John Collicott
Encyclopedia
John Thomas Collicott was a farmer, auctioneer, postmaster of Hobart and one of the original investors in the Port Phillip Association
.
Collicott was born in England
and emigrated to Sydney
, Australia
in 1819 on board the 'Mary Anne' . He was granted 200 acre (0.809372 km²) of land by Governor Macquarie at Lake Illawarra
which he named 'Campbell park'.
Collicott leased his land and sailed for Hobart
on 23 January 1819 and there entered business variously as a storekeeper, estate agent, auctioneer and speculator. In August 1823 Collicott was on the board that established the Bank of Van Diemen's Land, holding a considerable number of shares on his death. On the 17 August 1822 he was appointed postmaster at Hobart
and conducted the post office from his rooms at Murray Street. At first he received no fixed salary but retained the postal fees he collected. Lieutenant-governor George Arthur
later transferred the post office to government control granting Collicott 300 pounds per year. In 1834 he was appointed as a Commissioner of the Peace and in 1838 his salary was raised to 450 pounds. He was one of the original investors of the Port Phillip Association
who were a group of businessmen who sent John Batman
across to Port Phillip
in 1835 to purchase a vast tract of land where Melbourne
now stands.
In poor health for some time, Collicott died suddenly on leave in Sydney
. In recognition of his eighteen years service as postmaster the lieutenant-governor headed his funeral procession.
Port Phillip Association
The Port Phillip Association was formally formed in June 1835 to settle land in what would become Melbourne, which the association believed had been acquired by John Batman for the association from Wurundjeri elders after he had obtained their marks to a document, which came to be known as...
.
Collicott was born in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and emigrated to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1819 on board the 'Mary Anne' . He was granted 200 acre (0.809372 km²) of land by Governor Macquarie at Lake Illawarra
Lake Illawarra
Lake Illawarra is a large coastal lagoon located in the city of Wollongong about 100 km south of Sydney, New South Wales.The lake receives runoff from the Illawarra escarpment through Macquarie Rivulet and Mullet Creek, and has a narrow tidal entrance to the sea at Windang...
which he named 'Campbell park'.
Collicott leased his land and sailed for Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
on 23 January 1819 and there entered business variously as a storekeeper, estate agent, auctioneer and speculator. In August 1823 Collicott was on the board that established the Bank of Van Diemen's Land, holding a considerable number of shares on his death. On the 17 August 1822 he was appointed postmaster at Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
and conducted the post office from his rooms at Murray Street. At first he received no fixed salary but retained the postal fees he collected. Lieutenant-governor George Arthur
George Arthur
Lieutenant-General Sir George Arthur, 1st Baronet KCH PC was Lieutenant Governor of British Honduras , Van Diemen's Land and Upper Canada . He also served as Governor of Bombay .-Early life:George Arthur was born in Plymouth, England...
later transferred the post office to government control granting Collicott 300 pounds per year. In 1834 he was appointed as a Commissioner of the Peace and in 1838 his salary was raised to 450 pounds. He was one of the original investors of the Port Phillip Association
Port Phillip Association
The Port Phillip Association was formally formed in June 1835 to settle land in what would become Melbourne, which the association believed had been acquired by John Batman for the association from Wurundjeri elders after he had obtained their marks to a document, which came to be known as...
who were a group of businessmen who sent John Batman
John Batman
John Batman was an Australian grazier, businessman and explorer who is best known for his role in the founding of a settlement which became Melbourne and the colony of Victoria.-Life:...
across to Port Phillip
Port Phillip
Port Phillip Port Phillip Port Phillip (also commonly referred to as Port Phillip Bay or (locally) just The Bay, is a large bay in southern Victoria, Australia; it is the location of Melbourne. Geographically, the bay covers and the shore stretches roughly . Although it is extremely shallow for...
in 1835 to purchase a vast tract of land where Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
now stands.
In poor health for some time, Collicott died suddenly on leave in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. In recognition of his eighteen years service as postmaster the lieutenant-governor headed his funeral procession.