Rosewood History. Qld.

Richard and Charlotte BLAKE 

© Jane Schy 2026

The BLAKE family from Perry’s Knob were well known poultry farmers and champion breeders and exhibitors. Their story began with the arrival of Richard and Charlotte, immigrants from Cornwall, England, who with hard work and perseverance, laid the groundwork for their children to have the opportunity to succeed in their new homeland.

Richard (40) and Charlotte (40) Blake immigrated to Queensland with their children John (21), Joseph (16), Ellen (15),  William (11), Alfred (7), Laura (4) and Ernest (1) who was written as Herbert on the shipping manifest. They were free passengers on the barque British Consul (renamed Marialta) in 1882. The ship anchored off Cowan Cowan Point in Moreton Bay at 4.45 p.m. on Sunday 27th February, after 106 days at sea. The passengers, who were described as a robust and healthy looking lot, were taken to the Brisbane depot on 29th by the Government paddle steamer Kate, after which the family took a steamer up the river to the depot at North Ipswich.

Name: Richard Curtis BLAKE
Occupation: Farm Labourer (1861, 1871, 1881); Labourer; Farmer
Baptism: 29th January 1832, St Sampson, Golant, Cornwall, England
Residence: 1841, Rocks, Fowey, Cornwall,  England
Residence: 1861, 28 Passage Street, Fowey, Cornwall, England
Residence: 1871, 20 Newtown Village, Fowey, Cornwall, England
Residence: 1881, 125-126 Falmouth Road, Redruth, Cornwall, England
Immigration: 27th  February 1882, the British Consul arrived at Moreton Bay from Liverpool via Plymouth.
Immigration Note: Departed Liverpool 18th October 1881.
Residence: 1895, Perry’s Knob, Rosewood, Queensland
Death: 14th June 1917, Perry’s Knob, Rosewood, Queensland aged 88 years
Burial: 15th June 1917, Tallegalla Cemetery (T4)
Mother: Jane BLAKE
Marriage: 27th  March 1858, Register Office, St Austell, Cornwall, England
Marr Memo: St Austell,  Vol 5c  page 219. Bride and Groom signed with marks X.

Spouse: Mary Charlotte TIPPETT
Baptism: 29th July 1837, Fowey, Cornwall, England
Residence: 1841, North Street, Fowey, Cornwall, England
Residence: 1851, 76 North Street, Fowey, Cornwall, England
Residence: November 1885, Racecourse, Ipswich, Queensland
Src: Unclaimed letter, Dead Letter Branch, General Post Office
Death: 20th September 1900, Rosewood, Queensland aged 64 years
Father: Samuel TIPPETT (Agricultural Labourer)
Mother: Mary TRELEAVEN

Children: 10
1. Mary Margaret TIPPETT
Birth: 1856, Fowey, Cornwall, England
GRO Reference: 1856  Oct-Nov-Dec, Reg: St Austell, Volume 05C page 134  
Baptised: 19 November 1856, Fowey, Cornwall, England
Death: 1914, Kenwyn, Cornwall, England
GRO Reference: 1914 Jan-Feb-Mar, Truro Volume 05C page 196
Spouse: Joseph Henry GEORGE (Umbrella Repairer)

2. John Trelevan BLAKE
Birth: 1858, Fowey, Cornwall, England
GRO Reference: 1858 Oct-Nov-Dec, Reg: St Austell, Volume 05C page 142
Baptism: 15th February 1859, Fowey, Cornwall, England
Death: 14th February 1915, Goodna, Queensland
Spouse: Fanny Anne NEWMAN

3. Richard Curtis BLAKE
Birth: 1860, Fowey, Cornwall, England
GRO Reference: 1860 Jul-Aug-Sep, Reg: St Austell, Volume 05C page 132
Baptism: 25th Nov 1860, Fowey, Cornwall, England
Death: 8th April 1866, New Town, Cornwall, England
GRO Reference: 1866 Apr-May-Jun, Reg: St Austell, Volume 05C page 85

