Augustus Charles Gregory - Early Years

Early Years

Augustus Charles Gregory was born at Farnsfield, Nottingham, England. He was the second of five brothers born to Joshua Gregory and Frances Churchman. Among his brothers were Francis Thomas Gregory, who also became a noted explorer.

1. Joshua William Gregory, born 1815, died 20 September 1850 aged 35.
2. Augustus Charles Gregory, born 1 August 1819, died 1905 aged 86
3. Francis (Frank) Thomas Gregory, born 1821.
4. Henry Churcham Gregory, born 1823.
5. Charles Frederick Gregory, born 1825.

A. C. Gregory was educated privately by tutors and later by his mother. In 1829, the family emigrated to Western Australia on board the Lotus, arriving at the Swan River Colony only four months after its establishment.

The Gregory family were initially granted land on the left bank of the Swan River, but the soil was poor, and they later obtained two further grants, one at Maylands and another in the Upper Swan district. For much of the 1830s, Augustus took jobs to supplement the family's income. For a while he worked for a chemist, and later in partnership with his brother Joshua William as a contract surveyor. In December 1841, he joined the Government Survey Office.