The Carson Family
The Carsons were closely related to the Colley family, and both were influential early settlers in the Kiama-Jamberoo area. William Carson (1811-1886), a tenant farmer in Northern Ireland, married Jane Colley. Although William and Jane remained in Northern Ireland, all of Jane Colley’s six siblings immigrated to the Kiama-Jamberoo area (including her two brothers, John and James Colley), and in time they influenced three of Jane and William’s children - John, William (junior) and Ann Carson - to emigrate to Kiama as well. Jane’s brother, James Colley, was a magistrate in Kiama and the first Mayor of Kiama. He was also Master of the Kiama Masonic Lodge.
William and Jane’s son, John Carson (1833-1913), arrived in Australia in 1861, and he ended up in Kiama investigating basalt rock for the NSW Government. As the basalt rock was of very high quality, John started quarrying on Pikes Hill, where the netball courts are now. He started out with three men and quickly expanded to 300. John donated the material to build the Scots Church in Kiama. John eventually sold his quarry in 1884 and later moved to Erskineville, Sydney.
Ann Carson (1836-1920), sister of John and William, married Samuel Reid in Ireland. They then emigrated to Kiama, where Samuel took up dairy farming, but later sold the farm and started a general store, the Victoria Stores, in Terralong St.
William Carson (1843-1941) emigrated to Kiama in 1871 with his new wife, Jane. Initially, William was contracted to Kiama Council to build roads using gravel from his brother’s quarry. He then opened his own quarry in Brown St in 1876, which he operated for four years before selling it. William Carson retired from quarrying 1908. William and Jane Carson eventually lived in the old house opposite Black Beach next door to the Sebel, which was demolished a few years ago for units.
The sons of William Carson opened the quarry in Barney St in 1918, the Carson Bros Quarry, where Burnetts On Barney Garden Centre now is. This quarry, like so many of the others around Kiama, closed during the Depression, in 1929. The quarry did open a couple of times for short periods in later years to help with employment in the area after the Depression.
Burnetts On Barney has some beautiful, enlarged photos of the early Carson Bros Quarry on display on some of their walls.
The three Carson brothers, sons of William Carson.
L to R: Dave Carson, Hugh Carson, John (Jack) Carson.
Drilling at Carson Bros Quarry, Barney St.
The quarry face and loading the drays.
William Carson's house in Shoalhaven St, Kiama. The house has since been demolished and replaced with units.
