The Reverend Frederick C.B. FaireyThe Reverend Frederick C.B. Fairey

A presentation byA presentation by

The Victorian Sea Kayak Club The Victorian Sea Kayak Club to to

The St Kilda Historical SocietyThe St Kilda Historical Society

April 2008

St Kilda’s Pioneering CanoeistSt Kilda’s Pioneering Canoeist

• The Reverend Frederick Charles Bonfield FaireyThe Reverend Frederick Charles Bonfield Fairey• Born in 17Born in 17thth October 1844 in Brighton England October 1844 in Brighton England• He was one of eight childrenHe was one of eight children• Brought up in a Christian familyBrought up in a Christian family• Parents John Fairey b: 1808 & Ann Woods Parents John Fairey b: 1808 & Ann Woods

Wilkinson b: 1811Wilkinson b: 1811

St Kilda’s Pioneering CanoeistSt Kilda’s Pioneering Canoeist

St Kilda’s Pioneering CanoeistSt Kilda’s Pioneering Canoeist

• Grew up with a longing for the seaGrew up with a longing for the sea• Left home in Dec 1859 age 15Left home in Dec 1859 age 15• Joined the Royal Navy as a naval Joined the Royal Navy as a naval

apprentice at Portsmouthapprentice at Portsmouth• Saw foreign service in many countriesSaw foreign service in many countries• Resigned age 18 after two and half years Resigned age 18 after two and half years

of serviceof service

St Kilda’s Pioneering CanoeistSt Kilda’s Pioneering Canoeist

• Tried to settle into shore life - futileTried to settle into shore life - futile• Joined ‘The Merchant Service”Joined ‘The Merchant Service”• Witnessed & experienced the transition from sail to Witnessed & experienced the transition from sail to

steamshipssteamships• Again saw much foreign service ( Philippines, Chile, NZ Again saw much foreign service ( Philippines, Chile, NZ et et

al al ))• Six and half years of sea-life in totalSix and half years of sea-life in total• Migrated to South America – stayed for two and half yearsMigrated to South America – stayed for two and half years

St Kilda’s Pioneering CanoeistSt Kilda’s Pioneering Canoeist• Received “the call” in 1876 and migrated to St Kilda for Received “the call” in 1876 and migrated to St Kilda for

ministerial trainingministerial training

•Married Francis Mary Allen on 12Married Francis Mary Allen on 12thth December 1876 at December 1876 at Windsor, MelbourneWindsor, Melbourne

St Kilda’s Pioneering CanoeistSt Kilda’s Pioneering Canoeist

• Received Training in the Congregationalist Church in St KildaReceived Training in the Congregationalist Church in St Kilda• Identified a need to service his ‘flock’ who lived great Identified a need to service his ‘flock’ who lived great

distances away on the western shores of Port Phillip distances away on the western shores of Port Phillip “Who “Who seldom hear the gospel preached or see the face of a seldom hear the gospel preached or see the face of a Christian minister” – FCBFChristian minister” – FCBF

• Through his associated & knowledge of John McGregor a Through his associated & knowledge of John McGregor a London based Scot he ordered a “Rob Roy” CanoeLondon based Scot he ordered a “Rob Roy” Canoe

• Canoe arrived at FCBF’s house in St Kilda on June 25Canoe arrived at FCBF’s house in St Kilda on June 25 thth 1877 1877

St Kilda’s Pioneering CanoeistSt Kilda’s Pioneering Canoeist

• ““Rob Roy” Canoe pictured at Searle Rob Roy” Canoe pictured at Searle & Sons, London& Sons, London

St Kilda’s Pioneering CanoeistSt Kilda’s Pioneering Canoeist

• Maiden voyage – St Kilda Pier to Geelong, then down Maiden voyage – St Kilda Pier to Geelong, then down the Barwon River, through Connewarre Lakes. Enter the Barwon River, through Connewarre Lakes. Enter Bass Strait at Barwon Heads, head along the coast to Bass Strait at Barwon Heads, head along the coast to Point Lonsdale, re-enter Port Phillip via “The Rip”, Point Lonsdale, re-enter Port Phillip via “The Rip”, continue to Queenscliffe, back up the West coast to St continue to Queenscliffe, back up the West coast to St Kilda.Kilda.

