Aisbett, John

Text AISBETT, JohnWilliam (1844–1887) was born at Toddhill, Durham, England, son of Thomas Aisbett, a coalminer, and Anne Todd. After arriving in Queensland with his parents, Aisbett was working by 1866 as a carpenter at Bowen where his father was a builder. On 27 February 1866 he married Mary Quigley in Bowen. After gold was discovered at Ravenswood in 1869, he commenced business there as a storekeeper and applied successfully for a licence for Aisbett’s Family Hotel in the Upper Camp in March 1872. He was also working as a builder and building designer in July 1873 when he was asked to prepare plans and specifications for a school and teacher’s residence by the Ravenswood National School committee. Aisbett was later in partnership as Aisbett & Wilson who contracted for the local Telegraph Office. In the late 1870s Aisbett operated the Ride-Through gold battery while remaining in business as a wholesaler. He tendered for the Ravenswood Railway in 1883 and raised £150 to celebrate its opening in December1884. He was a leader of the community and served on the Divisional Board until 1884. Soon after he opened a branch of his business in Charters Towers, ill-health forced the sale of the business and he died in July 1887.