Swan family

Henry Fairfax Swan was born/baptised on 4 February 1819 at Burntisland, Fife, Scotland, the son of Robert Campbell Swan and Euphemia Dewar. On 12 January 1852 he married Isabella Euphemia Brisbane at Burntisland, Fife. 

The first of their seven children, Henry Brisbane Swan, was born 2 November 1852 in Pyrmont, NSW. The tradition of giving the wife's maiden name to children as a second or third given name was followed in the naming of a number of their children. Six children were born between 1856 and 1864: Euphemia Laurel Swan (birth registered 1856, Balmain); Eliza Jane Brisbane Swan (birth registered 1858, Balmain); Robert Campbell Swan (birth registered 1860, Balmain died 1864); James Brisbane Swan (c.1860 no birth registered but he was 45 when he died in 1905); Alexander Swan (birth registered 1863, Balmain; died); Robert Joshua Campbell Swan (birth registered 1864, Balmain).

As noted above, Robert Campbell Swan and Alexander Swan both died in 1864. Robert died on 8 May, aged four years and six days later 17 month old Alexander also died.

Less than a year later, their father Henry Swan died on 3 April 1865. Described as having endured 'a long and painful illness', he died at his residence Rock Ferry, Balmain. He was 46 years old and left his wife Isabella with five children under 13 years of age.

In 1888 the three surviving Swan brothers - Henry Brisbane, James Brisbane and Robert Joshua Campbell Swan - were timber merchants and saw-millers in Balmain with a branch office in Gladesville. Robert managed the Gladesville Branch and sometime after his marriage to Margaret Jane Turner in 1887, lived in Eltham Street, Gladesville. He was also an auctioneer and estate agent and, from 1895 to 1900, an alderman on Ryde Municipal Council.

The personal lives of the brothers and their sisters were flourishing during the 1880s and 1890s. Eliza married David Watt in 1884; as noted, Robert married Margaret Jane Turner in 1887; Euphemia married Samuel Bonsall in 1890 and Henry married Annie C Rayner in 1895. 

Land purchases

When portions of the Field of Mars Common were offered for sale in 1896 members of the Swan family bought four portions:

• Portion 384: purchased by Henry Brisbane Swan, James Brisbane Swan and Robert Campbell Swan, timber merchants, all of Balmain. This was 8 acres 3 rood 19 perches in area.
• Portions 385 and 386: purchased by Isabella Swan, widow and James Brisbane Swan and Robert Campbell Swan, timber merchants, all of Balmain. This was 17 acres 1 rood 35 perches in area.
• Portion 387: purchased by Henry Brisbane Swan, James Brisbane Swan and Robert Campbell Swan, timber merchants, all of Balmain. This was 10 acres 2 roods 25 perches in area.

Portions 385 and 386 were destined to become The Rest, later re-named the Fairyland Pleasure Grounds. 

James Brisbane Swan

James Swan died suddenly in Gordon Street, Rozelle on 4 December 1905. Hurrying for a tram, he was seen to stagger and fall. His mother and brother Henry arrived at the scene but were too late to see him alive. He was described as a prominent figure in the commercial and social life of the area and a member and liberal supporter of St Paul's Presbyterian Church. 

Isabella Swan

Three years later, on 12 May 1908, Isabella died. Described as having 'passed the age of 70', she had been a widow for 44 years. Newspapers commented that, up until her son's death in 1905, she had been in good health but 'that sad event and the administration of his estate, told upon her, and she had been in failing health for some time'.  

Henry Swan

The eldest son Henry died on 18 October 1926 at his residence Ewenton, Ewenton Street, Balmain East. He was a former alderman of the Municipality of Balmain and past president of the Gladstone Park Bowling Club. 

Euphemia Bonsall nee Swan

Euphemia died at her residence Albert Street, Beecroft on 27 February 1933, beloved wife of the late Samuel Bonsall.

Eliza Jane Watt

Eliza died in her 82nd at her residence 42 Eaton Street, Willoughby on 21 April 1940, widow of the late David Watt. Five children were named in her death notice.

Robert Joshua Campbell Swan

The last of the Swan children to pass away was Robert who died 22 January 1943 at Delhi Road, North Ryde, the address of Fairyland. His wife Margaret was named in his death notice as were four children. Ten years later when Margaret died, her residence was given as Fairyland.