4. Elizabeth Jane BLAKE
Birth: 1862, Fowey, Cornwall, England
GRO Reference: 1862 Oct-Nov-Dec, Reg: St Austell, Volume 05C page 128
Baptism: 22nd February, 1865, Fowey, Cornwall, England
Occupation: Domestic Servant
Residence: 1881, St Olave’s Home for Girls, Bartholomew Street, Exeter, Devon, England

5. Fanny (Frances Charlotte) BLAKE
Birth: 1864, Fowey, Cornwall, England
GRO Reference: 1864 Oct-Nov-Dec, Reg: St Austell, Volume 05C page 131
Baptism: 22nd February 1865, Fowey, Cornwall, England
Death: 2nd November 1925, St Menefrida Cottage, St Minver, Cornwall, England
Spouse: John CARHART

6. Ellen BLAKE
Birth: 1867, Newtown, Cornwall, England
Death: 16 June 1953, Rosewood, Queensland
Spouse: James Whiting WYATTE

7. Joseph BLAKE
Birth: March 1869, Newtown, Cornwall, England
GRO Reference: 1869 Jan-Feb-Mar, Reg: St Austell, Volume 05C page 129
Death: 18th May 1886, Rosewood, Queensland

8. William Henry BLAKE
Birth: 1871, Newtown, Cornwall, England
GRO Reference: 1871 Jan-Feb-Mar, Reg: Bodmin, Vol 5C page 89
Spouse: Annie Wade NORTHCROFT
Last record found – He was living with his daughter Violet Gibson at Stanley Street, Coorparoo, Qld in 1928.

8. Alfred BLAKE
Birth: 1874, St Blazey, Cornwall, England
GRO Reference: 1874 Jan-Feb-Mar, Reg: St Austell Vol 5C page 110
Death: 16th July 1959, Brisbane, Queensland
Spouse: 1. Harriet Ingram WYATTE  2.  Marie MACKENZIE née RIDSDALE

9. Laura Kate BLAKE
Birth: 1877, St. Helland, Newtown, Cornwall, England
GRO Reference: 1877 Apr-May-Jun, Reg: Bodmin, Vol 5C page 82
Baptism: 25th January 1878, St. Helland, Newtown, Cornwall, England
Death: 7th July 1973, Brisbane, Queensland
Spouse: Charles Jasper MASON

10. Ernest James BLAKE
Birth: 9th August 1880,  Ventonberran (St Piran’s well), Probus, Cornwall, England
GRO Reference: 1880 Jul-Aug-Sep, Reg: Truro, Vol 5C page137
Note: The holy well is behind the Norway Inn on the main Truro to Falmouth road, at the bottom of the garden of a house called Bryher.
Death: 13th August 1962, Queensland
Spouse: Catherine Jane MACKENZIE (1890-1958)

Richard and his family stayed in Ipswich for several years. Because of an unclaimed letter addressed to Charlotte Blake in November 1885, I found them living at Bundanba (sic). It is always a thrill to find something small but significant about a person I am researching, although I doubt Richard would have attributed any significance to the painstaking and laborious work he carried out 140 years ago. 

In September 1885, Richard successfully tendered for clearing the track at the new racecourse at Bundamba for the North Australian Jockey Club. His tender of £30, time required seven weeks, was conditionally accepted. The condition was that he had to wait until word was received that an exchange of land between the Club and the Education Department had been approved. It was approved, and he cleared the track during January 1886. The Club became the Ipswich Turf Club in September and the first races were held on the track on Boxing Day. I wonder if Richard was there?

Richard next appears on the Quarterly Electoral List (4th January 1888) for the Rosewood district within the Marburg Division: Richard Blake -Tallegalla-Leasehold-Parish of Walloon. Alfred and William were added to the list on 1st October 1895. They were listed as farm labourers residing on Portion 395 in the parish of Walloon.

