The Oxenford Family
William Robert Oxenford was from Lincoln, England. At the age of 21 left England with his bride and arrived in Queensland in 1862. He first found employment hauling timber for the railway line construction between Brisbane and Ipswich. Upon its completion he moved to the Coomera River district and took up a selection of 225 acres with river frontage.
He first tried sugarcane growing but when frost affected the crop he tried rice and flax growing. Mr Oxenford was known in the area for pioneering experimental farming methods. In 1879 William Oxenford introduced the Dederick Hay press to the district, and then in 1885 was responsible for the first cream separator (Alfa Laval) in Queensland. He is also responsible for introducing the Ayrshire breed of cattle to Coomera from a prominent southern breeder.
He was named a Justice of the Peace and the local railway station “Oxenford” was named after him. For many years held the position of chairman of the divisional board and was an active member of agricultural and pastoral associations. He won medals in ploughing contests and represent Queensland in Melbourne. William Oxenford retired to Grafton.
William Oxenford and his wife Ann had 5 children (2 daughters and 3 sons). James Oxenford went to school at Coomera School and then helped his father on the farm until he was 22, when he engaged in timber getting for railway contracts. After timber getting he spent 7 years arrowroot farming with his brother in law R Doherty (of Ormeau).Later he returned to the family homestead on the Coomera River. He erected a cornflour mill then commenced dairying and mixed farming.
James Oxenford was a member of the Coomera Shire Council, the local agricultural society and was a member of the Nerang and Brisbane show committees. He was captain of the Coomera Rifle Club and a trustee of the Methodist church. James Oxenford married Mary Doherty (from Pimpama) and had 6 children (5 sons and 1 daughter).
He first tried sugarcane growing but when frost affected the crop he tried rice and flax growing. Mr Oxenford was known in the area for pioneering experimental farming methods. In 1879 William Oxenford introduced the Dederick Hay press to the district, and then in 1885 was responsible for the first cream separator (Alfa Laval) in Queensland. He is also responsible for introducing the Ayrshire breed of cattle to Coomera from a prominent southern breeder.
He was named a Justice of the Peace and the local railway station “Oxenford” was named after him. For many years held the position of chairman of the divisional board and was an active member of agricultural and pastoral associations. He won medals in ploughing contests and represent Queensland in Melbourne. William Oxenford retired to Grafton.
William Oxenford and his wife Ann had 5 children (2 daughters and 3 sons). James Oxenford went to school at Coomera School and then helped his father on the farm until he was 22, when he engaged in timber getting for railway contracts. After timber getting he spent 7 years arrowroot farming with his brother in law R Doherty (of Ormeau).Later he returned to the family homestead on the Coomera River. He erected a cornflour mill then commenced dairying and mixed farming.
James Oxenford was a member of the Coomera Shire Council, the local agricultural society and was a member of the Nerang and Brisbane show committees. He was captain of the Coomera Rifle Club and a trustee of the Methodist church. James Oxenford married Mary Doherty (from Pimpama) and had 6 children (5 sons and 1 daughter).