John Wollaston

Who was John Wollaston?

Reverend John Ramsden Wollaston, was an Anglican clergyman who was instrumental in the establishment of the Church of England in Western Australia.

Wollaston was born in London and educated at Charterhouse School where his father, Edward Wollaston, was a master. After taking holy orders, in May 1819 he married Mary Amelia with whom he had five sons and two daughters. In 1840 Wollaston applied for the position of Chaplain for the Western Australian Land Company, a speculative venture that was seeking emigrant settlers to go to Australind, Western Australia near Port Leschenault. The company failed to appoint him officially but continued to promote the venture by saying Wollaston was available. In the confusion, Wollaston proceeeded to the new colony believing that he had been appointed as Colonial Chaplain and that an official stipend would be forthcoming on his arrival.

By the time he arrived, the Australind settlement was on the verge of collapse, largely due to its isolation from the rest of the colony at the Swan River.