Portion 395 (160 acres) was originally selected by Thomas Perry in 1870 for £20. Thomas and his brother William were engaged in cutting and drawing timber for some ten years in the Rosewood district, and later in the Peak Mountain district. Their parents William and Elizabeth Perry settled at the well known peak and beauty spot. Perry’s Knob was named after the family. 

By 1894 its seems from the notices below that Richard was facing hardship and was in debt to John Frederich, a storekeeper at Rosewood and Marburg.

There was no choice. Richard started over again with the help of his family.

There is an old saying, “bad luck comes in threes.” Charlotte Blake died in 1900 aged 64 years. Then on 24th January 1903, a fire destroyed Richard’s property. I haven’t been able to find an account of the fire, only a notice Richard put in the paper: I desire to express my grateful thanks to the Manchester Fire Assurance Company (of which the Local Agent is Mr. P. H. Adams) for their prompt settlement of my claim. I had only had my premises insured for seven months previous to the fire by which they were totally destroyed on the 24th of January last. R. BLAKE, Rosewood.

The first mention of a road being called “Blake’s Road” was in November 1897 when the Rosewood Divisional Board decided to call tenders for 40 chains of clearing on Blake’s Road. The road would have existed prior to this.

Richard passed away in 1917, leaving a family of nine, some of whom lived in England. The cortege left from his son Alfred’s residence in John Street, Rosewood, for the Tallegalla Pioneer Cemetery. The funeral was largely attended, the Rev. G. Neal (Anglican) conducting the service at the graveside.

Richard’s sons Alfred, Ernest and William continued working the farm together for a few years. The eldest son John had married and was farming at Minden. Alfred married in 1907 and moved to a home in John Street, Rosewood. He changed his occupation from farm labourer to machinist around 1921. William and his wife moved from the district in the early 1920s. Ernest James Blake stayed on the farm and became well known for breeding and exhibiting poultry. He was the founder of Sunnyville Utility Poultry Farm. 

Ernest James and Catherine had 7 children:
Elsie May BLAKE (1909-1947) = Ernest Edward ARNDT (1904-1985)
Ernest Richard BLAKE (1911-1969) = Thelma Maria GERBER (1918-2008)
Stanley James BLAKE (1912-1973) = Jean Ellen SWEATMAN (1919-2001)
Ivy Marie BLAKE (1914-1999) = Edward Arthur WHITE (1905-1981)
John William BLAKE (1916-1992) = Florence Audrey YATES (1915-1992)
Leslie Joseph BLAKE (1922-1999) = Phyllis May LANGDON (1924-2010)
Female BLAKE (1924-1924)

Pictured at right is Ernest Richard Blake and his father Ernest James Blake. The photo was kindly provided by Belinda Hanchard, their granddaughter and great granddaughter. All of the monochrome photos in this story are all courtesy of Belinda.

Catherine Blake had a record 130 entries in the women’s industry exhibit at the Rosewood Show in 1925. She won the “Daily Mail” trophy for the most successful exhibitor in cookery, preserves and fancy work sections. She won prizes for her embroidery on linen, Richelieu embroidery, bead work, hardanger work, Huckaback darning, Eyelet embroidery, nightdress, cross stitching, marmalade, jellies, jam, pickles, preserved fruits, yeast buns, sponge cake, Victoria sandwich, plum pudding, pound cake, assorted toffees, sand cake, Queen cakes, coffee cake, fruit cake, plate of scones (Drummer Boy SR Flour), homemade bread (Commonwealth Flour). She also won a prize for Globe mangels in the farm produce section. Catherine was the winner again in 1926 for the most number of points (58) in the women’s industry section.

The Rosewood Poultry and Kennel Club was formed on 19th June 1928, the first show being held at the Showgrounds in August. Richard’s son, Alfred Blake, was a founding member and the treasurer of the Club.

