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James Austin Bullivant (1867–1879)

James Austin Bullivant was born on 24 May 1867 at Glastonbury, Somerset, England, to William Hose Bullivant and Mary Austin shortly before his father left for an exploratory trip to Victoria. With his parents and sister, Mary Rebecca, he arrived at Avalon Station owned by his grandfather, James Austin, in July 1868 barely a year old, spending his early years at Avalon and Fernside in Geelong. He travelled with his mother and brothers and sisters to Glastonbury in mid-1876, returning in 1878 to Longerenong station in the Wimmera.

Bullivant was enrolled in the Church of England Grammar School, Melbourne (now the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School) and won a handsomely bound book prize, Scripture Lands, “for the best examination, First Form”. Returning home to Longerenong with two friends, on 3 January 1879 they decided to go fishing in a weir on the Wimmera River about a mile from the home. The hot weather tempted him into the water but, being unable to swim, he drowned.

James Bullivant is buried, with his sister Maud and his parents, in the Geelong Eastern Cemetery.

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Citation details

'Bullivant, James Austin (1867–1879)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/bullivant-james-austin-19507/text38222, accessed 15 September 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

24 May, 1867
Glastonbury, Somerset, England

Death

3 January, 1879 (aged 11)
Longerenong, Victoria, Australia

Cause of Death

drowned

Cultural Heritage

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