Great, Great Grandfather James Barham migrated to thew Shoalhaven region in 1829 from Suffolk england. He was a labourer, farmer and timber cutter. Settling in Tomerong with his wife Charlotte Watson. They married in 1843 in a Church of England, in Phillip St. Sydney. he bought his first land in Tomerong in 1855.

A further two generations were to be born and raised in Tomerong until James, the Grandfather moved to land purchased at Jaspers Brush. He married Ivy Knapp, a great cattle breeding family from Bolong.

This interview features Jenny Pastor (nee: Barham) daughter of Donald and Una Barham (nee: Ison), the 5th generation barham to grow up farming land in the region. Today Jenny lives in her grandfathers cottage known as Northcote and on 9 acres of the original 80 acres purchased many years ago from the Oke brothers.

# Some of the local indigenous children that attended Jaspers Brush Primary School from time to time were:

The Cruse & Mundy children..

Website: theresesweeney.com.au

Photograph: Ray Strong 'Glenbrae' Jaspers Brush by Therese Sweeney.

Introduction: GLenbrae home to 6 generations of Strongs have lived on Strongs Rd.

Ray Strong is the grandson of William & Eliza Jane Strong (nee:Boyd).

Rays grandfather William arrived on the Ocean Empress in 1864 with his cousin Alexander-both were 15. They had grown up together in a densley packed house on Loughros Point County Donegal Northern Ireland. They then steamed down the south coast to Broughton Creek Wharf. 40 members from 6 related irish families had arrived on the Ocean Empress.

William & Eliza had 5 sons and 3 daughters - 2 children dying in infancy. They built a home named Glenview, now known as Strongs Rd.Jaspers Brush. Their youngest born William John Strong b 1888 is Rays father.

William married Margaret Clelland and he passed in 1942. Ray was 6 years old.

Ray's grandfather William became an astute cattle judge and cattle breeder. His bulls and heifers were famous and a great success in the show ring.He had one of the best shorthorn milking herds in the Illawarra. He was a committed member of the Berry Wesleyan Church & passed in 1916 age 68. His wife Eliza Jane passed away 3 years later age 75. They are both buried at Berry cemetery.

Presented by Therese Sweeney, Historian & Podcast presenter / producer.

Photograph: Jaspers Brush Post Office 1951 -Southern side of princes HWy

Themes: Name Jasper, cedar cutting, land owners the Berry Brothers & E.Wollstoncraft, timber exports, early butter & milk trade, roads, school, hall, railway, land owners after new sub division 1892. milk 1920s Nowra Milk Co-op.

References:

1. Notes & documents from 1997 Jaspers Brush school reunion committee. Including details and photos of pioneering families.
2. Various maps held by the Ison family of Berry, Jaspers Brush etc.
3. Sales map of Coolangatta & Berry Estates-undated (1893-1908) with Railway Line Jaspers Brush region.plus other information;
4. Roads & Maritime Services Report Berry-Bomaderry 2013
5. As above.. Gerringong to Berry 2006
6. Alexander Berry The Laird of Shoalhaven, Royal Australian Historical Society Journal Volume 27 Part 1 1941
7. Royal Australian Historical Society Journal V 46 No 2, 1960 by A.K. Weatherburn.
8. The first SubDiv. Sales of Shoalhaven Estates, The property of the late David Berry Esq. 1982. 79 pages.
9. Spotted Gum & ironbark-An environmental History of the South Coast NSW forestry. by Leith Davis University of Western Sydney PHD thesis 2020.
10. Regional Histories of NSW, Heritage Office. Dept. Urban Affairs & Planning, 1996.
11. Trove-various press articles.

First century of Dairying in NSW by Frank McCaffrey 1909.

Podcast also hosted at theresesweeney.com.au