At the 1929 Rosewood Show, Ernest James Blake won prizes for his garden produce:- Peas in pod, French beans, carrots, Earth nuts, and first prize for a dozen hen eggs (2lb 5oz or 1.04kg). He started advertising the sale of poultry under his name “E. J. Blake” in 1930. In 1931 he was invited to be a steward in the poultry section at the Rosewood Show. Ernest grew his business and established the “Sunnyville Utility Poultry Farm,” first advertising under the name in July 1936.

There are numerous newspaper reports throughout the 1930’s until 1942 giving the results of the National Utility Poultry Breeders Association’s (NUPBA) egg laying contests, and Ernest is mentioned in them. There were also other contests held by various poultry clubs e.g. Maryborough and Bundaberg. The second World War negatively impacted the activities of these Clubs. 

Ernest started exhibiting his Orpington, Wyandonette, Australorp and Rhode Island Red at the Brisbane Exhibition as well at district shows and poultry club shows. See a page from the Queensland Agricultural Journal (1939) which lists the Sunnyville hatchery. (Provided by Belinda Hanchard.)

In February 1939 Ernest James sought permission from the council to erect a telephone line from the end of construction at John Boughen’s gate to his property at Perry’s Knob. He also asked for leave to do any clearing necessary. Permission was granted.

A field day was held at Sunnyville Poultry Farm on February 28th, 1948. It gave the general public an opportunity of seeing the farm at Perry’s Knob. Three officers of the Department of Agriculture and Stock were present and gave demonstrations on diseases of poultry and on culling and general management. A bus ran from Ipswich to the farm, and afternoon tea was provided. Ernest Richard Blake was secretary of the Rosewood Poultry Club at the time.

The Blake family farm “Sunnyville.” What a view! Mount Walker can be seen in the distance.

The poultry pens at Sunnyville.

In early June 1948, Rosewood poultry breeders visited Toowoomba for the annual show of the Toowoomba Feather Club. They had outstanding success with their exhibits. Over 700 birds were penned at the show. A brown Leghorn pullet, owned by Frank Yarrow, was judged grand champion bird of the show. Sunnyville Poultry Farm were champions with a white Leghorn, Minorca, Andalusian, Leghorn, any other colour Sussex, and black-red Old English bantam.

At the Rosewood Show in September 1948, the President’s trophy for the most points in the poultry section, the Secretary’s trophy, and the Queensland Times trophy for the flower section, all went to Sunnyville Poultry Farm.

The Queensland Times ran the articles below. (2, 3)

“PENELOPE” HAS A ROSEWOOD RIVAL
“Penelope,” the Ipswich hen whose achievement in laying a couple of quaint eggs was reported in yesterday’s issue, has not had things all her own way. She has a rival at Mr. E. J. Blake’s “Sunnyville” Poultry Farm at Rosewood, where an Australorp pullet yesterday offered a fine double to qualify her as a contender for the “Order of the Seven Cobs of Corn.” Her effort was an outsize egg weighing about 4½oz. (127.57g), measuring 13in. (33.02cm), and 7¾in (19.685cm) around the two girths, and containing a fully developed yolk and white. And to clinch matters she included a normal 2oz. egg, complete to the shell, inside.

Like his father, Ernest Richard Blake bred and showed poultry, winning many prizes. As the eldest son, he worked alongside his father to help establish Sunnyville and he built many of the buildings on the farm. In December 1948, he was elected as the growers’ representative for No. 4 district on the Egg Marketing Board. He received 127 votes. Mr. R. J. G. Pike (Marburg) recorded 76. Ernest was also a board member on the Poultry Advisory Board, which was constituted in March 1951. He resigned March 31st, 1954.

The Queensland Egg Marketing Board. Ernest Richard Blake is standing in the middle at the back, behind the chair.

John William Blake also exhibited and won prizes at the Rosewood Poultry Club’s shows. He moved to Brisbane around 1938 and established Rosedene Poultry Farm at Neville Road, Aspley.

