James Firth

---

James Firth left the Orkney Isles in 1846.

His travels took him to Canada, and then onto Western Australia, and he was also working in Port Adelaide and Whyalla, building and repairing wharves on the waterfront.

The gold rush was at its peak when James decided to try his luck. Joined by his brothers William and John, who were newly arrived in Australia, they tried their luck in Dunolly.
Back in Melbourne after not much luck in the goldfields, they met up with Captain Baxter of "Carrup-Carrup" whilst he was driving cattle over Princes Bridge. They thought the cattle looked so well, they decided that Mornington was "the place to go".

James selected land close to Captain Baxter, and his brothers also bought land close by. Their two sisters Helen and Mary arrived in Australia, and met up with their three brothers.

James married Ellen Benton (daughter of Benjamin and Louisa Benton) in 1885, and raised a family in the area.

Apart from farming his own property, he was involved in cutting firewood for the ovens in Melbourne. He was also involved in construction of roads in the area.

It was said that after delivering timber for the construction of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, he would attach a plough to his cart and plough the route of Main Street, Mornington on his way home.

James, a much respected resident of the Somerville-Mornington area, died in 1913, at the age of 84 years. He is buried in the Mornington Cemetery.

 

Ellen Firth's fatal accident with a train.

---