• A total voyage of one hundred nautical miles on bay, A total voyage of one hundred nautical miles on bay, river,lake & open seariver,lake & open sea

St Kilda’s Pioneering CanoeistSt Kilda’s Pioneering Canoeist

St Kilda’s Pioneering CanoeistSt Kilda’s Pioneering Canoeist• Reverend FCB Fairey went on to serve the Reverend FCB Fairey went on to serve the

ministry with distinction in South Australia ministry with distinction in South Australia (Keynton), Tasmania (Forth) and New South (Keynton), Tasmania (Forth) and New South Wales (Windsor)Wales (Windsor)

• Many other canoeing adventures undertaken Many other canoeing adventures undertaken including the North & East Coastlines of including the North & East Coastlines of TasmaniaTasmania

• Many of FCBF’s stories were recorded by Many of FCBF’s stories were recorded by him in the “Boy’s Own Paper” between 1881 him in the “Boy’s Own Paper” between 1881 & 1882& 1882

St Kilda’s Pioneering CanoeistSt Kilda’s Pioneering Canoeist• Family and DescendentsFamily and Descendents• Frederick & Francis had eight childrenFrederick & Francis had eight children

– Arthur b:1877 Home Cottage East St KildaArthur b:1877 Home Cottage East St Kilda– Ernest b:1881, Windsor NSWErnest b:1881, Windsor NSW– Stanley b:1883, Hunters Hill Sydney NSWStanley b:1883, Hunters Hill Sydney NSW– Ethel b1885, Leichardt Sydney NSWEthel b1885, Leichardt Sydney NSW– Leslie b: 1887, Homedale TasmaniaLeslie b: 1887, Homedale Tasmania– Florence b:1891 Keyneton South AustraliaFlorence b:1891 Keyneton South Australia– Kenneth b 1895 Keyneton South AustraliaKenneth b 1895 Keyneton South Australia– Gladys b: 1897 Keyneton South AustraliaGladys b: 1897 Keyneton South Australia

St Kilda’s Pioneering CanoeistSt Kilda’s Pioneering Canoeist• Family and DescendentsFamily and Descendents• Traced family still living in AustraliaTraced family still living in Australia

– Kenneth David Fairey (81 years old) son of Leslie Mitchell Kenneth David Fairey (81 years old) son of Leslie Mitchell Fairey. Kenneth lives in Revesby NSWFairey. Kenneth lives in Revesby NSW

– Paul Turvey, great-grandson of Rev FCBF and grandson of Paul Turvey, great-grandson of Rev FCBF and grandson of Florence Fairey. Paul’s father is 81 years old & lives in Hobart, Florence Fairey. Paul’s father is 81 years old & lives in Hobart, TasmaniaTasmania

St Kilda’s Pioneering CanoeistSt Kilda’s Pioneering Canoeist• Reverend Frederick Charles Bonfield Fairey died on 31Reverend Frederick Charles Bonfield Fairey died on 31stst

December 1924 at Tempe New South WalesDecember 1924 at Tempe New South Wales• Buried in Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney (no headstone on Buried in Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney (no headstone on

grave, marked by a rose bush)grave, marked by a rose bush)

The Victorian Sea Kayak Club – Re-enactment of “The The Victorian Sea Kayak Club – Re-enactment of “The Voyage of the Evangelist”Voyage of the Evangelist”

Re-enactment of “The Voyage of the Evangelist”Re-enactment of “The Voyage of the Evangelist”

• Carried out in three stagesCarried out in three stages– St Kilda to Werribee River, camp overnight then continue to St Kilda to Werribee River, camp overnight then continue to

GeelongGeelong– Geelong to Barwon Heads, camp overnight then continue to Geelong to Barwon Heads, camp overnight then continue to

Indented HeadIndented Head– Indented Head to Werribee River, camp overnight then Indented Head to Werribee River, camp overnight then

continue to St Kildacontinue to St Kilda

•Ten days total paddling over one hundred nautical miles

•In excess of twenty club members participated

•Great interest in our “First Sea Kayaker”

•Met Dr Peter Munster, Congregationist Church historian en-route

Re-enactment of “The Voyage of the Evangelist”Re-enactment of “The Voyage of the Evangelist”– Stage One– Stage One

Re-enactment of “The Voyage of the Evangelist”Re-enactment of “The Voyage of the Evangelist”– Stage Two– Stage Two

Re-enactment of “The Voyage of the Evangelist”Re-enactment of “The Voyage of the Evangelist”– Stage Three– Stage Three

St Kilda’s Pioneering CanoeistSt Kilda’s Pioneering Canoeist• Research assistance given by:-Research assistance given by:-

• Carol Carruthers, Historian, Hawkesbury Museum, New South Carol Carruthers, Historian, Hawkesbury Museum, New South WalesWales

• Rev Ian Breward and staff , Archives Department, Uniting ChurchRev Ian Breward and staff , Archives Department, Uniting Church• Jack Barnes, St Kilda authorJack Barnes, St Kilda author• Dr Peter Munster, Historian Congregationalist ChurchDr Peter Munster, Historian Congregationalist Church• Ms David, Librarian, Rare Books Department, Monash University Ms David, Librarian, Rare Books Department, Monash University

LibraryLibrary• Mrs Valma Martin, GenealogistMrs Valma Martin, Genealogist