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Benjamin Edhouse
Benjamin Edhouse arrived in New South Wales at the age of 17 as a convict aboard the Aurora on 3 November 1833. He spent his fourteen year term at Parramatta in New South Wales. It is likely that he learned his trades as a brick layer and brewer while serving his time at Parramatta.
At the age of 24, he married Mary Shaw who was 20. Having received a Certificate of Freedom in 1848, the couple travelled north to Moreton Bay. Their son John who was born in Ipswich on 20 October 1849, was the first to be recorded in the Baptismal Register at St. Mary's Church in Ipswich. Rev. James Hanly performed the baptism and the sponsors were Daniel and Mary Hickie.
On 2nd September 1848, Edhouse's name was listed in the local paper for receiving a parcel on the 'Tamar'. By 1849, Edhouse was operating the former convict lime kiln. He was producing lime, initially to build two cottages in East Street in Ipswich for George Thorn and later to sell in Brisbane. In 1850, Edhouse advertised Stone Lime for sale in Ipswich.
Benjamin Edhouse appears in the Moreton Bay Times, including his venture, prospecting for gold in the Brisbane area. He and his family "followed the gold" to the Victorian gold fields, where he operated a brewery. By 1855, Edhouse had established the Loddon Brewery.
A letter from John Barney dated 26 July 1851, suggests that Edhouse was working the coal scene on the Bremmer. It was reported that he was using the coal to burn the lime, little coal was taken and the vein was about 5 feet thick.
Researched & Written ByTanya JenReferences (online)Brisbane Circuit Court, The Moreton Bay Courier, Sat 24 May 1851 p2Shipping Intelligence, Imports. The Moreton Bay Courier, Sat 2 Sep 1848, p2Stone-Lime, The Moreton Bay Courier, Sat 8 Sep 1849 p2Stone Lime for Sale, The Moreton Bay Courier, Sat 14 Dec 1850 p1General Post Office, NSW Government Gazette, 14 Mar 1854Edhouse's store Lodden, Mount Alexander Mail, Fri 22 Feb 1856 p3Edhouse's Loddon Brewery, Mount Alexander Mail, Wed 11 mar 1857 p4Ipswich City of Churches, Queensland Times, Wed 4 Jul 1934 p21Report 5 February 1853 from Samuel Perry, one of the items from the Colonial Secretary's papers 1822-1877, State Library of Queensland, [accessed 20/10/2026]Letter 26 January 1851 from John Barney, one of the items from the Colonial Secretary's papers 1822-1877, State Library of Queensland [accessed 20/10/2026]Fryerstown Police Court, Mount Alexander Mail, Tuesday 2 October 1877, page 2Correspondence, Mount Alexander Mail, Tuesday 25 September 1877, page 2Brisbane Circuit Court, The Moreton Bay Courier, Saturday 24 May 1851, page 2
References for Convicts (online)Certificate of Freedom, NSW Government Gazette, 4 Feb 1848Principal Superintendent of Convicts’ Office, NSW Government Gazette, Wed 29 Jan 1840, p94Convict Brick Database [accessed 01.04.2026]U3A Croydon Inc Newsletter [accessed 01.04.2026]