Robert Adair

Name	Robert Adair
Address	Peel Street (on the left when traveling north to south)
Occupation	Labourer / Brickmaker
Born	County Armagh, Northern Ireland 1833
Parents	F.  Joseph Adair,  M.  Jane Bailiff
Died	Ballarat, Wednesday, 21 February 1872 Aged 38
Burial	Ballarat, New Cemetery, Presbyterian “A”, Sec. 19, Grave 41 (Unmarked)
Occupation	Brickmaker
Period Active	C 1867 to 1872
Married	Louisa Mohoney or Manley , St Kilda, Victoria 20 Dec 1858 (1833 – 1924)
	(Louisa died at the age of 91.)
Children	9 children, Loisa Mohoney Adair (1858-1859) Caroline Jane Adair (1860-1860) Robert John Adair (1861-1950) Henry Joseph Adair (1862-1942) Alexander James Adair (1865-1955) Thomas Adair (1866-1955) Eliza Jane Lillian (Lily) Adair (1866-1953) George Adair (1970-1953) Louisa Adair (1872-1942)
Arrived	Melbourne, Victoria from Liverpool on “Sardinian” 19 Mar 1857

On the 26^th of February 1867, Robert purchased several parcels of adjoining land in Ballarat east.  They were Section 59, allotments 11,12,13 & 14.  Purchased for the price of 2-10/- each.  It is nor known if he was making bricks prior to this, but I would assume that he was, probably on a smaller allotment in the same area, as many others were doing. 

He had been a successful brick maker at this location for several years before his early death at the age of 38 from pleurisy, which normally follows pneumonia.  His death certificate states that he had this condition for 8 days.  He died at the end of summer in 1872.  Brick makers, like miners, were exposed to extremely high levels of dust and as a result, were also subject to silicosis or “black lung.” 

The site of his brick works is now a public park.

On the day he died, the Ballarat “Courier” had the following report on the weather.  “The muggy and unhealthy weather we have experienced for the past ten days changed last night, and there is now a prospect of people being able to breathe again with something like comfort to themselves and safety to their lungs.  Last night about nine o’clock, the wind shifted to the south, after several pretty heavy showers of rain.  The warm weather has caused a great deal of sickness in Ballarat, but the change that has taken place it is probable those who have managed to pass through the trying ordeal will find themselves restored to health.  Children especially have been sufferers by the recent muggy weather.”  Sadly, too late for Robert.

Like many of his era, Robert lies in this unmarked grave in the old Ballarat cemetery, just to the left of the cement lined grave.

"At least one member of his family followed Robert in the brick making business,  This obituary appeared in the "Courier" on the 9th of February 1918. “The many friends of Mr Thomas Adair, a former resident of Black Hill will regret to hear of his death, which took place yesterday at the residence of his niece, Mrs J. Craddock, Sturt Street.  The deceased, who was 63 years of age leaves a family of three sons and two daughters.  In the seventies, the deceased who was a Brickmaker by occupation was engaged in his calling on the reserve now occupied by the Black Hill Progress Association since when he visited various parts of Victoria and several of the States and he was well known in the brick making game.  He was of a genial disposition and possessed a fund of knowledge of reminiscences of early Ballarat and district.  Mr Alec Adair of “The Courier” linotype staff is a brother of the deceased.”