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Hardey family
Joseph Hardey arrived in the Swan River Colony in February 1830 on the Tranby with his wife Ann Robinson and brother John Hardey and his wife Elizabeth Davey, and William Hardey.
The Hardeys brought a pre-fabricated house with them. They apparently lived perhaps in that or another house on Lot 160 Short Street in Fremantle for a short time, as, when it was leased by Richard James as a public house, it was known as Tranby House.
Wikipedia, on Tranby House:
Joseph Hardey was a Wesleyan preacher from Lincolnshire. He arrived with his wife Ann, his brother John and a large group which included a surgeon, preacher, bricklayer, blacksmith, shoemaker, surveyor, hatter, midshipman and several farmers. They were given an initial grant of 41.5ha, 6km upstream along the Swan River from the newly established town of Perth on a peninsula of the river. Subsequent grants of additional 73ha followed up to 1844. The property was known as Peninsula Farm and now forms much of the current suburb of Maylands.
Hardey's first house was built in May 1830, probably from material brought out on the Tranby. It was located on the low land about 100 metres downstream from the location of the present house. This house was destroyed by flood in July, and Hardey built a new house of wattle and daub, with a thatched roof, the following year. It is not known where this second house was located although it also is believed to have been destroyed by flood. By June 1839, construction of the current house was completed, making it one of the oldest brick houses in the State and the earliest domestic residence still extant in the inner metropolitan area.
After the property was divided in 1903, the existing lot which includes the house remained as the Hardey family home until 1913 when it was bought by Henry Baker. It was named Tranby House in 1923, the state's centenary year, in recognition of its historical significance. In 1951 the property changed hands again and in 1967 was bought by Bond Corporation which demolished the barn and some small cottages with a view to a redevelopment of the site. Following a public debate opposing the plans, the property was acquired by the National Trust of Australia in 1972, and after an extensive restoration, was opened to the public by Lady Kyle, wife of the Governor, Sir Wallace Kyle on 27 November 1977. It continues today as a popular tourist attraction and tearooms.
Several oak, olive and mulberry trees believed to have been planted by the Hardey family remain and surround the house. Two of the oak trees were listed on the National Trust's Register of Significant Trees in 1984.
The house is furnished in the style of the first half of the 19th Century; all furniture is authentic, but has come from various sources. The only furniture known to have belonged to the Hardeys is a regency style brass four poster bed, which is on permanent loan from the Royal Western Australian Historical Society; a polished wooden medicine chest; and the timber lid of a packing case.
Joseph's son Richard (1844-1910) married: (1) Jane Vounder Lowe (c. Oct 1854-1886) one son; and (2) Kathleen Emily Beurteaux (1866-1939) one son, one daughter. Richard was a viticulturist and parliamentarian. He died at Tranby Park, and lies in the East Perth Cemetery, Methodist.
Richard Watson Hardey
Wikipedia:
Richard Watson Hardey (9 February 1844-12 February 1910) was an Australian pastoralist and politician who was a member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia on three occasions – from 1876 to 1880, from 1890 to 1894, and then from 1894 to 1896.
Hardey was the son of Ann (née Robinson) and Joseph Hardey, who had arrived in the Swan River Colony in February 1830. His parents, originally from Lincolnshire, England, were devout Methodists, with his father being the leader of the first Methodist congregation in Perth (as a lay preacher rather than an ordained minister). Hardey was sent to England to be educated, only returning to Australia in 1866. He took over his father's property, Peninsula Farm, and also purchased an estate near York (an inland town). In 1876, Hardey was nominated to the Legislative Council by the governor, Sir William Robinson. He contested a by-election for the seat of York in February 1880, but was defeated by Edward Hamersley, and resigned from parliament in July of the same year.
With the advent of responsible government in 1890, the Legislative Council was made fully appointive. Hardey was nominated to the council for a second time, again by Sir William Robinson. He held his seat until 1894, when a constitutional amendment made the council fully elective for the first time. At the 1894 elections, Hardey polled the third-highest number of votes in East Province (behind Charles Dempster and Richard Goldsmith Burges), and was consequently elected to a two-year term. He was defeated by John Taylor in 1896. Outside of parliament, Hardey had been elected to the Perth Road Board in 1877, and was appointed chairman in 1890. He served in the position until his death at the Peninsula Farm in February 1910, aged 66. Hardey had married twice, to Jane Lowe in 1876 and to Kathleen Beurteaux in 1892. He had one child by his first wife and two children by his second.
