Jean Emile Serisier (1824 – 10 February 1880) was a French-born Australian storekeeper and
vigneron who helped found the city of
Dubbo, New South Wales.
Birth
He was born in
Bordeaux
Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefectur ...
to shipping broker Emile Alexander Serisier and Rose Marie Mayou.
Career
He came to
New South Wales
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, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
in 1838 as a
midshipman
A midshipman is an officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Canada (Naval Cadet), Australia, Bangladesh, Namibia, New Zealand, South Afr ...
; ill health saw him in the care of a merchant called Despointes. In 1847 he tried to set up a store at
Dubbo
Dubbo () is a city in the Orana Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the largest population centre in the Orana region, with a population of 43,516 at June 2021.
The city is located at the intersection of the Newell, Mitchell, and Gol ...
but was refused permission by
Robert Dulhunty, who owned the station. He petitioned for a village nearby, and bought several blocks in 1851. He ran a general store for Despointes, and also became local postmaster in 1855. He married Margaret Humphreys on 1 March 1858, with whom he had five children. He was returning officer for the
Bogan electorate, and from 1862 was a magistrate. He ran unsuccessfully for the
Legislative Assembly in 1872 and 1877. He sold his general store in 1873 (having acquired it from Despointes in the meantime), and subsequently ran a vineyard at his Emulga property. He died while visiting France in 1880.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Serisier, Jean
1824 births
1880 deaths
Settlers of New South Wales