Dwelling- Newtown Brae (formerly Woolmers)

History/Notes
This property is already subject to a heritage overlay. The following elaborates further on the history of the place:

The southern portion of the existing dwelling was built in c.1851 for Joseph Lewis, victualler. He advertised the property(which he called "Woolmers") for lease in 1852. At this time it was described as a 'beautiful Venetian Cottage' with a parlor, dining and drawing rooms, three bedrooms, substantial kitchen and laundry, ample cellar, stable, and gig house and outhouses for poultry, pigs, etc.', and four acres of garden with 400 fruit trees and vines with a large reservoir and gardener's house.

Born c.1811 in London, Joseph Lewis was convicted of "pulling off 20 counterfeit shillings at a lower value" in 1831 and he was transported to van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) on the hulk Gilmore in 1832. He was described as having a dark complexion, being 'a man or colour, end joint left thumb crippled.' He worked as a groom, presumably at the Woolmers Estate near Launceston, this property being the likely origins of the name of his residence in later years in Newtown. In 1840, he married Miss Ann Wood, a convict, his occupation then being a stonemason. Awarded a Free Certificate in 1841, he commenced business in 1844 as a licensed victuallar at The Dusty Miller Inn with Thomas Abery at O'Brien's Bridge before taking up the licence to the Jolly Scotchman in Hobart in May 1845. Presumably estranged from his wife, Ann, he befriended the widow, Mrs Phoebe Moore (nee Pulbrook) at this time and in September of that year he departed for Adelaide. There, he traded as a silk mercer and general dealer. In early 1848, he relocated to Geelong with Phoebe Moore, who by this time was named as his wife. Her children, Alfred James Moore and George William Moore accompanied them and took up the Lewis surname. In Geelong, Joseph Lewis became a highly successful publican at the Shearer's Arms, Royal Mail and Victoria Hotels. Following the death of Phoebe Lewis in 1867, Joseph retired to "Woolmers". He fell on hard times due to failures in goldmining ventures in Newtown. In 1875, he married his third wife, Sarah Robertson, of Perth. He died the following year, 1876, of 'dropsy and an affection of the liver.'

"Woolmers" initially sold to A. Volum in c.1880. On his death, the property was acquired by James Alexander, a grazier of "Burnbrae" near Penshurst in 1884. He named the property "Newtown Brae" and in 1885 he engaged the Colac architect, Alexander Hamilton, to design two storey additions on the north side as well as single storey extensions on the south side, fronting Stephen Street .

See heritage precinct history for further information.

REFERENCES:
Victorian Births, Deaths & Marriages Indexes, Dept. of Justice.
Convict Registers, Muster Rolls & Marriage Registers for Joseph Lewis, Ann Wood and John Moore, Tasmanian Archives online.
The Courier (Hobart), 16 Feb 1844, p.4.
Colonial Times (Hobart), 1 Apr 1845, p.2, 6 May 1845, p.2, 12 Sept 1845.
D. Lewis, 'Re-Look Up Plase George W.M. Lewis', 1 March 2004, www.genealogy.com
Geelong Advertiser, 7 Apr 1848, 18 Apr 1848, 4 Feb 1852, 19 Oct 1867, 15 Dec 1875, 15 Aug 1876.
Certificate of Title, vol. 3210 fol. 835.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

House