In 1941, Leslie Joseph Blake was appointed as judge at the NUPBA’s annual show at the Exhibition grounds in Brisbane. He was Secretary of the Rosewood Poultry and Kennel Club in 1945 and a steward and check judge at the Club’s competitions. He was invited to judge at the Kingaroy Poultry Club’s shows.

Ernest Richard was secretary of the Club from 1946 to1948, and in 1949 he became a Councillor with the Moreton Shire Council. He was President of the Rosewood A. and H. Association (retiring at the end of the year). Ernest and Thelma also ran the Commercial Hotel from 1951-1954 for Queensland Breweries.

In 1947 Ernest James Blake advertised as E. J. Blake & Sons (Ernest jnr. and Les).

The E. R. Blake trophy was presented at the Rosewood show in 1949 for the most points in the farm, dairy, garden and orchard produce (V. Schloss), and one for the champion fancy pigeon (N. Greaves). The Sunnyville Poultry Farm trophy for the most points in the needlework section was awarded to Mrs C. Lovell. 

Ernest James Blake was awarded a life membership of the Rosewood Poultry Club in 1953. (4)

ROSEWOOD. October 6. – At a gathering of over 60 members and guests assembled in St. Luke’s Hall for the annual dinner and presentation of trophies of the Rosewood Poultry Club, life membership honours for two club veterans were announced.

The President (Mr. J. Faulkner), after proposing the loyal toast. welcomed all present, especially Mr. W. Hughes, of Ipswich. Mr. Hughes. he said. although a vice-president of the Rosewood Club, was there as guest of honour in his capacity of Chief Steward of the Ipswich and District Poultry Club.

Mr. Hughes said that in a long experience of the poultry show world he had never seen, let alone had the honour to present, such a fine selection and quantity of trophies, These were of a total value of some 70 guineas, and he was more than delighted to find something quite unusual heading the presentation list-two life membership medals of silver, suitably engraved. They were a token of the gratitude and esteem which the club had for two of its oldest and staunchest members, Messrs. Frank (“Pop”) Yarrow and E. J. Blake, sen. It was unfortunate, said Mr. Hughes. that their state of health prevented either of these club stalwarts being present. He went on to speak in high terms of praise of their long services to the club. Mr. Blake, he said, was often referred to as the father of the club. Mr. Blake’s medal was handed to his son, Mr. Les. Blake.

Proposing a toast to the club, Mr. E. O’Sullivan said he had watched the club grow from its original small beginnings to the stage where its reputation had become such that to win a prize at a Rosewood Poultry Club show was no mean feat, and that if an exhibitor could show birds successfully there he need never be ashamed to take them into any show company. In fact, the poultry prize lists of many shows far and wide more often than not Included names of Rosewood club members.

Mr. Faulkner, responding, pointed out that the club was justly proud of the fact that its last show was the biggest yet, when over 735 birds from all over the country faced the judges. He spoke eulogistically of two old members whose life membership had been announced. One of the most competent Judges in the Commonwealth had once said that “Pop” Yarrow had the best Brown Leghorns in Australia. Mr. Blake’s enthusiasm for anything which would further the club’s interests had been unlimited.

The club Secretary (Mr. R. H. Kerle), supporting the President’s remarks, said that the club took pride in its share of help in providing food for the United Kingdom, for in the period from January to August of the present year it had acted as agent in supplying 7000 birds from the Rosewood district to a firm which exports the frozen carcases.

He also pointed out that the club was active in paying visits to kindred clubs, and members had exhibited at poultry shows at Nambour, Kingaroy, Warwick, Toowoomba, and Ipswich, as well as at the agricultural shows at Gatton, Laidley, Rosewood, Ipswich, and Brisbane Royal National. In the course of these shows, members had carried off three grand championships and three champion opposite sex awards.

