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J Whitaker, Borroloola, 1985.
JUDITH WHITAKER, Vol 1.
FREER, PERCY ROBINSON (c1849–1916), ‘man of many parts’; FREER, MARIA (c1852–1891), homemaker
and amateur performer; FREER, PERCY (1872–1952), bank officer; FREER, CECIL, miner and buffalo shooter
(c1876–1957); FREER, MAUD VIOLET, later Lady WILLIAM CECIL (c1878–?), singer and actress, were
all born in England.
Percy Robinson Freer first came to the newly established town of Palmerston (now Darwin) on 23 October 1871
aboard the barque-rigged steamer Omeo which he and his travelling companion, G Minza, had boarded in
Newcastle, New South Wales. They were described as ‘two gentlemen out from England to look at the lands in
North Australia’. Freer appears to have set up in business in partnership with Edward Prosser Hopewell as on
12 September 1872 they became the registered owners, and were described as merchants, of lot 643 in Mitchell
Street (next to the Hotel Darwin) for which they paid 60 Pounds. Towards the end of 1873 the lot was subdivided
into two and sold, the partners receiving a total of 108 Pounds. During his time in Palmerston he was active in
community affairs. His horse ‘Palmerston’ won the Palmerston Handicap at the Easter race meeting in 1873.
Freer then returned to England, but in April 1874 he telegraphed the Government Resident that he would
be returning via Hong Kong. He was willing to act for the government in securing Chinese labourers for the
goldfields, but his offer was not accepted
He did not actually return to Palmerston until 15 March 1884 when he, his wife Maria, and children Percy (born
11 January 1872), Cecil (born c1876) and Maud Violet (born c1878) arrived by SS Naples as saloon passengers
from ‘southern ports’. It is not known whether the family spent any time in other parts of Australia when they came
out from England.
Percy Robinson Freer earned a living in various ways. After becoming Acting Clerk with the Palmerston
District Council in September 1885, he was officially made Clerk in April 1886 on the resignation of J A V Brown.
Freer as Town Clerk had responsibility for rate collection, cemetery fees, rent of the Town Hall, certain public
works, sanitary arrangements, fencing, and dog, slaughtering and quarry licences. His salary was 151 Pounds,
13 Shillings and Four Pence per annum. During their early years in the town the family seems to have lived in
Smith Street almost opposite the Town Hall. The Palmerston Institute established a library. Freer became the
librarian when the position was established in April 1886 and he retained it at least until 1894 when his salary was
25 Pounds per annum. He ceased to be Town Clerk in 1891. The 1891 census showed his occupation as customs
officer, but in October 1894 he opened the Palmerston Exchange and Mart in Bennett Street offering to sell or
exchange unwanted items on commission. From January to August 1895 he advertised himself as an accountant
and commission agent, available each morning. Finally, in September 1895 he made known his proposed departure
on SS Tsinan for Adelaide, giving those who owed him money a chance to square their accounts before he left
Palmerston.
Little is known about the family’s background in England except that it is claimed that they were ‘substantial
yeomen from Sussex’. We do not know PR Freer’s financial position, or why he brought his family to the Northern
Territory. We do not know why he stayed so long without even taking a holiday, as many others did, and why he
did not, in the end, return to England. He visited mining areas in the Northern Territory, was at one time stranded
on the Vernon Islands whilst in a small vessel, accompanied by an Aboriginal man, and was linked to Sergison’s
unsuccessful coffee venture on the Adelaide River in the mid 1880s. He did not make his fortune in the Northern
Territory, but he kept his reputation.
Maria Freer died unexpectedly on 28 November 1891, aged about 39, much mourned by the whole town, and
was buried the same day in the Goyder Road cemetery. Until her death she and Percy contributed to the life of the
town by raising a fine family and by organising and joining in social activities, such as picnics, regattas, dances
and fancy dress balls. They were leading lights of the amateur music and dramatic performances held mainly in
the Town Hall. Their first stage appearances together in Palmerston were in 1885 and at times the local amateurs
combined with visiting professionals to entertain the people of Darwin. Percy kept up his stage appearances after
Maria’s death until just before his departure from Palmerston. He was very versatile, performed in everything from
pantomime to Shakespeare and was noted for Negro minstrel roles. He also sang, wrote poetry and directed.
Percy Robinson Freer died in Melbourne on 19 August 1916. The Northern Territory Times obituary described
him as ‘a man of many parts’.
Maud Violet Freer, the only daughter of the family, shared her parents’ interest in the stage. After attending a
social evening at Government House with her father in August 1892 she left Palmerston, on 23 January 1893, to
further her education. In 1894 she attended the school run by the Misses McMinn in Adelaide. With her singing
and acting abilities she ‘evidently promises to develop into quite a notable personage’ the local press reported.
Violet (as she was known) then returned to London to pursue a stage career. By 1910 her success at charity
concerts in London was being noted in Palmerston when she performed at the Court Theatre, ‘where her singing
and dancing brought down the house’. In 1924 she married Lord William Cecil. There were no children and she
did not return to Australia.
Percy Freer, the eldest son, joined the English Scottish & Australasian Chartered Bank in Darwin in 1888, and
in 1897, as teller and ledger keeper transferred ‘South’. He continued to serve the bank and retired as manager of the
Moss Vale, New South Wales, branch in September 1930. He married Margaret Anne Finn in Paddington, Sydney
in 1908 and they had a son, Maxwell, and two daughters, Beatrice and Joan. Percy Freer died on 29 July 1952. As a
young man Percy was interested in sport, and during his stay in Palmerston was a member of the Amateur Athletics
Association, and played billiards and cricket.