I am looking for George Holmes son of John Holmes, a type founder of
Pyrmont and Balmain and Caroline Gager. George had a sister Rosa who married Charles Lake at the Scots Church l862. George married Margaret Wade in l866 and had l0 children. He was foreman boilermaker at Cockatoo Island and lived at 46 Louisa Road, Balmain for most of his life. He was a champion sailor and along with retailer Mark Foy foundered the 18footer sailing club. After Margarets death in l896 he married Theresa Ford of Nursling Farm,
Amaroo NSW and had 2 girls Theresa and Ellen. Theresea Snr. died in l915 and George died in l918 and is buried in Cudal, NSW where he had built a property for Theresea to be near her family. He sailed the
boat "Donnelly" to win many championships and called his Cudal property "donnellyville" so I believe this may be a family held name from whence he came. Can find no record of his arrival nor of his father who is listed on the death certificate of George as Hotel Proprietor. There is one other confusion. George HOlmes was supposed to have been given an Imperial Service Order by the King in l915 for his service to Cockatoo Island for 40 years. Can only find a George
Fletcher getting the honour and co-incidentally George Fletcher was the builder of the house at 46 Louisa Road. Did George Holmes have an
alias? or was it his half brother the George Fletcher? Help wanted
His daughter Caroline Holmes married George Henry James in l906 my grandparents who lived in Moruya and then Haberfield and Ashfield. CM