For one man, Joseph Hardey, the month of September heralded the opening of a new chapter in his life and, almost half a century later, was when another chapter closed.
On 29 September 1829, the brig Tranby left England for the Swan River Colony. Twenty five year old Joseph Hardey had just left his home in Lincolnshire to start a new life in Western Australia.
“On board were a crew of 14 under the command of John Storey and 37 passengers. Although the passengers were later bound by their Methodist faith and settled as a community on the Maylands Peninsula, the group was originally formed by smaller parties under the guidance of brothers Michael and James Clarkson, and the Hardey family.
The Hardey family comprised John Wall Hardey and his wife Elizabeth, younger brother Joseph and his wife Ann, and their 17 year old sibling William, who died only 12 days out of Fremantle. Their party also included labourers and servants – wheelwright John Hewson, shepherd Joseph Ellis and his wife and son, farmer George Green and servant Charlotte Stephenson.
On 3 February 1830, the Tranby arrived at the Swan River Colony and anchored off the coast of Fremantle.”
(From: Peninsula Farm Conservation Plan (2005) Heritage and Conservation Professionals)
On 6 September 1875, some forty six years later, Joseph Hardey died at the age of 71. By this time he was living at a house on Murray Street, Perth.
