James Brown Craig

                                   J.B.Craig was born at Ardrossen  Scotland in 1875
                                                   My Maternal  Grandfather

He came to Australia with his father Captain Robert Craig in 1877,lived in their houses Kurraba and Ailsa Shellcove Road Kurraba Point.he attended Sydney High School  and travelled by ferry  to the Castlereagh street school.He left at 15 and went to work for his father at Prestcott Ltd.
It was possably the only job he had, rising to eventually be manager .

             5 Arran place Ardrossan Scotland

                                                                                            

                                         Sydney High School Castlereagh Street 1883

                                           James Brown Craig in plus fours with mates










James Craig joined the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron in 1907 when he skippered the skiff Phryne.  He remained a member till 1947,residing at Kirribille for several years.                               

Photo of 41 Shellcove Road Neutral Bay.purchased with his brother Dr Fraincis Craig in 1911.
A pair of two story roughcast stucco brick houses in Federation style .Nos  41 and 43.purchased from the Cooper Estate .

                                                     Early photo of James brown Craig

                                   wedding photo of James and Harriett Mary Craig 

        No 2 Wolsely road Point Piper where James lived with his young family

                                     the tennis court and a photo of players 1925 ?

                                                                      
      Photo of Craig children round 1915.Top right with grandfather David Simpson    .Top left
     in line David Hamish,Francis Elizabeth and Sheila  Ross Simpson                                                                                                 

     Bottom photo the whole family,front row David and Elizabeth,second row Grandparents David
     and Fanny Simpson,back row James and Harriett Craig.


      Photos below the beach house at Palm Beach.Beside the old picture theater,facing the surf.
      Ocean Road Palm beach.

                     Grandfather James pipe in mouth,waves rolling into the beach, in discussion with Gran ?
      Not being a surfer he probably enjoyed the peace and tranquility of Palm Beach 1920 rather than stress of the commercial business in Sussex street Sydney.

 Round 1935 James Craig and wife Harriett Mary were living in O'Sullivan road Rose bay
a large house with a tennis court and a fish pond .Which they named Arron Place .

.James and his brother Francis Craig had two investment properties,Mt Stewart a large dark brick building in Edgecliff Road and behind in New South Head Road a block of four two bed room flats called Friars Croft.

                                    FriasCroft flats New South Head road Double Bay

James also built a block of eight flats at 574 New South Head Road Double Bay called Buckhurst



When built these were top of the range flats,unfortunately at the time 1929 Australia moved into
depression and the flats were difficult to let even at reduced rentals.


    Reminissions

James Brown Craig's will

Will of James Brown Craig.

Photo of grandad at Circular Quay heading for the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, where he lived for several years before his death in 1947.

                                         Grandad's sailing skiff Phryne 1908

                                          Grandad's range of pipes including a cob.

Anyone who knew grandad would describe him as a humanist,he based his life on reason and common humanity,recognising that moral values are properly founded on human nature and experience.