Amateur woodworker and turner, was the son of Sir Richard and Lady Spencer – Resident Government Magistrate at Albany, Western Australia. They arrived on the Buffalo in 1833. Sir Richard, like many of the new settlers, had the foresight to bring a wood-turning lathe with them. Mrs Millett, parson’s wife in York, wrote: “Western Australia, in respect of woods is a perfect paradise to an enthusiastic lover of the turning lathe. The two most in favour for turning are the sandalwood and raspberry jam, on account of their perfume.”
Robert was educated in England and returned to Western Australia in 1845. He married Mary Gibbs in 1869 and farmed at “Ongerup” on the Gordon River. A couch made by Robert shows the proficiency achieved by an amateur. The fine settee made around 1850 is in Strawberry Hill in Albany, Western Australia.
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- Writers:
- Dr Dorothy Erickson
- Date written:
- 2010
- Last updated:
- 2011
