The streets of Peckham, London, where Joseph Streeter was born and spent his 
younger years was a far cry from Natte Yallock, Victoria, a few miles from Redbank, where the Streeter line was to merge with the Burge family in years to come. 

Joseph's parents lived in St Giles, Camberwell, Surrey - in London, and had their children baptised at Lambeth and Camberwell. Joseph was born on the 7th February 1828 at Peckham, London, then Christened on the same day as his brothers Edward and John on 28 April 1838 at St Giles Church Camberwell.  It's likely that Joseph's life was spent in this area until he met Louisa Hampton. 

The boys parents are open to interpretation! Earlier research had them as William and Mary, with William being the son of James Streeter from Horsham, Sussex. However, the 1841 census has the three boys living with their widowed mother MERCY Streeter in Waterloo St, Camberwell, and in 1851, Mercy and younger son Edward are at the same address  living with grandfather James - from Horsham, Sussex. A Mercy Marwick married a James Streeter on 23 October 1825 at All Saints, Lewes, Sussex. I'm coming around to this couple being Joseph's parents. There are no deaths recorded in the right years for a William OR a James though... so more research to be done here... 

However, Joseph's grandfather James was a bricklayer, born to parents William and Ann (nee Aylward) baptised 27 March 1772 in Horsham, Sussex. They'll have a page of their own on here eventually when I learn more!

Louisa was born in Brown Candover, Hampshire, NOT in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire as has been widely recorded previously. (I've followed that Louisa right through her marriage and children with someone else!) 

MY Louisa led me a merry chase :-)  She was the daughter of George & Jane Hampton and was baptised 22 March 1834. Brown Candover is a small village near Southampton. More to come on this family later, if you connect with them, I have more information and would like to hear from you!

Joseph and Louisa married on 17 May 1853 at St. Johns church, Waterloo, then immigrated to Australia in November 1853 on board the ship Pekin. Louisa was pregnant on board with my great grandfather James, who was born in February 1854 in Brunswick, Melbourne. The initial culture shock for the two young city dwellers was not that great as Brunswick is only a few miles from the Melbourne city CBD. 

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Soon after however, the pair were in Sandhurst, the original name for the gold mining boom town of Bendigo. Their second child, Joseph, was born there in September 1855. This was the height of the gold rush, and Sandhurst was one of the prime areas for young men from all over the world to try their hand at making a fortune. Most, unfortunately didn't manage to make more than enough to scrape a living, or used the proceeds of any find they had to drink the extremely expensive local liquor! This may well have decided a future direction for the young couple. The young family then moved 50 miles further north to Echuca, on the Victoria - New South Wales border, where Henry was born in 1859. There appears to be some type of link with the family to this small river town, as other family members spent time there over the years. I'll follow up on various family names and see if I can track this connection down soon! Their time there was also short though, within two years they were in Natte Yallock and St. Arnaud, in the Western District of Victoria. Their youngest child George was born in St Arnaud in 1863.  St. Arnaud, like Sandhurst, was a thriving gold boom town. 
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In 1859, a land sale was advertised on the run of Hugh Glass's property 'Nattleyaloak' - which opened up the area. Family history has Louisa owning land on the Avoca River, on both sides of the Natte Yallock to Redbank road. It's likely that she first purchased the land the hotel was on, then the road moved through it in 1864 as outlined above. By 1876, the hotel had passed into the hands of a James MacNeill, but the land was still in family hands - eventually being passed down to my great grandfather James and another of her sons. 

Louisa was a figure of much speculation by my family - and remains that way... (The background image is Louisa's late 1860's portrait, full image in Streeter 'Family Album' page). She was believed to be part-Gypsy (which has been hotly denied by some family members, and just as hotly insisted is true by others), and was also believed to be Spanish. I've found no actual evidence of either, but am open to it :-) She was known as a very shrewd businesswoman, which was most unusual for her era. As may be seen above, she is the one who was known as the owner of the hotel and land - not Joseph. Joseph, however, was likely the means of the family having the initial funds to make such purchases by finding gold, and he is known to have continued prospecting for gold throughout the area  for many years after their arrival. He is also mentioned in Pioneers of the Pyrenees as 'lightening the hearts of the local fishermen' by catching a young half pound Murray Cod, and returning it to the river, so he was certainly not in need of a meal! Cod had been released to the Avoca River a few years before, and the locals were rather happy to find they were still there. The family is also mentioned in this book as later helping to build the Redbank Church, although it's likely this was the family of one of the sons rather than Joseph. There is also family history of Joseph operating and living at a store in Stuart Mill, which is almost half-way to St Arnaud, by 1875 - although it's possible this has been confused with Natte Yallock in the family oral history. 
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Although they kept the land at Natte Yallock, Joseph and Louisa were to retire back to the city, and both died after having come full circle in Australia back to Brunswick. Their son Henry's wife Lily died in Brunswick in 1888, so it's likely the move had taken place by then.

Louisa passed away first on the 13 December 1896 at the age of 70, the address was given as 47 Gold St, Brunswick. Rather a fitting place to end her days! 

Joseph was to follow her on the 26 June 1912 age 84. His occupation at the time was given as 'plasterer', and the address as Cliff St, Brunswick. He was buried at Coburg Cemetery on the 28 June 1912 in the Church of England section, Compartment B Grave 1073. Almost exactly ten years later his great grandson Joseph was buried with him on the 30 June 1922, aged only two.

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 Next: Wild (and not so wild) Colonial Boys - 
Sons of Joseph and Louisa Streeter

Back to Burge- McLean Family History Index

Family Album - Streeter

Guestbook

Soon to be added: histories of the Streeter and Hampton families in England

If you have any comments, or information on the family to offer please feel free to email me.

* Yvonne S Palmer Track of the Years, The Story of St Arnaud, 3rd Edition 1980, St Arnaud Mercury Print
*Margery and Betty Beavis Pioneers of the Pyrenees, limited edition 1984, The Hamilton Spectator