ROBERT DAWSON was born at Brackley, Northamptonshire, England, in 1812. He arrived in New South Wales in 1838 under the care of Governor Gipps. He stayed about twelve months in the County of Argyle in order to obtain Colonial experience, at the end of which period he arrived on Manaro to take over the management of Jillamatong Station, which his father had purchased. Consequent upon a drought which prevailed throughout the Colony the venture was not a success, and Mr. Dawson sought employment from the Crown. In 1847 a Court of Petty Sessions was established at Cooma, and Mr. Dawson was thereupon appointed Clerk of Petty Sessions at a salary of 400 pounds per annum. He retained this position until the 10th August, 1857, when he was sworn in as the first Police Magistrate appointed for the district, and assuming duties, took his seat on the Bench two days later. He carried on all the administrative and judicial work of the Court until 1870, when an enlargement of the district and the increase of work with increasing settlement, enabled him to have a C.P.S. appointed to assist him. On 4th May, 1858, he was appointed Registrar of the District Court then being established at Cooma, and on 20th August of the same year became Clerk of the Peace for Cooma and Bombala. He acquired a valuable block of land in the centre of the town with frontages to Vale, Sharp, Soho and Massie Streets, and on this he erected the residence known as Beresford House, a landmark of the early days. He married Miss Harnett, a sister of Mr. Maurice Harnett, of Rosebrook Station. His eldest son, Frederick Harnett Dawson, born in 1852, followed pastoral occupations, being at various times Manager of Rose Valley, Tubbutt, Roseneath and Mila Stations. He is said to be one of the first to open up the Coast Road from Manaro to Gippsland, via Bondi, and the coast. Another son, Henry, practiced in Cooma, and later in Sydney, for many years as a solicitor, and represented the electorate in Parliament from 1885 to 1894, whilst another son, Percy Sidney, who also embraced law as a profession. became solicitor to the Sydney City Council. Mr. Dawson had a number of other children, one of his daughters inter-marrying with Mr. Alexander Haslingden, of Kelton Plain Station. Mr. Dawson retired in 1887 after forty years* service.

"BACK TO COOMA" Felix Mitchell 1926 Page 76 - Transcribed by Pattrick Mould 2002

Descendants of Robert Dawson

Additional information submitted by John and Helen Simpson <johnandhelen-at-eftel.com.au> 12.07.06