don’t have much history knowledge of the Beaumonts. They are fantastic photos you have too. I have a grainy photocopies of 2 photographs of Alexander and Mary. I do remember my Nana Ivy mentioning “Mons” when I was a lot younger – she spoke about Wowan and Rannes a lot! Sadly she died in 1998.

    • Gerard, thanks for sharing your family connection with me. Actually I remember meeting your Nana Ivy when I was younger. She did a lot of work on the history of the Beaumont Family, for which I am grateful. Re the photos: You are welcome to download any of the photos on this page that you like. Kind regards, Judy.

    • Hello, my name is Colleen Taylor née (Johnson). I just love reading history and am writing history of my family’s, and looking forward to having my book printed. I read with great interest that Emma Beaumont, maiden name was Collins. My great grandmother was Jessie Emma Carden Collins, born 7 March, 1858 at Maroon, Logan River. Her parents were James Carden Collins and Mary Helena Glennie who died at Thornhill Station. Emma married William Butler Godschall Johnson on 1 January, 1877, at Thornhill Station. Someone may know if both the Emma’s were related. Also where was Thornhill Station situated, and if still called Thornhill today. Greatly appreciate any feedback. Regards Colleen.

  6. Hi,
    This information about Rannes and the Beaumonts is fantastic, as l am doing research of Rannes Woolien area ,l saw the photo of the beautiful house , not many old timers left ,but l will ask about the house.

    • Desiree, thanks for your feedback. I wish you well with your research of the Rannes and Woolein area. You might like to contact me via Messenger to share a little more with me about your research. Kind regards, Judy.

  7. Do you know who built the house? It looks like one that was built by John Kerslake Evans, from Rockhampton. His brother Willian Evans went to Blackall.

    • Lesley, I cannot answer. As far as I am aware, the men of the family built it. They may have been the labourers to a builder, as you suggest. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this. Best wishes, Judy.

  8. Ken Lewis was my Grandfather, he wrote us a family history book prior to his passing 2000, and the photos above are all too familiar for me, it’s wonderful to see so many pictures of past relatives on here. Ken ended up settling in the Burdekin after WWII and some of his family descendants are still here. I also believe Kens father- Thomas Norman Swetenham Lewis was the post master of Central QLD after WWI, so definitely have a lot of family history to go through from that time.

  9. Hi Judith,
    My Grandmother was Hannah Jane Beaumont. She married Thomas Swetenham Lewis in 1916.
    My father was Ken Lewis who got a mention in your writings.
    Dad has written a family history book which has many stories of his grand parents Thomas and Elizabeth, however you have a lot of photos I had not seen before and I very much enjoyed reading your recounts of the family. I have been gifted Aunt Emma’s silver vanity set which I treasure and have fond memories of my grandmother Hannah. It would be nice to compare notes with you.
    Kind regards, Megan Bourne

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