Other toasts honoured were “Kindred Clubs,” proposed by Mr. A. H. Stieler, responded to by Mr. H. Spelleken, the President of the Ipswich and District Club; “Donors of trophies,” by Mr. V. Louttit, response by Mr. S. L. Trewick; “The Ladies,” by Mr. Geo. Smith, response by Mrs. R. H. Kerle; “Visitors, artists, and Press,” by Mr. S. R. Harding, response by Rev. Fraser Ham and Dr. Kenneth Rawle; “The Chairman,” by Mr. H. Spelleken, response by Mr. Faulkner.

During the course of the evening a presentation was made to Mrs. Trewick in appreciation of her continued services as pianist a club functions, and Sgt. W. Zillman made a club presentation of a fountain pen to Mr. R. H. Kerle. Musical items were given by Miss Joy Stieler. Dr. K. Rawle and Messrs. Colin Horne and Stan. Krause.

Sunnyville Poultry Farm and the local poultry breeders scooped the pool at the Rosewood Show in May 1954. The champion bantam was a modern Game Pile female exhibited by Sunnyville. The judge described it as being of good type, with tail carried correctly, but it could be a little stronger in breast colour.

The Blakes were champion breeders, and were renowned for their Rosecombs and Wyandotte’s, but they bred nearly every fowl in the standard over their time. Other breeds not mentioned are Plymouth Rocks, Black Orpingtons, Sussex, Leghorns, Pekins, Bantams, Monorcas, Ancinas, Campine, Sebright, Langshans and there are more I’m sure.

The Ernest James Blake Memorial Trophy, the Ernest Richard Blake Memorial Trophy and the Les Blake Memorial Trophy are still presented nowadays at the Rosewood Poultry Club shows along with Sunnyville Poultry Stud Memorials, demonstrating the enduring legacy of the Blake family in the Australian poultry industry.

Any additional information or photos would be gratefully received. My email: hello@rosewoodpasttimes.com

The photo on the left is Richard Blake. On the right are the Blake brothers -John standing at back, Stanley seated left, Ernest seated right, Leslie at front.

From Facebook May 2026

Anthony Joseph
What a fantastic history. The Rosewood poultry club celebrates 100 years in 2028. In the mid 60s Les Blake did a regular run through town with fresh chickens also showed and judged all over. Sons John and Ken live in Ipswich, John was also a poultry judge and exhibitor.

Belinda Ann
Yes, Les is my grandfather’s youngest brother he is mentioned in article. My great grandfather is a life member of Rosewood poultry club and I sponsor prizes for the two Ernest Blake memorials & junior prizes too .

Harold Boughen
I remember going up to the farm with Dad to buy bags of wheat and mash to feed our pen of chooks. I was always fascinated by the egg washing machine and the hatchery. We’d also get day-olds when the flock needed refreshing

Belinda Ann
I just spoke to mum , she has a deformed finger nail after being fascinated with the egg washing machine.

Sharon Conway
Les Blake was my uncle. His wife Phylis was my mum Dos Claus (née Langdon) sister. My dad Clive and Les travelled to many poultry shows together with their wives and ran Rosewood Poultry Club. Les and Phylis’s son John also showed poultry.

Harold Boughen
I remember Dos. Also, her dad who used to drive past our place in a horse and dray on his way into town and back. Sometimes, he used a sulky instead.

Vance Sbeghen
I used to show my red bantams at the Rosewood show 1962 remember you helping me Anthony. I’m living at Cudgen 2487 but come back to Rosewood every July to show some of my bantams.

References:
Census of England 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915
Cornwall Online Parish Clerk Database
Queensland, Australia, Passenger Lists, 1848-1912
Queensland Registry Births, Deaths, Marriages
(1) Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Tuesday, 3 February 1903, page 10
(2) Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Wednesday, 15 September 1948, page 2
(3) Queensland Times (Ipswich Qld.), Thursday, 16 September 1948, page 2
(4) Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Wednesday, 7 October 1953, page 2