The Foxwell Family
George Henry Foxwell arrived in Australia in 1862 from Gloucestshire, England. He was a pioneer of the Coomera River district in 1862 on a selection of land that formed an island off the main river. In 1882 his brother William Guise Foxwell (born in 1840) also moved to Australia and took up a 160 acre by the Coomera River.
William Foxwell (junior born 27 March 1872) assisted his father on the farm throughout his youth and when he came of age the majority of the property was transferred to him. William Foxwell senior died 5 April 1893.
Sugarcane was the main crop grown in the early years supplying sugarcane to the 4 local mills in the Coomera area. When the industry declined the Foxwell’s changed to farming of maize, potatoes and lucerne hay. The main source of income however was derived from the dairy herd which was one of the largest in the district. Milking around 70 cows per day the milk was sent off to the Kingston Butter factory of which William was one of the original shareholders.
William Foxwell was a loyal member of the community and regularly exhibited samples of his crop at the Beenleigh Pastoral and Agricultural Society shows. He was made a justice of the peace in 1909 and was also chairman of the Coomera School Committee and trustee of the school. He was church warden at the local Church of England. He also assisted in any way he could with local sports events even financially always working for the advancement of the district. William served on the first committee for the Southport Ambulance Service.
William Foxwell (Junior) was married Annie Elizabeth Howard - (daughter of pioneer sugar planter and mill owner JWC Howard) They had 6 children (4 daughters and 2 sons).
William Foxwell (junior born 27 March 1872) assisted his father on the farm throughout his youth and when he came of age the majority of the property was transferred to him. William Foxwell senior died 5 April 1893.
Sugarcane was the main crop grown in the early years supplying sugarcane to the 4 local mills in the Coomera area. When the industry declined the Foxwell’s changed to farming of maize, potatoes and lucerne hay. The main source of income however was derived from the dairy herd which was one of the largest in the district. Milking around 70 cows per day the milk was sent off to the Kingston Butter factory of which William was one of the original shareholders.
William Foxwell was a loyal member of the community and regularly exhibited samples of his crop at the Beenleigh Pastoral and Agricultural Society shows. He was made a justice of the peace in 1909 and was also chairman of the Coomera School Committee and trustee of the school. He was church warden at the local Church of England. He also assisted in any way he could with local sports events even financially always working for the advancement of the district. William served on the first committee for the Southport Ambulance Service.
William Foxwell (Junior) was married Annie Elizabeth Howard - (daughter of pioneer sugar planter and mill owner JWC Howard) They had 6 children (4 daughters and 2 sons).