Brooks’s shop in John Street, Rosewood
Rosewood History Qld.
William Francis and Ada Florence BROOKS
© Jane Schy 2026
Name: Willam Francis BROOK/S
Occupation: Lengthsman, Fruiterer
Birth: 8th March 1882, Pyworthy, Torridge District, Devon, England
Immigration: 31st May 1882, the R.M.S. Compta arrived Moreton Bay, Queensland.
Note: They were Free Passengers i.e. the colonial government paid the entire cost of the ship fare for selected migrants. The ship sailed from Plymouth 23rd November 1881.
Residence: 1893-1895, Dingo, Queensland
Residence: 1906, Gindie, Queensland
Residence: 1908, Mt. Russell, Queensland
Residence: 1919, Toogoolawah, Queensland
Residence: 1925-1928, Rosewood, Queensland
Residence: 1928, Green Street, Booval, Queensland
Death: 29th June 1928, Ipswich General Hospital, Queensland aged 46 years.
Buried: 30th June 1928, Ipswich Cemetery (Methodist New B/17/15)
Father: Frederick John BROOK (Lengthsman, Labourer)
Mother: Matilda PRIDHAM
Marriage: 21st April 1909, Toowoomba, Queensland
Spouse: Ada Florence May QUIRE
Birth: 1886, Lillimur, Victoria, Australia
Residence: 1903-1909, Ashlands Farm, Rossvale, Queensland
Residence: 1929-1951, 40 Macquarie Street, Booval
Death: 6th July 1951, Ipswich General Hospital, Queensland aged 64/65 years.
Burial: 8th July 1951, Ipswich Cemetery (Methodist New B/17/15)
Father: Henry Edward QUIRE (Farmer)
Mother: Mary Thompson MAKIN
Children: 12
Ellen BROOKS (1910-2005) = William Arnold Hardwick MACHIN
Edna BROOKS (1911-1987) = Edward Harold Archibald CAFFERKY
Dorothy BROOKS (1913-2023) = Eric Melrose TURNER
William Henry BROOKS (1915-1993) = May Margaret LLOYD
Edgar Cecil BROOK (Twin) (1917-1917)
Frederick George BROOKS (Twin) (1917-1995) = Nellie WHITING
Harold Francis BROOKS (1918-1990) = Elizabeth Florence Ellen GOOD
Eric James BROOKS (1919-1981) = Ethel Thirza ADAMSON
Maud Alice BROOKS (1920-2000) = Ronald JENSEN
Norman BROOKS (1921-2003) = Joan Mahoney REEKS
Adelaide BROOKS (1923-1923)
Lorna BROOKS (1926-2006) = George Edwin REEKS
William and Ada opened a shop in John Street Rosewood in 1925, with Ada taking the larger part, and assistance from their oldest daughters. After William’s health severely declined around September 1927, he spent a considerable amount of time in the Ipswich hospital, so Ada ran the shop on her own. They sold confectionery, fresh fruit and vegetables. The shop was on the eastern side of John Street (No 3 near the old court house). Some may remember it as the old laundromat which was demolished in 2011/2012. They attended the Church of Christ whilst in Rosewood.
William and Ada moved to Green Street, Booval, Ipswich, early in 1928. William passed away a few months later.
Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.: 1909 – 1954), Tuesday 10 July 1928, page 6
Mr. William Francis Brooks, of Green-street, Booval, who died a few days ago, was born in England in March, 1882, and was brought to Queensland by his parents that year. The early part of his life was spent in the West with his parents, until 1903, when he came to the Darling Downs, and lived at Mount Tyson and later at Toowoomba. In 1909, he married the eldest daughter of the late Mr. H. E. Quire, of Mount Tyson. After a number of years at Toowoomba he came to the West Moreton district. Three months ago he and his family came to Ipswich from Rosewood, where they had lived for a few years. About 12 months ago Mr. Brooks’s health failed. He has left a widow and 10 children. His aged father and mother live at Rockhampton. There are brothers and sisters in various parts of the State. At the funeral at the Ipswich Cemetery the service was conducted by Pastor H. D. Priestley, of the East Ipswich Church of Christ.
Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.: 1909 – 1954), Saturday 7 July 1951, page 10
FUNERAL NOTICE. BROOKS.—Relatives and Friends of Mr. and Mrs. A. Machin, Mrs. E. Cafferky, Mr. and Mrs. E. Turner, Mr. and Mrs. W. Brooks, Mr. and Mrs. F. Brooks, Mr. and Mrs. H. Brooks, Mr. and Mrs. E. Brooks, Mr. and Mrs. R. Jensen, Mr. and Mrs. N. Brooks, and Mr. and Mrs. G. Reeks and Families, are invited to attend the Funeral of their beloved Mother, Mother-in-law, and Grandmother, Ada Florence May Brooks, late of 40 Macquarie-street, Silkstone, to leave the Funeral Chapel, Limestone Street, at 2.30 o’clock Tomorrow (Sunday) Afternoon for the Ipswich Cemetery. O. BOTTCHER & SON.
BROOKS.—Relatives and Friends of Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Quire (Cecil Plains), Mr. A. L. Quire (Kingaroy), Mr. and Mrs. P. Virgen (Toowoomba), and Mr. and Mrs. M. McIntyre (Pitsworth), and Families, are invited to attend the Funeral of their beloved Sister, Sister-in-law, and Aunt, Ada Florence May Brooks, to leave as per notice above.
References:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
Queensland, Australia, Passenger Lists, 1848-1912
Victoria, Australia, Birth Index, 1837-1921
Australia and New Zealand, Find a Grave® Index, 1800s-Current
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980
Trove- National Library Australia