A Timeline – An Overview of The Hicks in their Illawarra Community

A Work in Progress

The Hicks Family involved in their Communities for over 150 years since 1860’s

This timeline traces some of the 200 year history of our Australian  family – it focuses mainly on our Illawarra roots – with the normal realities of births, personal relationships, sometimes but not always marrying & having children – or having lots of them, of illness & death – and yet still finding time and energy to serve our communities.

• 1802 – From humble beginnings – Conviction & sentencing of Margaret Howe – Surrey Assize
• 1803-04 – Transport of Margaret Howe, Convict, to Port Jackson, Sydney on Coromandel & Experiment
• 1810 – Birth of James Hicks, variously known as James, Richard and John Hicks
  • the son of James or Richard Hicks (perhaps a convict also ?) & Margaret Howe – they  did not marry
• 1819 – Marriage of James’ mother Margaret Howe to Thomas White & Birth of Margaret Brain/Brayne/Daley future wife of James Hicks
• 1830 – James Hicks applies for land at Russell Vale
• 1834 – November 10 – Marriage of James Hicks and Margaret Brain/Brayne/Daly
• 1836 – Birth of Henry Thomas Hicks – first son of James Hicks & wife Margaret nee Brain/Brayne/Daly
• 1837 – Death of James Hicks’ mother, Margaret White & North Bulli (Austinmer) is first settled
• 1838 – Birth of William Hicks
• 1839 – Birth of Mary Ann McKenzie, future wife of Henry Thomas Hicks
• 1840 – Birth of Richard Hicks
• 1842 – James & Margaret Hicks settle in Russell Vale
• 1842 – Birth of Anne Hicks
• 1846 – Birth of George Hicks at Para Meadow
• 1848 – Birth of Deborah Hicks & Birth of Emma Payne, future wife of Richard Hicks
• 1850 – Birth of James Hicks Jnr
• 1852 – Birth of Alice Hicks
• 1855 – Birth of Mary Jane Hicks
• 1857 – Birth of the twins – Charles Hicks & Thomas Hicks
• 1858 – James Hicks acquires, & moves to, Westmacott’s  Sidmouth Estate at North Bulli (Austinmer)
• 1859 – Birth of Hamilton Hicks
• 1861 – Marriage of Henry Thomas Hicks & Mary Ann McKenzie
• 1862 – Birth of Minnie Margaret Hicks & Birth/Death of Henry Thomas Hicks twins – Ann & Catherine
• 1863 – Birth of James Alexander Hicks to Henry Thomas & Mary Ann Hicks
• 1865 – Birth of Margaret Minnie Hicks to Henry Thomas & Mary Ann Hicks
• 1866 – Birth of Alexander Henry Hicks to Henry Thomas & Mary Ann Hicks
• 1867 – James Hicks elected as Patron to a Board to establish a School under the National Education Board at North Bulli (Austinmer)
• 1867 – Marriage of Richard Hicks to Emma Payne
• 1868 – Henry Thomas Hicks appointed to Board of North Bulli (Austinmer) School
• 1868 – Birth of Henry William Hicks to Henry Thomas & Mary Ann Hicks & Birth of twins Frances & Annie Hicks to Richard & Emma Hicks
• 1869 – Birth/Death of Unnamed Male Hicks to Henry Thomas & Mary Ann Hicks
• 1870 – Birth of John Campbell Hicks to Richard & Emma Hicks
• 1871 – Birth of Mary Alice Hicks to Henry Thomas & Mary Ann Hicks – Birth of Ada M Hicks to Richard & Emma Hicks
• 1873 – Birth of George Hicks & Death of Henry William Hicks – sons of Henry Thomas & Mary Ann Hicks – Birth of Benjamin Hicks to Richard & Emma Hicks
• 1873 – Henry Thomas  Hicks – one of the petitioners & committee members in the Illawarra Mercury for a proposed Illawarra Railway ?
• 1874 – Protracted battle in NSW Supreme Court with James Kennedy over boundary dispute – February – more, extra, extra, March – more, December – more
• 1875 – Birth of Christina Hicks to Henry Thomas & Mary Ann Hicks – birth of Jane Hicks to to Richard & Emma Hicks
• 1877 – Birth of Henry Thomas Hicks Jnr to Henry Thomas & Mary Ann Hicks – Birth of Margaret Hicks to Richard & Emma Hicks
• 1879 – Birth of Alice Emma Hicks to Richard & Emma Hicks
• 1879 – Petition for Bulli Shire Council to be created cites James Hicks’ property as northern boundary – were James, Henry Thomas and Richard Hicks amongst the 70 petitioners for the creation of the council ?