A letter home from John Hardey
SWAN RIVER SETTLEMENT
It will probably be recollected by several of our readers, that Messrs J[oseph] And J[ohn] Hardey, formerly of Barrow, sailed from Hull, in the Tranby, on the 9th of September, 1829, in company with Messrs. M. and J. Clarkson and a number of other settlers, for this new colony. Much uneasiness has been since experienced by their friends in England, in consequence of the numerous unfavourable accounts which have, from time to time, been received from the new settlement. That uneasiness will, in a considerable measure, be relieved by the following extracts from letters just received from the settlers, dated July and August last:-
“The particulars of our voyage out we have already sent you, which letters we hope have arrived safe at hand. On casting anchor, Mr Scott, the Harbour-master, came to the brig (Tranby) in the Governor’s gig, for documents, &c., and very politely gave Mr M. Clarkson and myself (John Hardy) a passage in the same to the Marquis of Anglesea,
On board of which was the Governor. His Excellency gave us a kind and hearty welcome; and after reading our letters of introduction (for which I hope you will thank those gentlemen who so kindly gave us them,) he said he wished more like us would come out, for those who had already arrived, nineteen in every twenty knew nothing about farming. He invited us to call upon him at Perth, which we afterwards did, and had the pleasure of taking wine with him. He then ordered his nephew to get a boat, and take us to examine two parcels of land, either of which we might select. We chose the peninsula, on the account of its superior location, being situated between the two chief towns in the colony, Perth and Guildford. This grant was considered a great favour, as Mr Henty, and I suppose twenty others, had desired to have it, but had been refused. Immediately after getting our goods in shore, which was a work of great labour, we (Messrs. C. and H.) bought the brig’s skiff, and the between deck. We then set to, and with the assistance of the ship’s carpenter, built a flat, 27 feet long, and 8 wide for the purpose of conveying our goods up into the country. It would carry from 8 to 10 tons at one time. This flat we towed with the skiff. We made one voyage with her, and then some malicious person, who I suppose, had a boat for the same purpose, took her out to sea in the night, and sunk her. This of course, was a great loss and a hindrance to us: however, like spirited emigrants, we again set to, and built another, which brought up all the goods at about thirteen voyages. These thirteen times took three men seven or eight weeks; the winds being unfavourable and navigation difficult. Had we not adopted this plan, it would have cost Messrs. C. and ourselves from £100. to £150. carriage. We erected the wood house at Freemantle, seeing it would take so much getting up into the interior. It still remains there, and is now converted into a coffee-house, which pays us £78. per annum rent. Brother Joseph and his wife lived in it, till all the goods were conveyed up the river, whilst we, poor fellows, who first went up the peninsula, lived like the patriarch of old, “in tents in the wilderness,” as happy as circumstance would permit. One of the men and I then set to, and built a house, such as it is, being composed of wood, mud, and rushes, about seven yards square. We have two doors and two windows in it, but not one pane of glass in either of them! At one end of our domicile is a store-house, and at the other end lives Joseph Ellis and his wife; whilst, on the back of the house, live our men George Green and Hewson. The Australian edifice stands in the midst of an enclosure or garden, 156 links square, on the banks of the Swan, about 30 yards from the water, set sufficiently above its level, to secure us from floods. Opposite the house, the river expands into a fine sheet of water, about a quarter of a mile broad, on which is occasionally seen the imposing spectacle of 30 or 40 black swans at one time. As it respects the interior of our humble abode, (I believe there are not many better in the colony) you shall have a brief compendium of its contents. Our fire-place is composed of (who in Lincolnshire would guess?) a Dutch oven, which stands in the middle of the house! Our fuel is wood, a box placed on two large logs forms a substantial table, a few chairs we have, which are a great luxury in this colony. The wall are garnished with tins, fire-irons, hats, bonnets, &c. whilst in other parts of the house are boxes, drawers, desks, clock, rum keg, pork cask, bed, and sundry other articles. You will now believe me, when I say we have throng [sic] work below stairs; all these, and ourselves also, being crowded in a room seven yards square. ...
We shall have about five acres of wheat this season, some of which looks very well; as do the rye and oats, &c. The garden seeds are coming up nicely; and the potatoes look uncommonly well. I believe that the Messrs. Clarksons and ourselves have the honour of having first put in the plough in this colony. We have occasional opportunities of making excellent purchases, as so many persons leave this place for New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land. ...
We often think of our friends in England, and would be most happy to spend some hours with you every week; but the idea of returning to settle there, at least for several years hence, has never once entered our minds. You may believe us when we assert, we never yet regretted coming here; and were we offered a passage home, free of expense, we would decline the offer. We hope this statement will convince you we are content and happy. Thank God, we never enjoyed better health than at present, and were never more able or willing to work than just now. We have no landlord, requiring more rent than the produce of the soil will make; but one’s arm is nerved, from the knowledge that what we do is effectually, is all our own. Pleasing thought! After a few years of toil, we hope we shall realize something very comfortable, something commensurate to the sacrifice of the enjoyments of home, the privileges of an enlightened land, and the hazard and expense of a first outfit.” - York Paper.
[Transcribed by Sue Baddeley from an article that appeared in the Durham Chronicle, on 28 May 1831.]
