Owen Family Robert Owen, the first member of the Owen family to arrive in Australia was born at Tynemouth, Northumberland on 8 September 1799, the second son of Robert Owen (a sea captain) and Sarah Hall. Robert was admitted as an attorney on 20 April 1820 and during the following decade married Jessie Thriepland Moncrieff, the daughter of Lord Moncrieff (legal) of Fingask Castle, Perth, and had two sons and one daughter.
About 1840 Robert Owen and his two sons, the elder only 13 years of age, arrived in Melbourne in the family's small schooner. By June 1842 Robert was in Sydney and was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. In 1841 he had purchased a property at Jamberoo known as 'Sarah's Valley', which had been a grant to Michael Hyam. The property was of 1280 acres (about 150 acres cleared) and included an inn, store, tannery, farmhouse and other buildings. A school and church were almost completed. Owen subdivided this land which became the town of Jamberoo. Over the next few years Robert Owen purchased many more land holdings in the Illawarra and elsewhere, and as a squattor occuppied two Murrumbidgee properties, 'Coppacumbalong' and 'Lanyon', each of 16,000 acres.
In 1859 Robert Owen was the first and only solicitor appointed a District Court judge and chairman of Quarter Sessions, but only two years later resigned from the bench. He was also appointed to the Legislative Council as a government representative and gained a seat on John Robertson's ministry. Although Robert spent a lot of time in Sydney, his home was situated in Market Square, Wollongong. Also living in Market Square was Percy, his eldest son. From Percy's Market Square residence the Illawarra College, a school for training boys in commercial occupations was operated. On 25 November 1878 Robert Owen died at 88 Elizabeth Street, Sydney and was buried at Rookwood Cemetery.
Percy, the younger of Robert Owen's sons who had travelled to Australia with him, married Eleanor Martha Haylock, the daughter of Dr Thomas B Haylock of Penrith, in 1859. Percy Owen, a colonel in the volunteer artillery, was the first of a number of members of the family to become involved in military activities. Following Percy Owen were his two eldest sons, Robert Haylock Owen (born 7 January 1862) and Percy Thomas Owen (born 16 September 1864), both of whom were born and raised in Wollongong.
Robert Haylock Owen
1881 joined New South Wales Volunteer Artillery as lieutenant. 1885 member of New South Wales Contigent to the Sudan (Infantry) 28.04.1886 commissioned in the Prince of Wales Volunteers, 2nd Battalion South Lancashire Regiment. Stationed in Natal. 07.02.1890 marries Hilda Grace Rowell in London. 18.11.1890 A son, Percy Irvine Haylock Owen born at Gibralter 1900 appointed chief staff officer of the New Zealand Local Forces. Recruited, equipped and dispatched New Zealand contingents to the Boer War Oct 1902 promoted to Major, but resigned from British Army at the end of that year. Continued to serve in New Zealand Militia as Lieut.-Colonel. c1907 returned to Australia and was living in retirement in Wollongong at the outbreak of WWI 20.08.1914 Lt.-Col. Robert Haylock Owen appointed commander of 3rd Battalion AIF 15.05.1915-20.05.1915 temporary commander Ist Infantry Brigade 22.06.1915 wounded at Gallipoli Feb 1917 appointed as temporary director of military training at Duntroon May 1917 chief instructor of Officers' Training School Duntroon April 1918 appointed honorary commissioner under the Repatriation Act. 1921 posted to reserve of officers and went to live near Bristol in England with wife and daughter. 05.04.1927 died of cerebro-vascular disease at Barnstaple, Devon. Percy Thomas Owen
1881 matriculates to University of Sydney 1884-86 served as an officer in the New South Wales Volunteer Artillery 1884-88 serves pupilage at Mort's Dock & Engineering works, studying mechanical and civil engineering. Feb 1889 re-enlists in New South Wales Volunteer Artillery when appointed resident engineer for military works in NSW southern division. 1890 promoted to assistant engineer and took charge of defence works under construction in Wollongong. 10.02.1897 married Florence Hilda Flood at St Mark's Anglican Church, Darling Point. late 1899 appointed special services officer in the Boer War. Jan 1900 sailed for South Africa, serving briefly as staff officer to Major General (Sir) Edward Hutton. Apr 1900 appointed staff officer, Royal Engineers, at Kimberley but fell sick and was invalided to England. Sep 1900 resumed his former position in Sydney. 1901 unsuccessfully resists the dismantling of the military works branch in New South Wales, undertaken as a consequence of federation. Nov 1902 transferred to newly formed Army Headquarters in Melbourne as assistant adjutant general (Engineering Services). Jul 1902 promoted to local Lieut.-Colonel. Mar 1904 appointed as Inspector General of Works and transferred to reserve of officers. 1906+ retained as honorary consulting military engineer to the Department of Defence. 13.08.1914 became temporary military representative in the Naval Transport Branch. 1915 helped develop a scheme for government arsenals and visited India. 1920 awarded O.B.E. 1921 member of Federal Capital Advisory Committee. 1922 moved his headquarters to Canberra. 1925 awarded C.B.E. Mar 1929 retired and returned to Wollongong to live. 16 Jun 1936 died in Wollongong. Evelyn Owen - creator of the Owen Gun
15.05.1915 born Wollongong to Ernest and Constance (McMillan) Owen. Ernest was the son of Percy Owen and brother of R H and P T Owen. 25.05.1940 enlists AIF 2/17 Inf. Btn. 25.06.1941 discharged AIF as required for employment in a reserved occupation. 01.04.1949 Death of Evelyn Owen Percy Irvine Haylock Owen (son of Robert Haylock Owen)
13.10.1915 enlists AIF 25.07.1916 promoted to 2nd Lieutenant 03.11.1916 embarked Sydney on transport HMAT A19 Afric with 53rd Battalion,7th reinforcements. Was later transferred to his father's old battalion, the 3rd. 22.09.1917 killed in action, Polygon Wood
Illawarra at War
Last Updated: 12 August 1998 © Vivienne Caldwell 1998