Forster Family

Sir Robert and Lady Jamima Officer with a daughter and grandchildren at Hallgreen, New Norfolk, Tasmania.

MURRAY DOWNS

Was an 102,000 acre property across the Murray River from Swan Hill. Owned jointly by Suetonius Henry and his brother Charles Myles Officer, sons of Sir Robert Officer. Suetonius and his wife, Mary Lillias Rigg Cairns, resided at the station. Murray Downs remains a working station today.

Paddle Steamer, The Adelaide was built c1865 for Suetonius Henry Officer to service Murray Downs. It is the oldest operative steamer in Australia today.

MOUNT TALBOT

Near Horsham, Victoria was originally purchased as a run of 64,000 acres by Sir Robert Officer. His son, Charles Myles Officer eventually retained 16,756 acres when the run was opened for Selection in the 1860s. The Officer family still owns and resides at Mount Talbot.

OTTAWA

The 11 acre, 24 room brick home was located on Irving and Albany Roads, Toorak. Charles Myles Officer, with his family, lived there from 1883 to 1891. The home was originally built for Alexander Robertson in 1875 and the architect was John Augustus Koch who also designed Labassa in Caulfield for Alexander Robertson.

MOUNT ALTO

In Orrong Road, Toorak, Victoria was built in the early 1860s by James Blackwood, husband of Eliza Hunter Blackwood née Officer who was the second born child of Sir Robert and Lady Jamima Officer. Eliza died on 8th February, 1867 at Mont Alto and after the death of James on 2nd February, 1905 the house passed to their son, Arthur Ranken Blackwood, who eventually sold it.

Mont Alto - Rear view, a candle snuffer glass-house and portion of residence.

Mont Alto - Front view of the house, driveway and garden, c1909 when owned by the Kelly Family.

LEURA

The property in Toorak, Victoria on which Leura was built was purchased in 1865 by Robert Simson, husband of Catherine Simson née Officer who was the fourth born child of Sir Robert and Lady Jamima Officer. The mansion was completed in 1873 and Catherine died there on 24th November, 1893.

GLENBERVIE MANSION

The 22 acre, 19 room house looks north over the Yarra River in Toorak, originally called Leighwood, was purchased by Suetonius Henry Officer, son of Sir Robert Officer, in 1881 and he resided there until his death in 1883. The property was leased in 1885 while his wife, Mary resided at Malvern House but she returned to live there in 1890 until the property was sold c1900 when she moved to live in Hallgreen, Tasmania. Glenbervie is the location in Scotland where the Officer family originates. St. Kevins College acquired the property in 1931, renaming it Glenbervie House and it became part of the senior school until 1970 when it was demolished by them for housing development.

DUNEIRA

Originally located on 23 acres at Mt. Macedon, Victoria, was acquired from government subdivision by Suetonius Henry Officer in 1872. The home was built in 1875 as a summer residence while his family visited Melbourne to avoid the heat at Murray Downs, Swan Hill. The name apparently reflects the Scottish origins of the Officers. This home still stands with its beautiful gardens and trees, much of which were collected by Officer during his overseas trips. The home was sold by his widow, Mary Officer, in 1890.

All six children of Suetonius Henry and Mary Lillias Rigg Officer at Duneira, Mt. Macedon, c1864 - L to R Adam Cairns [born there on 2 January 1881], Charles Graham Weir, Edward Cairns, Henry Suetonius, Mary, Lillias and Jessie Violet Cairns [also born there on 26 December, 1877].

MONTPELLIER

Mary Lillias Rigg Officer née Cairns wife of Suetonius Henry Officer, after returning from Tasmania, purchased Montpellier c1917, on medical advice as the climate would be more suitable for her ailing daughter, Mary Lillias. The photograph below shows mother and daughter in the garden. Mary died there on 12 January 1926 and the home was sold shortly after.

MALVERN HOUSE

The 13 acre, 30 room property, situated on Glenferrie Road, Malvern just north of Stonnington Mansion was purchased by Suetonius Henry Officer 1881-1882. He demolished a newly built home and replaced it with a 30 room mansion to the design of Francis Maloney White. He died before it was completed but his wife, Mary Officer née Cairns resided there from 1885 to 1890 and called it Malvern House. The next owner, Joseph Barlett Davies renamed the property Glenbervie, Malvern. It was demolished in the 1970s.

Glenbervie, Malvern c1890 with Davis family in garden.

ZARA STATION

Near Deniliquin was purchased in 1860 by William Officer, son of Sir Robert Officer. The Station produced fine wool merino. It passed to his third son, Ernest and was sold when he and his wife, Doris moved to Tarrawonga, Toorak.

FRESCATI

IIs located in the grounds of the New Norfolk Mental Hospital, Tasmania and was the residence for the medical superintendent of the hospital. Dr. William Holdsworth Macfarlane, the husband of Margaret Officer (daughter of Robert Officer of Rocklands) held this position c1913.

KARDINIA

In East Malvern, was originally built 1890s for Martha Officer née Read, wife of Robert Officer of Rocklands. She subsequently sold the home in 1904 to her son Frank Suetonius Officer who, with his family, resided there until 1920.

ZINTARA

The 400 acre property at Trawool, originally part of Worrough, was purchased c1924 by Frank Suetonius Officer, son of Robert Officer of Rocklands, from his brother James Read Officer. Zintara was named by his son, Brigadier Hugh Officer, after a fortified block-house in Khyber Pass, India where Hugh served. The house was built by Frank Suetonius. The house and property still stand.

WANA

In Craigieburn, Victoria was purchased by Frank Seutonius Officer, c1935. The property was named by his son, Brigadier Hugh Officer, after an Indian army encampment where he was based during his military career. The house was built by Frank Suetonius and was sold after his death in 1948.

NARRAKREE

Near Wangaratta was owned by James Charles Read, who married Mary Jane Docker, and died there in 1905. The property passed to his son, James Docker Read.

TARRAWONGA

In Lansell Road, Toorak, Victoria was the home of Ernest and Doris Officer after they sold "Zara".