By the death of Mr William Rhodes Carter, at the age of 81, on Monday, September 21st, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs W. Parker, of Portland, the Condah district loses one of its oldest residents, a colonist of 72 years. The late Mr William Carter, born at Brimstone Hill, Cambridgeshire, England, was nine years of age when he sailed from London in 1822, with his parents, brothers and sisters for Australia, in the sailing ship Sacramento, which was under the command of Captain Parsons. The ship was wrecked on the voyage at the Heads, near Queenscliff, and the passengers were landed with life lines which were operated by the coast guards. As all their possessions were lost in the wreck, the family had nothing left but what they stood up in. Settling at Hawthorn, they carried on brick-making for several years. While residing there, one of Mr Carter's sisters died, and was buried in the first Melbourne general cemetery, over which the Victoria market has been extended. Leaving Hawthorn, the family went to Brim Springs, in the Grampians, but later shifted to Edenhope, and finally settled down at Condah in 1863, and have been identified with this district ever since. Deceased was one of the earliest teamsters on the roads, carrying goods between Portland and Coleraine. He afterwards carried on farming pursuits in Condah, and later entered into business, opening a boot store. He retired about five years ago and since then he has resided with his daughter, Mrs W. Parker at Portland. His wife (nee Miss Susan Baulch, a member of the well-known Baulch family of the Coroit district) predeceased him seven years ago. A family of five sons and daughters are left, viz-Mrs W. Parker and Mrs George Fox, of Portland, and Samuel (Hamilton), George (Melbourne) and William (Horsham.) Mr George Carter of Gondah, is a brother of deceased and Mrs Dunn, of Wallacedale, is a sister. The funeral took place on Wednesday last and the remains were interred in the Condah cemetery. The Rev. H. R. Tol, of Portland officiated at the graveside, and Mr W. Jarrett had charge of the mortuary arrangements.
'Carter, William Rhodes (1856–1925)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/carter-william-rhodes-14373/text25446, accessed 29 April 2025.