• 1880 – Boundary dispute between James Hicks and James Kennedy mentioned in NSW Parliament May 1880 – NSW Legislative Assembly – more
• 1880 – Birth of Edith Florence Hicks to Henry Thomas & Mary Ann Hicks
• 1881 – Messrs Hicks sell some of their North Bulli land to Sir George Wigram Allen – possibly for coal mining
• 1881 – Birth of Henry Hicks to Richard & Emma Hicks
• 1883 – Birth of Ida McKenzie Hicks to Henry Thomas & Mary Ann Hicks
• 1884 – Birth of Arthur Hicks in Lismore to Richard & Emma Hicks
• 1887 – Captain Henry Thomas Hicks JP elected as Alderman to North Illawarra Council – Jetty built at Hicks Point Austinmer & Railway opened & Birth of Richard Ernest Hicks to Henry Thomas & Mary Ann Hicks – Birth of Mary J Hicks in Lismore to to Richard & Emma Hicks at Lismore
• 1887 – Captain Henry Thomas Hicks JP appointed to Executive of Bulli Mine Disaster Relief Fund Committee
• 1888 – Captain Henry Thomas Hicks JP re-elected as Alderman to North Illawarra Council
• 1889 – Alderman Captain Henry Thomas Hicks JP – appointed at Public Meeting to Committee to lobby for creation of Bulli Shire Council – more
• 1889 – Alderman Captain Henry Thomas Hicks JP presides over the opening of Thirroul Public School
• 1889 – Captain Henry Thomas Hicks JP presiding over court case – breach of Mine Rules set up following Bulli Mine Disaster of 1887
• 1889 – Farewell banquet function for Police Senior Constable Henry – Henry Thomas Hicks in Vice Chair at the function
• 1890 – Branch of Free Trade Association established in Bulli – Alderman Captain Henry Thomas Hicks JP elected to its Committee
• 1890 – Henry Thomas Hicks appointed as Honorary Captain of Reserve Rifles at Woonona or Bulli 
• 1890 – Captain Henry Thomas Hicks appointed to Committee to establish South Coast Rifle Association
• 1890 –  First coal is sent from Austinmer
• 1891 – Captain Henry Thomas Hicks JP appointed as Trustee for Bulli Park
• 1892 – Captain Henry Thomas Hicks JP presiding over court case
• 1892 – Captain Henry Thomas Hicks elected sidesman at St Augustine’s Bulli
• 1893 – Captain Henry Thomas Hicks JP presiding over court case
• 1893 – Captain Henry Thomas Hicks JP elected as Warden of St Augustine’s Anglican Church Bulli
• 1893 – Meeting Chaired by Captain Henry Thomas Hicks JP of disbanded Bulli and Woonona Rifle Corps held in the Oddfellows Hall vote to form Bulli and Woonona Civilian Rifle Club
• 1895 – Bulli and Woonona Civilian Rifle Club – Captain Henry Thomas Hicks JP re-elected as President
• 1895 – Bulli Civilian Rifle Club held its annual dinner with Captain Henry Thomas Hicks JP in the Chair
• 1895 – Death of James Hicks
• 1895 – Mention of property of Henry Thomas Hicks being sold in Banco Court- difficulty in getting lawyer Francis Woodward to forward the full sale proceeds
• 1895 – Captain Henry Thomas Hicks elected as Sidesman at St Augustine’s Bulli
• 1897 – Captain Henry Thomas Hicks elected as Sidesman at St Augustine’s Bulli
• 1897 – Bulli Civilian Rifle Club held its annual dinner with Captain Henry Thomas Hicks JP in the Chair
• 1897 – Local expert -Thirroul’s oldest resident, Mr Henry Hicks – quoted in Newspapers on the 1897 drought & memories of past droughts – 1851-52 drought, with a large bushfire swept from end to end across the district killing Mrs Kendall, the poet Henry Kendall’s mother who kept a school at Bulli; as well as other droughts in 1862, 1875-76, 1885-86 – bushfire of 1868 not mentioned though
• 1898 – Alexander Henry Hicks, son of Captain Henry Thomas Hicks JP, elected as Alderman to North Illawarra Council
• 1898 – Large Public Meeting about the Constitution held in Bulli – presided over by Captain Henry Thomas Hicks JP
• 1898 – Presentation to Mr Fry at Darcy’s Hotel – Captain Henry Thomas Hicks presiding
• 1898 – Banquet Dinner at Dicksons Hotel (Bulli ?) for R Croft defeated candidate for Woronora – Captain Henry Thomas Hicks JP in the Chair and attended by Andrew Lysaght, former member for Illawarra and a number of Influential Townsmen
• 1900 – Henry Thomas Hicks lobbying for postal, telegraph, telephone & money order service at Thirroul
• 1902 – Retiring Alderman ahead of 1902 North Illawarra Council elections include Alderman Alexander Hicks  – presumably he re-contested & was re-elected?
