Robert Steele Crosby Oral History

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DescriptionThis interview consists of four audio recordings and transcripts. Robert Steele Crosby was interviewed on 16 August 2001 by Tom O'Donnell.Interview SummaryRobert Steele Crosby was born in Milford, in 1924. He came from a family of nine children; he had three brothers and five sisters. Robert is the second child in the Crosby family, after his older sister. Robert is part Danish (from his maternal grandfather) and part English (from his maternal grandmother).

Robert married Josie in 1949; the couple had three daughters. In 2001, Robert had five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Robert started his primary schooling in Sutherland and completed his third grade in Homebush. He attended secondary school at Granville Central Junior Tech for three years and finished his schooling at the young age of 14 years and 8 months.

Robert found work at the Federal Match Factory in Alexandria but then decided to join the family dairy business at the age of 16.

Robert was exempted from enlisting in active service during the war as contributions from the dairy industries was considered an “essential service”.

Robert’s grandfather started the family business in the Sutherland Shire, in 1926. The dairy was run by his grandfather and his four sons, Bob, Charlie, Jim and Paul. After his grandfather’s death, his grandmother took over with the help of her sons. The Crosby family were involved with setting up the United Dairies in Colyton, Parramatta, Kempsey and Penrith. United Dairy was finally sold to Pura.

In 1940, the health authority moved many dairy farms to the outer suburbs and Robert’s father started his own dairy farm in Bossley Park. He became the local milkman and delivered milk house to house in the local area.

In 1942, Robert’s father bought 30 acres of land in Florence Street, Fairfield (near the Cabramatta Creek); the property became the family home. The Crosby family also bought 200 acres of land from the Horden Brothers in Abbotsbury (close to Cowpasture Road). The property was later renamed to Calmsley Hills (the former site for the Fairfield City Farm). The farm was sold in 1995 and then re-leased from the State Government for another 10 years. The farm bred horses for rodeos (BBN Rodeo) and run quarter mile races.

Transcript

Interview Transcript - Robert Steele Crosby - Part 4

Interview Transcript - Robert Steele Crosby - Part 3

Interview Transcript - Robert Steele Crosby - Part 2

Interview Transcript - Robert Steele Crosby - Part 1

Audio

Interview with Robert Steele Crosby - Part 4

Interview with Robert Steele Crosby - Part 3

Interview with Robert Steele Crosby - Part 2

Interview with Robert Steele Crosby - Part 1

Photograph

Portrait of Constance Holmes

Details

IntervieweeRobert Steele CrosbyInterviewerTom O'DonnellDate of interview16/08/2001DurationTotal interview 01:48:43Transcripts availableYesRightsFairfield City Council Access ConditionsAccess open for research, written permission required for personal copies and public useExternal LinkArnott's Living Pictures - Trove [Daily Telegraph]

Connections

Oral History ProjectThe Way We Were - People of FairfieldAll Oral Histories