Redden Family

Sacred To The Memory Of
Rebecca Margaret Redden died 30th May 1878 aged 6 years 1 month
William Peter Redden died 28th March 1882 aged 2 years 4 months
Margaret Jane Redden died 27th April 1884 aged 1 year 5 months
Margaret Ann Redden died 21st August 1889 aged 2 years 5 months
Margaret Redden died 18th October 1904 aged 61 years 5 months

May Their Souls Rest In Peace

Buried here is Margaret Redden and 4 of her 8 children. Three of these children were buried in the first cemetery of Cairns, the Esplanade Cemetery at the time of their deaths, Rebecca Margaret, William Peter and Margaret Jane.

After Margaret died on the 18th October 1904 at her residence in Lake Street, Cairns the children were later removed from the Esplanade to the McLeod Street Cemetery and reinterred with their mother and sibling.

Margaret was born c1844 (possibly in Ireland) to Hugh McCall and Margaret Byrnes and married William Peter Redden, who was born c1842 in Ireland to George Peter Redden and Margaret Mycot(?)

William Peter Redden was a carpenter in 1878 and a storekeeper in 1882. In 1882, he was the Chairman of the Cairns Division. In 1885 he was a builder and on the voting list for the first municipality elections.

He had The Free Trade Store in Lake Street selling Drapery, Millinery, Boots, Grocery, Provisions, Oilman’s Stores, Ironmongery and Saddlery at “Prices that defy competition.” He had been there 10 years in 1887, and was nominated for an election to the Council.

In February 1888, he retired as Alderman by rotation, and there was some talk of him being nominated for Parliament, but he did not nominate.

William was an early landholder in the Machans Beach area. Redden Creek and Redden Island at Machans Beach are named after him as well as Redden Street in Portsmith, Cairns.

William Peter Redden died in Sydney on November 22 1909 aged 67 years, survived by James, George and Helena. On September 15 1910, his name was removed from the Voters List for Cairns.

Information Compiled By: Cairns District Family History Society Inc.