Erickson:
HARDEY, Joseph, b. 29.4.1804 (England), d. 6.9.1875, arr. 30.1.1830 per Tranby with brother John etc. m. 11.8.1829 (England) Ann ROBINSON b. 1800 d. 16.5.1874 (Perth). Chd. Ann Margaret Wilkins b. 1830 (Swan) d. 1875, Mary Jane b. 1832 d. 1909, Susannah b. 1834 d. 1907, Sarah Elizabeth b. 1836 d. 1836, Sarah b. 1837 (York) d. 1921, Elizabeth b. 1839 d. 1911. Richard Watson b. 1844 d. 1910. Shared 16,342 acres Avon district with brother & 204.5 acres of Swan at Peninsula Farm & later bt. 2000 acres. Built 3 houses at Tranby after flood damage etc. 19.10.1830. Had 15 acres of wheat in 1833. He was on the York grant 1837-8 while brother John was in England. Lay preacher & spokesman for the Methodists until the arrival of the elder Bernard Clarkson 1833. Supt. of Perth Wesleyan Sunday School. Pres. of Working Men's Benefit Soc. 1874 & member of Central Bd. of Educ. Qualified as a juror in 1860 with £1500 personal estate. Employed 4 T/L men at Peninsula Farm on occasions 1851-8.
HARDEY, John Wall. b. 18.3.1802 (England), d. 14.5.1885. arr. 30. 1. 1830 per Tranby with wife, Joseph & family & 32 Methodists. m. 4.9.1829 (England) Elizabeth DAVEY b. 1812 d. 14.4.1873. Chd. Bernard b. 1832 d. young, Robert Davey b. 1834 (Swan) d. 1905, John Walker b. 1836 (York), Mary Ann b. 1840 d. 1884, Sarah b. 1840, Elizabeth Louisa b. 1842 d. 1885, Phillis b. 1844. Florence Fanny b. 1859. Farmer & Methodist preacher with his brother Joseph. Selected 16.342 acres at York, Mt. Hardey where he lived for several years, also Grove Farm on the Swan. JF. 1833. Visited England with family dep. 12.1836 per Joshua Carroll & returned 5.12.1838 per Britomart. Nominated MLC 1849: 1855-8 & 1860 1870: Favoured Representative Govt. Left the York farm to his son Robert's management in 1858 to live at Maylands. Employed 49 T/L men on occasions 1851-1872.
HARDEY, Richard Watson, b. 9.2.1844 (WA), d. 12.2.1910, only son of Joseph Hardey, m. 1st 2.2.1876 (Wesl Perth) Jane Vounder LOWE b. 11.10.1854 d. 6.8.1886/8 (York), dtr. of Rev. William Lowe. (by 1st marriage), m. 2nd 1.9.1892 Kathleen Emily BERTEAUX b. 29. 1.1866 d. 13.4.1939. Chd. 1st, Herbert Richard b. 1878 (Guildford), 2nd, Joseph b. 1880 killed World War I, Gretchen Kathleen, Hubert Richard Lowe b. 1882 (Wesl). To England for educ. & worked 5 yrs on large estate in Yorkshire. Managed father's "Peninsula Farm" c.1866-70s. Employed 10 T/L men 1870-1876. Viticulturist - Darling Rd. Nom. MLC 1876-7.1880, 12.1890-1894: MLC East Prov. 1894-1896. Member Perth Rd. Bd. 1877-1910 6 Chairman Perth Dist. Rd. Bd. 1890-1910. Perth City Councillor, Perth Educ. Bd: Vice Pres. Royal Agric. Soc. JP. Sec. Perth Wesleyan Sunday School. Bt. Hardey Estate York, subdivided 1898 into 100 blocks of 500 acres.
References and Links
Brownell, Thomas Coke 2010, Reference to index of Journal of a voyage from Hull to Swan River on the brig "Tranby" , 9 September 1829 - 2 February 1830 : Journal and letter register 1829 - 1858 of Thomas Coke Brownell, University of Tasmania Library Special and Rare Materials Collection, Australia. John Kelly's transcription of the journal is available on this website.
Burton, Canon Alfred 1929, 'The diary of Joseph Hardey', Early Days, vol. 1, part 6: 17-28.
Johnson, George, Diary and log of voyage from Hull to Fremantle, passenger list, life on board, log entries, Battye MN 1888 Acc. 313A.
O'Brien, Philippa 2023, No Stone without a Name: A Visual History of Possession and Dispossession in Australia's West, Ellenbook Cultural Foundation. Portraits of John Wall Hardey and his wife: 262, 263.
Journal of the voyage online.
Biographical Registrar of the Parliament of WA, re Richard Watson Hardey.
Photo of Tranby House courtesy of Moondyne, from Wikipedia.
See also: page for Wesleyan churches.
This page incorporates material from Garry Gillard's Freotopia website, that he started in 2014 and the contents of which he donated to Wikimedia Australia in 2024. The content was originally created on 7 February, 2021 and hosted at freotopia.org/people/hardey.html (it was last updated on 6 March, 2024), and has been edited since it was imported here (see page history). The donated data is also preserved in the Internet Archive's collection.