Gother Kerr Mann Explained

Captain Gother Kerr Mann (February 1808 – 1 January 1899), often referred to as Captain Mann, was a consulting engineer in New South Wales.

History

Mann was born in England, a son of General Cornelius Mann R.E., and secured a commission with the Bombay Horse Artillery, which saw considerable action. He left India for Australia in 1836, settling in Sydney, where he helped found the Volunteer Artillery Corps.He was a member of Archibald Boyd's exploration party, active in the Clarence area around 1838.[1] He married a daughter of Frederick Augustus Hely (died 1836),[2] from whom he inherited on Narara Creek and on Wyong Creek, which may be the properties named Cungelbung and Buccarumbi.[3] He operated a sawmill at Wyoming, New South Wales with James Hooke, another son-in-law of Hely, and built a cottage nearby.

He was appointed magistrate at Gosford in 1850.

In July 1855 he was appointed the first Railways Commissioner for New South Wales.[4]

He supervised the construction of Fitzroy Dry Dock at Cockatoo Island and designed the wharf layout at Circular Quay.[5] In 1859 he was appointed Superintendent of the Penal Establishment and Engineer-in-Chief of the dock establishment at Cockatoo Island.[6]

He retired from government service in 1870[4] and was appointed captain of the Volunteer Engineering Corps.[7]

Recognition

Mann Street, Gosford, was name for him,[4] as was the Mann River,[3] although the latter has been disputed.

The eastern tip of Greenwich, where their home "Greenwich House" was situated, is called Manns Point.

Personal

Mann married Mary Johanna Hely of Wyoming, New South Wales, on 3 January 1838[8] and had 12 children.

In 1853 he purchased "Greenwich House" at Greenwich Point,[9] Sydney, where he lived the rest of his life.[5]

Notes and References

  1. News: Early History . . 12 . 1718 . New South Wales, Australia . 16 March 1937 . 28 March 2024 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  2. News: Life Story of First Narara Settler . C. Swancott . . New South Wales, Australia . 30 January 1953 . 28 March 2024 . 6 . National Library of Australia. elsewhere named Francis Augustus Hely
  3. News: Clarence River Historical Society . . 29 . 9440 . New South Wales, Australia . 5 November 1938 . 28 March 2024 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: Captain Gother Kerr Mann . . XLVII . 1,202 . Queensland, Australia . 6 January 1899 . 27 March 2024 . 11 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: Origin of Mann St. . C. Swancott . . New South Wales, Australia . 31 July 1951 . 27 March 2024 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: Government Gazette . . 315 . New South Wales, Australia . 17 August 1859 . 28 March 2024 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: The Government Gazette . . LXII . 10,176 . New South Wales, Australia . 31 December 1870 . 28 March 2024 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  8. News: 1838.—Diamond Wedding.—1898. . . LXV . 1959 . New South Wales, Australia . 22 January 1898 . 28 March 2024 . 182 . National Library of Australia.
  9. News: An Old-Fashioned Home in an Old-World Garden . . XXII . 555 . New South Wales, Australia . 15 November 1922 . 28 March 2024 . 9 . National Library of Australia.