Baker, William

BAKER, William (1822/7–1890) was born in Norway, the son of John Baker and Maria Nelson. He trained as a carpenter, builder and architect in Norway before migrating to Australia where in September 1860, he married Mary Ann Casey at Bombala, New South Wales. On his arrival in Queensland, he worked as a railway bridge builder before moving to the Warrego district in 1864. He worked for about a year as a carpenter on Maxvale Station near Charleville before he built and became proprietor of a hotel at Baker’s Bend on the Warrego River near Charleville. He remained there until he was held up and shot by a bushranger in December 1869. After a slow recovery, Baker worked as a shepherd and carpenter on Mount Abundance Station and later built another hotel and store at Bundeworgai near Roma. Returning to Charleville in 1884, he and his carpenter son Samuel (1861–1929) worked for a local sawmiller and builder, John Murray. By 1887 William and Samuel Baker had established their own building business in Charleville, where they also provided plans for buildings. William died at Augathella. By 1892 Samuel had moved to Longreach where he remained in business as a builder into the 20^th century.