Mark John Currie

Posted by grammont on Tuesday 20th of November 2018 13:27

This is slightly outside the 1832 date for leaving the Swan River Settlement but looks relevant. From the Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal of 21 December 1833

FIRE AT RED-CLIFF- On Saturday last, a valuable building, the property of Captain Currie, R.N., recently the residence of Captain Irwin, our late Lieut.Governor, was destroyed by a bush-fire, which had been kindled some days previously at a considerable distance from the premises. It having been remarked by some of the men in the employment of the Hon P. Brown, Esq., that the house was in danger some time before the accident took place, has given rise to an opinion, that if timely assistance had been rendered this serious loss would not have been sustained. Lieut. McLeod was on the spot, but too late to render any further assistance than merely by clearing away the paleings which surrounded the house. A large gum-tree overhung the premises ; this caught fire, the flames reaching the thatch, the whole was instantly in a blaze, and the work of destruction effected, leaving merely the bare brick-walls. Mr. Sutherland, the agent for the proprietor, was upon the point of making some improvements on the premises, which the workmen were to have taken in hand this week ; fortunately no other preparations had been made than carting a few loads of stone to the spot.

Posted by Richard Jenkin on Tuesday 20th of November 2018 08:37

I have two questions about the life of Mark John Currie:
1. What happened during his life in the period from mid-1823 when he completed an exploration expedition in the Canberra area, and 1827, when he is appointed as secretary to Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Blackwood? I suppose this appointment was in England, but perhaps not.
2. Do you have any information about the reason why Mark John Currie suddenly decided to leave the Swan River Settlement in 1832. He cited “urgent private affairs” and maybe that is all that can be located as a reason.