EDWARD DAWSON CARY (about 1869—1918)

Pig Farmer and Master Butcher

Edward Dawson Cary, a pioneer farmer and butcher of Sutherland, fell on hard times just as Federation celebrated its fifth birthday. He had to sell his 27 acre pig farm situated opposite the Sutherland Railway Station and bounded by President Avenue and what is now known as the Old Princes Highway.

The Illawarra railway line to Sutherland had been completed in 1885 – the first steam train from Sydney arrived at Sutherland Station on 26 December. Edward, a Master Butcher, having had shops in inner city Waterloo and Rockdale, came to the shire in the early 1900s, for land was relatively cheap, and if one worked hard, success was almost assured.

Edward had married Amy Blanch Jones in 1893, the marriage being registered at Marrickville. They went on to have a large family of twelve children between 1894 and 1915. Like most pioneers Edward worked hard establishing his farm, also a shop on the main street, almost opposite the station. Edward’s shop was situated approximately where the Sara Lee shop stood100 years later.

In the early 1900s pork was a popular addition to beef and lamb at the dinner table, so the pig farm was initially prosperous. Oddly enough, it was one of Edward’s own pigs that caused his health to deteriorate. Whilst lifting an overweight carcass, he strained his heart, making it impossible to carry on his business. With a very large family to feed, the farm was no longer an option to support his family. They moved to Como. Three sons would later become Master Butchers and carry on the family tradition. Dawson, the eldest at Como and Hal and Joe opened shops in Jannali.

The significance of this Shire Pioneer Edward Cary, was that his shop was purchased by the new and recently formed Sutherland Council. A central location was needed to establish the first Council Chambers. It has been said that the Council’s early historical records were in such excellent condition due to the fact that they had been stored in the constant temperature of what had been the cool room of Edward Cary’s shop.

Sadly Edward died of a heart attack on 25 March 1918 and is buried in the Woronora Anglican Monumental Section H – 0036 1918 leaving his eldest son, Henry Dawson Cary, then 21, to carry on the tradition of Master Butchering in the Shire. Wife Amy survived her husband for many years as she died on 25 October 1956 and was also buried at Woronora Anglican Monumental Section Ccc-0053.

JOAN MORISON OAM

First published in  Sutherland Shire, Some Early Residents, 2006, by Botany Bay Family History Society. Compiled by Maree McKinley and Sue Hewitt.     

Click on the name EDWARD DAWSON CAREY (about 1869—1918) in the heading of this story. You will be taken to the database entry for Edward Dawson Carey and his family.