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My Great-Grandfathers Fig Tree

Index

Welcome to the history of the descendants of my Great Grandparents, William and Harriet (Hetty) Crawford. In the following pages are pictures and stories about the lives and times of the Crawford's in Australia. We originate from Bromsgrove, England.

Fig tree

This fig tree was planted by my Great grandfather, William Crawford, in the early 1900's to give shade to the many walkers who passed by. It is at Mount Tamborine, Queensland, Australia

Plaque unveiling at Eagle Heights July 2001

The plaque reads: This site marks the original home of William Henry Crawford who planted the giant fig tree at the nearby roundabout. The roundabout was completed in 2001 by the Beaudesert Shire Council of behalf of the Queensland Government's Main Roads Department. William Crawford was born in Bromsgrove near Birmingham in 1862 and as a young man came to Australia with his parents. He involved himself by helping new arrivals from the "old country" and in doing so met his future wife Harriet Locker. They affectionately became known as Will and Hetty. They married in 1883 and had eight children. Living in Brisbane, Will was a carpenter with the Queensland Railways. Later they moved to Tamworth NSW. In 1926, while their only son Clarence fought in World War One they returned to Brisbane and lived at Ashgrove in the street, which now bears their name. By 1925 all their surviving children had married and were to produce 15 grandchildren. Will was in ill health. His doctors had given him six months to live. While on holiday at Tamborine Mountain, Will and Hetty decided to spend the rest of their time here together. They chose this corner block over looking Eagle Heights and engaged a colleague to build their home "Ashgrove" in about 1926. As Will's health improved he began clearing the land and planting trees. Among them was a special tree he carefully nurtured on the other side of the road expressly to provide shade and rest for the many walkers who passed by. As the tree grew he built a wooden seat around it. This was replaced many years later by a stone wall. In 1933 Will and Hetty celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary at Ashgrove with their large family. In the late 1940's the couple’s health was failing and they moved to Brisbane. During the following decade they both passed away. But the fig tree remained as a landmark on Crawford's Corner. In the late 90's Council hired tree surgeons to help improve the trees condition and at the turn of the new century built a roundabout to improve traffic safety. This plaque was officially unveiled by members of the Crawford family, on behalf of Beaudesert Shire Council on Saturday, July 7, 2001

Plaque unveiling at Eagle Heights July 2001

Descendants of Clarrie Crawford the eldest son of William Crawford. They are from left back - Pam Crawford (wife of Greg), John Crawford (Clarries second son), Gay Hunter (Clarries eldest daughter), Greg Crawford (eldest son of Brian (deceased)), Mark Crawford (second son of Brian), Anita (Mark's wife), Cathy (Brian's eldest daughter), Lindsay (Cathy's husband), from front - Merle Crawford (Brian's wife), Grace Crawford (Greg's youngest daughter), Abbey Crawford (Greg's eldest daughter), Jan (Brian's second daughter), Daniel (Cathy's son). Missing from this picture is Brian Crawford (my father and Clarries eldest son) who passed away on the 26th May 2001, but was there with us in spirit. Also Cathy's other children Emily and Jenny and Peg Kirby Clarries second daughter.