On Australia Day this year – 26th January – the usual debate of who “owns” Australia broke out yet again. During one news channel interview, the interviewer ask the interviewee a very thought-provoking question. Without going into too much background as it is not a topic I wish to debate, although it adds context to my story, was this – If indigenous Australians were declared the “owners” of Australia, and all other nationalities of people were required to leave the country and go “home”, where in the world would the descendents of the early settlers, for example, move to, when Australia is the only home they have known for several generations?
This question opened up an interesting conversation between husband and myself. While I am a first generation Australian, my husband’s family, on all sides of his family tree, have lived in Australia for well over 100 years. The first of his ancestors arrived in 1833, while another early arrival was in 1853, that of Richard Hatton and his son, William. In every line of husband’s family tree, he is at least a fourth-generation Australian. After so many generations, the roots of his family tree are well anchored in this land.
William Hatton, husband’s two-times great-grandfather, was an early settler in the Tweed Valley region. William arrived in Australia in 1857 with his father, Richard. With Hattons Bluff being a well known landmark in the area, I have often asked husband in more recent years if his family might have a connection to Hattons Bluff. Husband didn’t know, and not being overly fond of family history, seemed disinclined to find out.
After the Australia Day debate, I became super-curious. Who was Hattons Bluff named after? Even if husband isn’t overly interested, I am the mother of four people who can confidentally claim to have roots in Australia which can be traced back seven generations. Besides, if there’s a story to be found, I want to know about it. 😉
As I searched for information about Hattons Bluff which could potentially tie into my husband’s Hatton family, I found several old photos of the area. I am sharing three of these photos today, however, I cannot add a credit for any photographers as no names were listed. Undoubtedly, these photos have been passed along through the generation and the owner, or owners, have kindly shared the images online. For this, I thank them.
These photos, and the information I discovered online have confirmed that Hattons Bluff was named after my husband’s two-times great-grandfather, William Hatton. Husband’s grandmother shared many memories about her mother, a daughter of William named Emma Hatton, in the early years of our relationship, and I have racked my brain to try and recall if she ever told us about her family’s connection to this local landmark. I don’t think she did, but perhaps she did tell us and we were too young to appreciate the magnitude of the knowledge. Or perhaps it wasn’t an important enough story to share. Perhaps she took for granted her place in this country, in this state, in the Tweed Valley region, just as my husband does.
For me, it is a surreal concept to imagine, knowing that you are walking in the footsteps of a previous generation – indeed several generations – of people who if it were not for them, you wouldn’t exist. My husband really doesn’t know how lucky he is to have that immensely strong connection to the land on which he lives today.
Or does he?
This morning, as the rising sun battled with clouds to find a place to shine upon earth, husband noted the mist, swirling around the south and western base of Hattons Bluff. It’s well defined this morning, he announced.
Do I detect just the teenist note of familial pride creeping in? 😉
In My World 
An intriguing story. How lovely to have a landmark you can see from your home named after an ancestor! I wonder if this may trigger more family research. My Grandfather traced his side of the family back to 1300 and something. But we had little more than names and dates from church records.
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Unfortunately, names and dates are often all we can trace of our ancestors, which is why this family history is so wonderful to have. Gosh, if your grandfather traced his family back to 1300, he must have been searching for an uncommon name! 🙂
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The name was Eady and he was lucky that his family were all farmers and remained in the same region for centuries.
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That is an exciting discovery and really makes you feel like part of history!
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Thank you, Meg. I agree it is exciting and even though William Hatton isn’t my ancestor, it does give me a sense of belonging to the area we live in. 🙂
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Wow. A fascinating story. Had to chuckle about the bit of hidden pride Hubby may now have. I noted you are a first-generation Aussie. From where? I’m similar over here, but a bit more tricky.
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Haha, husband might forget William’s name, but he’ll remember now that Hattons Bluff is named after his ancestor. 😉
My birth family, my parents and three older sisters, all arrived in Australia as English immigrants before I was born. About four years ago, while doing a unit for a Diploma of Family History course, I interviewed my youngest sister, who is 12 years older than me, about the journey to Australia and early days of them living here. I posted the interview on my family history blog ~ https://jomottershead.com/2016/12/10/early-childhood-memories-in-a-new-country-australia/
What country did your family originally come from, Frank?
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Interesting … thanks for sharing. … Hopefully you got the highest grade in the class for interviewing your youngest sister who is 12 years older than you. That’s quite the feat!!!! 😉
My dad was first generation Italian in the US – as were his two siblings. My mother was Italian, and never became a US citizen. They meet when he was a US soldier in Italy in the 1950s …. and that’s where I was born. … a story in itself …. so I came to the US (age 3 months) at the same time as my mother, but I came in as a US citizen. Meanwhile, I hope to be filing for Italian citizenship within two years (to have dual citizenship).
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Family history is fascinating and it seems mostly the women (at least in my family) who are the keepers of that history. My niece just started a FB group for family members to post photos and memories. It is fascinating and I’m learning quite a bit!
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It’s wonderful that your niece is sharing your family history Eliza. I started a Facebook group a few years ago with two cousins (who I have never met in person) for my mother’s side of the family and we have learnt so much from conversations we have had, and photos shared within the group. Surprisingly, we have quite a few men who are keen to share stories and photos passed down from generation to generation. 🙂
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Exciting discoveries, Joanne! I hope you will continue to research your husband’s ancestors for the sake of your children and grandchildren. I’ve been researching Tim’s family just as much as my own since we got married. (Turns out we’re 10th cousins!) He doesn’t enjoy doing the research but appreciates hearing about what I find, as do his aunt and his cousins. 🙂 Most families have only one family historian. 😉
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What a great story!! Well done Joanne … pat yourself on the back 🙂 I’m sure your hubby has lots of pride!
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