• 1905 – Alexander Henry Hicks, son of Captain Henry Thomas Hicks JP, Mayor of North Illawarra Council & President of the Illawarra Miners Association, speaking at Mount Kembla Disaster Memorial Service
• 1905 – Death of Margaret Hicks, widow of James Hicks
• 1909 – Death of Henry Thomas Hicks – probate
• 1912 – Henry Thomas Hicks Jnr elected to Committee of Thirroul Homing Pigeon Society
• 1923 – Alick Cook, son-in-law of Henry Thomas Hicks elected as Councillor to Tintenbar Shire Council – continued till his death in 1933 – Alick’s father William Manning Cook had also been a past Alderman on Central Illawarra Council
• 1926 – John Campbell Hicks, son of Richard Hicks, a Councillor on Gundarimba Shire Council
• 1930 – Death of Mary Ann Hicks, widow of Henry Thomas Hicks
• 1941 – Death of John Campbell Hicks, son of Richard & Emma Hicks – a former Councillor on Gundarimba Shire Council (note Gundarimba & Terania Councils merged with Lismore Council in 1977)
• 1949 – Arthur Frederick Webb, son-in-law of Henry Thomas Hicks elected as President of NSW Master Builders Association
• 1957 – Death of Alexander Henry Hicks, son of Henry Thomas Hicks & former Mayor of North Illawarra Council / President of the Illawarra Colliery Employees Association
• 1960’s – 1970’s – Joan Lois Adams, great granddaughter of Henry Thomas Hicks, takes on office bearer roles in various community organisations  – School & Sport
• 1960’s – Margaret Edith, another great granddaughter of Henry Thomas Hicks, becomes active & at times an officebearer in the Bulli Kennel Club – family members continue as officer bearers at various times in this organization until 2013
• 1970’s – David Christian and wife Kerrie Anne Christian, great great granddaughter of Henry Thomas Hicks, help to establish network of Drug & Alcohol Refuge houses in Wollongong area – these will later evolve to become Kedesh House, under others’ ministering
• 1980’s – Joan Lois Adams takes on office bearer role in Northern Illawarra Stroke Support Group, continuing until her ill health in 2005 – she was eventually awarded Life Membership
• 1983 – Kerrie Anne Christian becomes politically active – lobbying for road safety on Princes Highway just south of Bulli Pass
• 1984 – Kerrie Anne Christian becomes Committee Member of NSW Association of Professional Scientists of Australia
• 1984 – Kerrie Anne Christian becomes Committee Member of Sandon Point Action Group NIRAG & becomes delegate of NSW Association of Professional Scientists of Australia to the South Coast Labour Council
• 1987 – Kerrie Anne Christian elected as NSW President of Association of Professional Scientists of Australia – continues in role until 1992
• 1989 – Kerrie Anne Christian narrowly defeated by several hundred votes in ballot of over 100,000 voters in City Wide By-Election for Alderman of Wollongong City Council
• 1989 – Kerrie Anne Christian elected as Disputes Committee & Executive Committee Member of South Coast Labour Council
• 1990’s – Joan Lois Adams becomes Office Bearer in City of Greater Wollongong War Widows,  and Woonona Bulli RSL Laurel Club (support group for Northern Illawarra War Widows) – continues until ill health in 2005 – also active in Red Cross
• 1990’s – a great great grandson of Henry Thomas Hicks becomes Office Bearer in Bulli Surf Club – continuing to 2013 – often President during this period
• 1991 – Kerrie Anne Christian elected as Alderman to Wollongong City Council & accepts invitation to become Patron of the Bulli Show Society
• 1991 – Kerrie Anne Christian elected as Director Illawarra Electricity (formerly Illawarra County Council) & Director Illawarra Regional Information Service
• 1995 – Kerrie Anne Christian re- elected as Councillor to Wollongong City Council & elected as Council Representative to Russell Vale Golf Committee, near the original Hicks land grant in Russell Vale
• 1999 – Kerrie Anne Christian re- elected as Councillor to Wollongong City Council
• 2000 – Kerrie Anne Christian – a NSw Government Ministerial appointee as Deputy Chair of Southern Catchment Board & NSW Government Ministerial appointee as Member Sydney Southern National Parks Advisory Committee
• 2004 – Kerrie Anne Christian retires from being Councillor to Wollongong City Council
• 2005 – Joan Lois Adams – after over 20 years of service, ill health finally forces her to relinquish office bearer roles in Stroke Support Group, also War Widows,  – however she continues to participate until just before her death in 2012
• 2008 – Katrina Elise Christian, great great great granddaughter of Henry Thomas Hicks, then 13 years old, part of the Australian Contingent to International Girl Guiding Centenary Jamboree in New Zealand
• 2010 – Kerrie Anne Christian appointed as Australian Expert Member to a Working Group of an ISO Committee – International Organisation for Standards
• 2011 – Kerrie Anne Christian appointed as the Australian Global Influential Voices for Quality member by USA based ASQ
• 2012 – Kerrie Anne Christian- a Federal Government Ministerial appointee to ARPANSA’s National Nuclear Safety Committee & becomes Social Media Co-Convenor of Committee for the Bulli Hospital Emergency Department community campaign
• 2012 – Katrina Elise Christian presented with Queens Guide Award by Her Excellency Governor Professor Dr Marie Bashir – the only Girl Guide resident in Thirroul to receive the award that year,  in fact the only 2012 Illawarra-Southern Highlands Award recipient – only 15 awarded in NSW in 2012
• 2012 – Katrina Elise Christian becomes Junior Girl Guide Leader at Fernhill near to the Fairy Meadow – Ellengowan – Para Meadow area, where her great great great grandfather Alexander McKenzie Jnr settled with his family, on arriving from the Isle of Skye in 1837