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John Malcolm

Eden 1856

Genealogy

John Malcolm in 1862, built Nimmitybelle Police Station and Watch House and in 1863 the Courthouse.
 

Is a native of Scotland and was born in Fifeshire in 1829. After receiving a fair education, he, at the age of sixteen years, became apprenticed to the firm of Messrs Leech and sons, the proprietors of a large carpentry and joinery in his native town.
 

Five years passed when he journeyed to Dundee, where for a period of six years he followed his trade.
In 1856 he sailed for Australia. Arrived in Victoria where he followed his business both in the capital and in Warrnambool, assisting in the erection of several important  public and private buildings. 

He was attracted by the rush to the Kiandra gold fields, and visited Eden in 1860 where he and another obtained the contract for the erection of the lighthouse and harbourmaster’s quarters, which was very satisfactorily erected. 

Mr. Malcolm then obtained several Government contracts in 1862 including a watch-house and police station at Nimitybelle, and in 1863 completed the Cooma court house and gaol. He also built a courthouse at Nimmitybelle, in the following year, the post office and telegraph station at Braidwood.

In 1865 the Court house and gaol at Bega and later the post and telegraph office at that place, where he finally settled.  He also erected  the town Candelo Court house and Lock-up and completed seven public school contracts, under the Dept of public instruction.  He erected many private buildings, and did a pushing trade in connection with the Bega School of Arts, reading room Lodge room, and alteration to the hall, as also in the police barracks and Bega Lyceum Hall.

He erected the new joint stock bank, which is creditable to the company, the contractor, and he is now busy building the Bega Hospital, which is well advanced and will, when finished, be an ornament to the district  Mr. Malcolm was gazetted a trustee for the land, set apart for Presbyterian Church purposes at Bega. 

He is one of the Trustees for the People’s park at Bega and he stands in the front among the Oddfellows, being the esteemed financial and corresponding secretary of the Prince Alfred Lodge M.U.,200 strong, a position he has held with honour for nearly twenty years.
 

From the "Centennial History of New South Wales", published in 1888, submitted by Barbara Adams <davida8-at-bigpond.com>