Obituaries Australia

Frederick Kable, n.d.

photo provided by family

Mr. Fred. J. [Frederick Joseph] C. Kable, who died recently, aged 71 years, had been a resident of Tamworth for 27 years. He was born in Sydney in 1861, being the great-grandson of Henry Kable, who came out in the First Fleet, and who later figured in what is said to have been Australia's earliest commercial and shipping firm, Kable and Underwood, of Sydney. Henry Kable and his wife (nee Susannah Holmes) lie at rest in the Kable vault in St. Matthew's Church of England cemetery, Windsor.

The late Mr. Fred. Kable was taken with his parents by boat to Maryborough, Queensland, when six months old, and thence by bullock dray to Gyrandah Station, on the Dawson River. When 19 years of age he was appointed manager of Carbean Station, near Springsure. Resigning after two years he entered upon sugar-growing, dairying, and butchering at Eton, in the Mackay district.

Mr. Kable later became part-owner of Jolimont Station with his brothers, but in 1897, owing to the advent of the cattle tick, abandoned the property. During this period he assisted in forming a number of the large cattle stations of North Queensland, hundreds of square miles in area. He was one of the promoters and later a director of the first sugar mill in North Queensland. Mr. Kable then entered into the business of hotelkeeping in Queensland and New South Wales. 

In 1904 he was Mayor of Maclean on the Clarence River. Four years later he entered the service of the Tamworth council's electricity department, and advanced to the position of power station superintendent, retiring in August, 1931.

Mr Kable is survived by Mrs. Kable, two daughters and two sons. There are ten grandchildren.