Mrs Sarah Robertson
Location #115 - The Bannockburn Hotel
Group Number 4

Group Members

The table below shows the people that make up the group.

No Last Name First Names Maiden Name Relationship Occupation Born Died School Year
1 Robertson John Wright Husband Hotelier (1885-1888) 5 Aug 1826 12 Nov 1888
2 Robertson Sarah Ross Wife 25 Dec 1894

Notes

The table below shows any historical notes about the party group.

Note Date Short Description Note Text
1807 1826 Birth of John Wright Robertson

Jonh Wright Robertson was born on 5 Aug 1826 at Stornoway in the Isle of Lewis, Scotland. His parents were John Hector Robertson, a rope spinner, and Rachael Rae McKenzie, a dressmaker. John Wright Robertson was baptised as John McKenzie Robertson.

1808 1870 Electoral records show John in Kawarau Gorge.

The electoral roll dated Aug 31 1870, John Robertson and his younger brother James appear to be living in the Kawarau Gorge. James Robertson (born 12 Aug 1836) appears to have been a sailor, married to Susan Lucy Farr. They were married in Sydney, Australia in 1866. It appears that John Wright Robertson was living with his younger brothers family. The brothers opened up a coal mine in the Kawarau Gorge.

1809 1873 Marriage of John Wright Robertson and Sarah Ross.

John Wright Robertson and Sarah Ross were married on 16 Jun 1873 at he school house in the Kawarau Gorge. The officiating minister was the Rev. Benjamin Drake.

1810 1885 John and Sarah take over the Bannockburn Hotel.

On 1 Nov 1885, John Robertson and his wife Sarah took over the Bannockburn Hotel.

1811 1886 Charter was withdrawn for the Royal Oak of Kawarau Lodge.

The Royal Oak of Kawarau Lodge, which had used the Bannockburn Hotel for it's meetings had it's charter withdrawn, maybe due to a reduction in membership.

1812 1888 Death of John Robertson.

John Wright Robertson died on 12 Nov 1888, at the age of 58 years. He was buried in the Cromwell cemetery. His wife Sarah took over as proprietress and Postmistress.

1813 1889 Sarahs son-in-law Robert Robertson came to live at the Bannockburn Hotel.

On or about 13 Dec 1889, Mrs Robertson's sister in law, Margaret Susan Lucy Farr drowned herself in the Kawarau River. She was the wife of James Robertson (John's brother). He had deserted his wife and five boys. John Robertson had been helping her to put her boys through school. It appears that about this time Robert Robertson, James and Margarets fifth son, went to live with his aunty Sarah at the Bannockburn Hotel.

1814 1894 Death of Mrs Sarah Robertson.

Mrs Sarah Robertson died on 25 Dec 1894, at the age of 44 years. She is buried in the Cromwell cemetery with her husband Mr John Wright Robertson. The ownership of the Bannockburn Hotel passed to Sarah Robertson's nephew John Hector Robertson (2)


Images

The table below shows a list of images related to the party group. Click on 'View Image' to display more details about the image, and to view the image.

Image Id Source Date Short Description
1027 Gordon Stewart - Bannockburn c1886 Mr John Wright (or McKenzie Robertson and Mrs Sarah Robertson. View Image
1095 Cromwell Argus via Paul Crump 1886 Bannockburn Hotel - J W Robertson View Image