Henry Nicoll’s Plans for Taree

A native of Scotland, twenty-four-year-old Henry Beavan Nicoll arrived in Australia aboard the “Orient” in 1882.¹ After a period in Sydney, he moved to Tinonee, working as a storekeeper, before moving to Port Macquarie having accepted a position with Jennings, Pickering and Company’s emporium. Obviously a canny businessman, he later opened his own business at Beechwood where he remained until he retired from the retail trade in 1918.² He then turned his attention to another commodity – land.

Moving to Taree, he left his mark on the town principally by the purchase and subdivision of land close to town.

In April 1920 he purchased 10 acres owned by the West End Estate³ which he subdivided into residential allotments serviced by a new road, modestly named Nicoll Street.⁴ A later enterprise (1928) created the Ironbark Estate off Commerce Street, encompassing Campbell, Stewart and Robertson Streets and Golf Avenue.⁵

Nicoll later moved from Taree, ultimately residing in Sydney.

At the time of his death in Pymble, Sydney in 1945,⁶ Nicoll remained in possession of a considerable landholding in Taree. The blocks were then gradually sold off by his Executors, with some of the Ironbark allotments being acquired by the Housing Commission for the construction of social housing.⁷

Author: Penny Teerman