Obituaries Australia

The passing of Mr. Christian Peter Anderson at Kensington, Sydney, on Tuesday, removes one of the oldest pioneers of North Queensland, and a gentleman who, during his years of residence in the Cairns district, took an active part in its development. The late Mr. Anderson, who was 86 years of age at the time of his demise, was quite a young man when he first came to North Queensland, and was one of the first members of the Cairns Divisional Board, before Cairns became a municipality. He was also a member of the old Barron Divisional Board, and a member of the Gregory Masonic Lodge. Deceased, who was born in Denmark, arrived in Australia at the age of 22 years, and commenced a tailoring business in Queen-street, Brisbane. Two years later he disposed of his interests and went to the Palmer Goldfields, where he commenced business as a storekeeper, but later transferred his interests to the Tate Tinfields, where he carried on successfully for a number of years. About 1880 he came to the Cairns district and took up land at Smithfield, on the Barron River. This he later sold and again took up land at the place now known as Oak Forest, where he erected a two-storey hotel, butcher shop and store, which he conducted in partnership with a Mr. Hatton. About 1894 the premises were destroyed by fire, and he then purchased a sugar farm from the late Mrs. Moller, at Behana, and which he conducted successfully for a number of years. It was during these years that the district experienced two very severe floods, and from one the late Mr. Anderson and his family were forced to take refuge on the roof of their home. He afterwards sold out to Messrs. Veivers Bros. and came to Cairns, where he erected a house that is now known as the "Cremorne" Private Hospital, in Abbott-street. Later he moved to Wallangarra and New South Wales, where he was engaged in tin-dredging. Some years later he retired and went to Sydney, where he had resided until his decease. Deceased is survived by two sons (Messrs. Chris, of Stanthorpe, and Oscar, of Sydney); eight grand-children (five of whom, Misses Olive, Ivy and Marie Tills, and Messrs. Alfred and Richard Tills, reside in Cairns); and five great-grandchilden. His wife and his daughter (Mrs. A. Tills) predeceased him some years ago.