Historical information

Thomas Briggs was a pioneer of the Tawonga District. He worked on his parent's farm, selling goods, droving pigs and travelling to Yackandandah and Bright. He worked with pick and shovel on the Tawonga to Bright Road in 1902. He took up 320 acres of wild forest in Tawonga at 10 cents per acre per year for 20 years. He built a slab and shingle hut and a boundary fence. In 1886 he married Annie Maria Platt parenting 5 sons and 2 daughters until Annie died in 1953, aged 86 years.

Significance

Thomas Briggs was a pioneer living in the Kiewa Valley with his parents and then with wife and family.
This article is a history of his life from 1862 until 1887.
See KVHS 0850 for information on the dray used to make the Tawonga Gap road - owned by John Briggs.

Physical description

Newspaper article Page 34 Border Morning Mail, Saturday, March 5, 1988 - Thomas Briggs
Born 3rd Nov. 1862 who lived with his family at Upper Gundowring. His travels in the area including the Tawonga Gap and its construction in 1902 and his taking up of land in Tawonga in 1880. The article finishes in 1887 when he married Annie Maria Platt. The Thos Briggs story continues next week.