Henry Gilbert Smith papers regarding his Manly estate, 1855-1889, and his Wollongong estate, 1837-1894

A 5319

fonds

1837-1894

Textual Records, Manuscript Cartographic Materials, Cartographic Materials

422055

0.48 metres of textual material (4 boxes)

Henry Gilbert Smith (1802-1886), merchant and parliamentarian, was born in England, fifth child of Thomas and Frances Smith. He arrived at Sydney in 1827. Smith acquired land on the Molongolo Plain before returning to England in 1829. He returned to Sydney in 1830 and established an importing and mercantile company, Smith Brothers, with his brother Thomas. The company was dissolved in 1832 and Henry continued as a merchant. Smith was a director of a number of companies including the Commercial Banking Co. of Sydney and later the Sydney Railway Co. Henry was in England between 1836 and 1846 and his brother Thomas managed some of his business affairs. Smith was a member of the NSW Legislative Council from 1856 to 1858. After Smith returned from England in 1846 he lived at Darling Point but after another visit to England he lived at 'Fairlight', a house he built at Manly. He saw the potential of Manly as a seaside resort and built cottages, a hotel, a school, 'Vauxhall Gardens' and a church. He owned land at Wollongong from 1836 onward. Smith was survived by three sons who lived in England, Henry Stinton, Gilbert Flesher and Eustace Albert. After Smith's death his sons changed the family name in 1889 to Smith-Rewse. [ref:ADB 2]

I. Documents collected in connection with the Manly Estate, 1842-1913
1842-1913; Documents concerning the Manly estate include wills, power of attorney, leases land grants, and other legal documents relating to Henry Gilbert Smith, Nathaniel Cork, 1888; the Perpetual Trustee Co.1867-1895; Benjamin Darley,1855; John Wheeler and West v. Mulroney (1905),1855-1905; Cabbage Tree Beach Reserve and Chas. Andrew, Christopher Stalby, John Sims and John Whaley, 1842-1889, 1913; Steyne Hotel and the Pier Hotel, 1864-1867; the Pier at Manly, Thomas Heselton and the Manly ferries, 1860-1873; Brighton estate, 1876-1888; land at Manly, 1887 (Call No.: A 5319/1-2)

II. Miscellaneous, 1869-1907
1869-1887; Miscellaneous papers include papers concerning Thomas Heselton, Thos. Macquoid, Mark Hillas and T. Chandler (Call No.: A 5319/2)

III. Wollongong land, 1834-1907
1834-1907; Documents re land at Wollongong and Kiama including correspondence re transactions between Chas. T. Smith, H.G. Smith, Robert Westmacott, Robert Davision and John Turner. Legal documents connected with George Rogers, Rev. Matthew D. Meares, Hon. Henry Goulburn, Robert and John Campbell, Sir William Burton, A.B. Spark, Charles H. Chambers, George and Alfred Holden, Rev. Frederick Wilkinson, Rev. Samuel Marsden, William Bethune, Robert Towns and Rev. John Tait (Call No.: A 5319/3-4)

MAPS
This collection includes maps located at M Ser 4 810/3 A 5319 (maps 1-5).

Information upgraded from Manuscripts Leaf Catalogue No. 1 (6-237B) as part of the eRecords Project, 2011-2012

This collection was listed in 2005 as part of the Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government in NSW 1856-2006 Project.
This collection forms part of Norton Smith & Co. Papers - Clients' Documents. When in Norton Smith's possession this collection was kept in tins 14 and 14a.