Biography
734600Robert Thomson was born in Hamilton South, Victoria, Australia on May 28, 1862. Conflicting evidence suggests that Robert Thomson was born in Hamilton, Victoria, Australia on March 5, 1862. His birth certificate shows the date as May 28, but the members register at St Michael`s Church, Tarrington has it as March 5. It is possible that his parents left the registration of his birth too late, and then gave a later date so as not to be penalised for late registration. Robert Thomson married Louise Rosina Handreck in Hamilton, Victoria, Australia in 1886. On November 26, 1903 Robert Thomson purchased lots 64, 65 and 66 in Pierrepoint, Hochkirch (Tarrington), Victoria, Australia. The land was a sub-division of the Pierrepoint Estate, previously owned by Alexander Thomson (unrelated), and consisted of 4195 acres of `first class agricultural, dairying and grazing land situated within a mile of the Hamilton Railway Station`. The land purchased by Robert was situated on the south eastern corner of Mt Pierrepoint itself The Hamilton Spectator reported on the sale on the following Saturday: On Thursday afternoon at the Hamilton town hall Messrs. Robt. Stapylton Bree and Co. in conjunction with Messrs. Laidlaw and Fenton and Messrs. P. Learmonth and Co., offered to public competition the Pierrepoint estate, comprising 4195 acres, situated within a mile of the Hamilton railway station. The land was cut up into 69 blocks, ranging from 2 to 237 acres, suitable for persons of limited means as well as for the affluent, and the attendance at the sale proved that the plan was a successful one, the town hall being well-filled. As is natural from the close proximity of the land to Hamilton, most of the purchasers are residents of the town and neighbourhood. Mr. Bree wielded the hammer, and it is due to his expeditious and business like manner, which seemed to be appreciated by those present, that nearly the whole of the land offered was disposed of. Of the 4195 acres 3659 were sold realising £26,704 or an average of £7 6s per acre. The bidding was brisk; the first bid for the most lots was £5, which was quickly run up, the prices obtained ranging from £4 to £15 per acre. Robert bought a total of 217 acres paying between £5 and £6 2s 6d per acre. In years to come, five of his six children who reached adulthood were to marry and live on neighbouring blocks of land on the Pierrepoint estate. Robert Thomson resided in Woohlpooer, near Cavendish, Victoria, Australia in 1914. Robert Thomson sold His land (lots 65 and 66) in Pierrepoint, Hochkirch (Tarrington), Victoria, Australia to his son, Robert Alexander on September 16, 1916. Family stories also say that Robert Thomson bought 400 acres of the subdivided Knebsworth Station, near Macarthur. It was here that Robert Alexander Thomson is believed to have been born. Robert died in Tarrington, Victoria, Australia on February 20, 1933. He was buried on February 21, 1933 at the Lutheran Cemetery in Hamilton South,
