Susanah McAuley (1857..1936)

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1 . H . Robert . Walter . Reddacliff . (b.12/2/1873..d.14/4/1960 m H .Mary A . Rose . (b.....d.)

2 . H . James . . Reddacliff . . (b.2/11/1875..d.1947). mH . Ethel M . Whittaker . (b. ..d3/10/ 1926)

3 . H . John . Reddacliff . (b.23/11/1877..d.27/5/1960.) & H . Christina . J . McDonald . (b.7/6/1870..d.1914)

4 . H . Mary . Ellen. Reddacliff . ( b.1879 - d.1962)*&***H . Samuel . Henry . Johnson . (b.25-4-1876.d.13/7/1962.)

5 . H . William . . Reddacliff . (b1881..d1942.)**H . Alice . Lucy Jane . Johnson . (1b.878..d.1950..) &.

6. H . Grace Edith . Reddacliff . (b.24/10/1883..d.7/5/1941) m H . Charles Henry . Walsh . (b.16/6/1878..d.1/11/1942)

7 . H . Ruth . Elizabeth . Reddacliff . (b.30/8/1885..d.12/7/1948) m 12/12/1911 m. H . Henry . Strange . Pillidge .( b.14/6/1883..d19/9/.1949)

8 . H . Bessie . E . Reddacliff . (b.1/12/1892....b.) &.H . Eric . McKenzie . (b....)

9 . H . Arthur . Reddacliff . (26/1/1894..d.1976 ) & ..H . Mary . Gladys . McCloy. . (b....)

9 . H .Arthur . Reddacliff . (b.26/1/1894...b.1976)* &.H . Janet . Paterson .

10 . H . .Matilda J (Till or Tillie) . Reddacliff . (b.19/3/1896..d..) &. H . Hugh (Dick) . Norman .

11 . H . Levinia . Mabel . Reddacliff . (b.13/8/1898..d.18/4/.1957.) m 1925 . H . Frederick . Herbert . Sherar .(b...d.20/8/1967)

12 . Frederick James . Reddacliff . (b.1888....d.1936)

13 . Susanah . Reddacliff . ( b.1890..d.1891)

History & Achievements :

We believe this article is dated around 1932, due to the writers statement Robert Walter who died 2 years ago, Robert Walter died in 1934 . The article apeard in a local area newspaper and is in our possetion . We can E-mail copies if wished

Pioneers

Reddacliff

Family

Brunswick .... 1881

The Funeral of Mrs.Susannah Reddacliff aged 79 took place on Wednesday afternoon following a short service in St. Martin's Church of England, conducted by Rev. P. F. Tilghman. The long cortage moved to Brunswick Heads cemetery, where the burial took place in the family grave in which the three Reddacliff Brothers, who came from England together -- John, James and Robert, were buried, and the late Mrs, James Reddacliff. The Funeral was largely attended.

Mr. A. Beckinsale , furneral director,had charge of the arrangements.

The family comprises :-- Walter ( Mullumbimby ), Jim ( Wondai Q ), John ( Wondai ), Nell

(Mrs. S. H . Johnson, Mullumbimby ), William ( Brisbane ), Grace ( Mrs. Chas. Walsh., Main Arm )., Ruth ( Mrs. Harry Pillidge ,Wondai ), Bessie ( Mrs. E. McKenzie, Sydney ), Arthur ( Sydney ) , Tillie ( Mrs.Herb Norman, Sydney ) and May ( Mrs Herb Sherar, Sydney ). Fred, Main Arm died three months ago.

The late Mrs. Susannah Reddacliff was the widow of Mr Robert Walter Reddacliff, who

died two years ago, and arrived in the Bruswick River District in 1882, when the district's population was not more than 30 and Mullumbimby did not exist.

Born in Sydney and leaving for the Clarence River with her parents when 12 years old, the

late Mrs. Reddacliff lived 67 years on the Northern Rivers. Her father was a shoemaker and followed that trade at Bushgrove and Cowper. She married Robert Walter Reddacliff in 1872. Mr. Reddacliff was a blacksmith at Cowper till 1881, when he selected land on the Brunswick in the Myocum district. Mrs. Reddacliff and the family returned with him to the Brunswick in 1882.

STAYED AT GUNDURIMBA

They came by sailing boat to the Richmond River and some months were spent at

Gundurimba. The journey from the Richmond to the Brunswick was made by horse team and dray, with Mr. John Hickey as driver. The remainder of the party comprised Mr. and Mrs. Reddacliff and 5 children.

Roads did not exist, though ther were bullock and dray tracks here and there .The party

traveled from Ballina to the Three Mile Scrub along the beach, and then in-land to Byron Bay, a detour being necessary owing to the rocky coastline towrds Cape Byron. The only sign of habitation in Byron Bay 54 years ago was a small slab huton what is now Brook's camping reserve. There the second night was spent until 2 am . Not a person was met, Cape Byron then being a wilderness, where it was not a swamp. Not a single person was seen on the journey from Ballina to the Brunswick.

TRAVELLED BY NIGHT

It was necessary to travel by night to Brunswick Heads when a low tide made the beach

easier for travelling. The first mishap occured at the Belongil, Three of the five horses became bogged in the quicksand, and it was necessary to un load the dray.

Brunswick Heads was reached at daybreak. A few cottages made the village, and a small

hotel was conducted by Mr. R. Marshall, a vey well known early Brunswick identity. It stood on portion of the present Ocean View Hotelsite. After breakfast, the household goods were transfered from the dray to two rowing boats, by which the party travelled to Mullumbimby Creek, landing near where Mullumbimby bowling green is to-day.

Virgin scrub covered the country, and apart from a selector here and there and a few

cedar getters, there was no settlement.

HEMMED IN

On a bush-track the family walked for 3 miles to the selection and spent the night in a bark

hut beloning to the late Thomas Torrens. Only 2 acres had been felled and the new arrivals found themselves hemmed in by scrub.

The selection comprised 200 acres but this was added to in the next few years until Mr.

Reddacliff had a total of 600 acres.

Doctors and nurses were a thing of the future, and a few months after her arrival Mrs.

Reddacliff returned to her parents on the Clarence, travelling to Lismore by horseback along the beach route. She was companied to the Richmond by Mr. Reddacliff and the late Tom Doran, who brought the two young children Nell and Will from Woodburn, Mr. Reddaclif went with the children by coach to the Clarence, where Grace Mrs. Walsh, (Main Arm) was born.

The Reddacliff selsection became the centre for the sparse population of the Brunswick and

a private post office was established. Later it was made a recieving office and later raised to the status of an official post office. When the railway was openend and Mullumbimby commenced to grow, the post office was removed there.

THUNDERBOLT TO DINNER

One of the most vivid incidents in the late Mrs. Reddacliff's life was nearly 70 years ago at

her aunt's place, near Nymboida, where one day a stranger arrived and called for dinner, which he ate heartily, and for which he paid. It was learned shortly after that he was the notorious bush ranger, Thunderbolt. Some rather unnerving experiences also were had with the blacks, who sometimes were hostile on the Clarence.

The late Mrs. Reddacliff was an ardent worker for the Red Cross during the War years and

was interested in church work until the approach of old age. Both Mr. and Mrs. Reddacliff had much to do with the opening of the first school at Mullumbimby Grass in 1886.

In 1911 and again in 1924 the couple visited England ,returning on each occasion via America.

Family Links :

Pillidge

Reddacliff

McAuley

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© Copyright B & M Chapman (QLD) Australia

Last revised: May 18, 2000.