Northcott Family

William Northcott married Jessie Alma Perry in 1876. Between 1879 and 1893 they had 8 children, Alma, Stanley, Cecil (died aged 3 years), Linda, Annie, Carl, Doris and Clare.

William was astute in business and property purchases, and amassed a great deal of wealth. He opened a Saddlery Store in Molesworth Street, Lismore, in 1879 and was very entrepreneurial in extending his range of wares to include luggage ‘Portmantos’ and Gladstone bags, as well as becoming a booking agent for the local Borton’s Ballina Line of Coaches.

Meanwhile Jessie ran the Northcott household with a tight rein. She was a strict mother, but gave her children lessons in singing, piano, and horse riding. Both Annie (our Great Aunt Anne) and Stanley were very good woodworkers. A small carved cedar table (in the museum of the Richmond River Historical Society) made by Annie is a wonderful example of Victorian wood working.

Early days at Tulloona Lismore must have been very exciting. The magnificent house was handsomely appointed inside and there was a tennis court and extensive gardens outside.

As the children grew up, they each made their way in the world. (Unfortunately Alma died at 25 from tuberculosis.) Stanley became a dentist, Carl managed the Caniaba property and Linda, Annie Doris and Clare moved to Sydney when the family relocated in 1915.

Unfortunately, after the death first of William and then Jessie, there was a schism in the Northcott family and the Sydney sisters lost touch with the Lismore brothers.

Northcott Family

The Northcott Family at ‘Tulloona’, c. 1897. Back left to right: Alma, Willian, Jessie, Stanley. Front left to right: Carl, Annie, Doris, Clare, Linda.
William Northcott married Jessie Alma Perry in 1876. Between 1879 and 1893 they had 8 children, Alma, Stanley, Cecil (died aged 3 years), Linda, Annie, Carl, Doris and Clare. William was astute in business and property purchases, and amassed a great deal of wealth. He opened a Saddlery Store in Molesworth Street, Lismore, in 1879 and was very entrepreneurial in extending his range of wares to include luggage ‘Portmantos’ and Gladstone bags, as well as becoming a booking agent for the local Borton’s Ballina Line of Coaches. Meanwhile Jessie ran the Northcott household with a tight rein. She was a strict mother, but gave her children lessons in singing, piano, and horse riding. Both Annie (our Great Aunt Anne) and Stanley were very good woodworkers. A small carved cedar table (in the museum of the Richmond River Historical Society) made by Annie is a wonderful example of Victorian wood working. Early days at Tulloona Lismore must have been very exciting. The magnificent house was handsomely appointed inside and there was a tennis court and extensive gardens outside. As the children grew up, they each made their way in the world. (Unfortunately Alma died at 25 from tuberculosis.) Stanley became a dentist, Carl managed the Caniaba property and Linda, Annie Doris and Clare moved to Sydney when the family relocated in 1915. Unfortunately, after the death first of William and then Jessie, there was a schism in the Northcott family and the Sydney sisters lost touch with the Lismore brothers.

Advertisements for William Northcott’s saddlery business in the Richmond River Herald. Left: c. 1899. Right: c. 1901.