The Orr Family General Store and residence Dempster Street Photo courtesy Eric Hearn
Thomas Ruseell Orr and Florence (nee Branson) Orr arrived in Esperance on the 27th December 1895 on the ship “MacGregor” with two young children James Branson and John Branson. Other siblings were William Bransom, Clemence, Florence , Alexander,Lucy, and Eanest Branson Orr.
Thomas turned to the land to earn his living. The family moved to a property named “Fairfield”, three miles from the town. With the advent of WW1 three of the Orr sons enlisted, John Branson was killed in the trenches. James Branson survived the Gallipoli landing and Willian Branson served four years in the 19th Light Horse regiment.
The Orr brothers James, William and Clem took up 250,000 acres around Fitzgerald Peaks (Peak Charles) for a cattle station.They excavated a dam out of solid granite, built a house and stocked the station with cattle. Several years of drought forced them off the property and the sale of bullocks help relieve some of the debt.
Read Thomas Russell Orr Interview
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