Arnold, Alfred

ARNOLD, Alfred(1864–1942) was born at Bradworthy, Devon, England, eldest son of Frederick William Arnold, a carpenter, but by 1881 listed also as a farmer, and Mary Ann Vanstone. Alfred’s grandfather and two uncles were also carpenters. By 1881, at Peters Marland, south of Great Torrington, Devon, Alfred was listed as a carpenter’s apprentice, possibly with his father. Later his experience was said to have included ecclesiastical buildings. With his parents, two sisters and younger brother, he migrated to Queensland. Two weeks before arriving at Cooktown in June 1882, a sister died, and by early 1884 at Brisbane, all had died except Alfred. In 1888 he supplied plans for a combined church and Sunday School, which he erected to great approval at Villeneuve near Hopetoun. In the same year he married Eliza McPherson but in the 1890s induced by the depressed economic conditions, he followed his father’s precedent and by 1903 had a farm Glenfern, Hopetoun (later Kilcoy). In June 1916 reducing his age of 52 to 42 he enlisted (with at least two of his sons) for service in World War 1. He was based in England until in February 1918 when he was repatriated to Australia where he was discharged for ‘senility’ ie old age. He resumed farming and grazing and died in Brisbane.