Blaxland, Charles Ralph (1844 - 1925)

Charles was a grandson of Gregory Blaxland, who crossed the Blue Mountains with Lawson and Wentworth. Educated at The King's School, Parramatta, at the age of 16 he was sworn into the Parramatta Company of Volunteer Rifles to protect Sydney from an attack by Russia after the fall of Sebastapol.

Charles arrived at Torryburn in the New England, in the 1860s and married Fanny Marsh from Salisbury Court in 1868. In about 1870 he was made manager of Torryburn and Nuandle. Charles and Fanny lived at Torryburn but they moved to Wollun, near Walcha, before the birth of the eighth of their ten children in 1880. Charles made a Conditional Purchase of over 2000 acres in the southern part of Terrible Vale run.

Charles was a prominent citizen and churchman. He organised petitions for the establishment of a post office at Kingstown and represented Bundarra at the Armidale Diocesan Synod of 1874, remaining on the Synod for the rest of his life. He was a member of the governing body of The Armidale School from 1892 until his death and donated time and money to other institutions and organisations.

[Brief Biography compiled by Robin Hammond, January/February 2004]