The Pioneering Holts

There is danger in remembering people from just a snippet of their lives ...

Much of the suburb that was sold as Westwoods was originally owned by George Holt (junior), son of the emigrant George Holt (senior) who travelled to Brisbane on the migrant ship Fortitude and became Queensland’s first centenarian in 1928. Younger George's wife was Mary Anne (Annie) Anstead, after whose family the suburb of Anstead takes its name. Their children were the locally famous old timers Jack and Emma Holt who lived their whole life at the same place (Westwoods), never marrying, and eventually selling the farm in 1972 for the underwhelming sum of $200,000. By then, they were the last of us living like the pioneers.

Jack Holt at Mount Crosby (c. 1920). Image courtesy of Rob Swenson. Colourised by MCHS.

They lived in a slab house with an earthen floor and cracks so large the cold wind didn't even whistle on the way through. They cooked over wood, lit with kerosene, washed in a sink and had no heating except the fire and blanket. Although occupying legendary status in the town as living anachronisms, they thought nothing special of having a smoke house, more bridals in the kitchen than saucepans, or eating consecutive meals of corned beef.

Holt Family and Friends at Myola, Mt Crosby c.1948. From left: Eli Wilmott, Shirley Swenson, Emma Holt, Mrs George Sanson Holt (Annie Anstead), Mrs Robert Cribb Holt (Annie Davidson). Image courtesy of Rob Swenson and the Swenson Family Collection.

I can only remember Jack and Emma when they were old. Jack was tall. His face had a lot of lines and bristles. What's more, his remarkable teeth seemed to have decided to grow different directions and he gave the general impression of being even older than he was. I knew of Emma, but I saw her much less often. Both spoke with a sort of country parlance that pointed at a lack of practice.

Here, I am reminded there is danger in remembering people from just a snippet of their lives - I'm sure there was always a lot more to the Holts than I knew. They had lived full lives and worked hard, were joyful, suffered setbacks and had intrigues like everyone else.

Holt Family Photograph, Mount Crosby c.1940. From Left to Right: Emma Holt, Auntie Annie Holt (nee Anstead), Jack Kerr, Jessie Holt, Jack Holt, George Holt, Unknown Lady. Image courtesy of Rob Swenson and the Swenson Family Collection.

I don't really know why they chose to retain the old ways longer than any others, but it may not have been an aversion to modern things. Emma and Jack were part of a family that had been progressive and even wealthy by the standards of their day. In 1972, they seemed happy to move to a new house on their property which was part of the agreement with developers. In a documentary made about them at the time, Emma seems to like the house and I have been told Jack was enthusiastic about its electric light because of the heating it would provide.

I think what happened is the world slowly got ahead of them and there came a time when things were simply out of reach. They were certainly the last of the pioneers, but I don't know if they'll be the last to have that happen.