Braidwood's Bendigo Bank has sponsored the acquisition of the collection whilst a public appeal is launched to raise additional funds for the purchase. The items will be unveiled by manager Craig Petit at the Braidwood Bendigo Bank on Thursday, June 26th at 4.00pm and the appeal launched. Around $8,000 needs to be raised from the public, and all contributions are fully tax deductible. Donations can be made at the bank or at the museum.
The major item is a magnificent Chinese export writing desk bought in 1836 by Dr Wilson in Rio de Janeiro whilst travelling to settle in Australia with his family. The desk is in the form of a travelling chest of drawers with a secretaire desk in the top part. These were highly fashionable with naval officers, being compact and easy to move around, with various flush-fitting handles. Wilson's naval colleague Captain Coghill had a similar Chinese export desk which is still with the original furnishings at Bedervale.
Dr Wilson's desk will become one of the Braidwood Museum's most important items and joins his naval hat and coat already in the collection. In addition, the museum has acquired Dr Wilson's wall mounted medicine cabinet. The small English mahogany cupboard was by tradition fitted into his naval quarters on board his ships. Also acquired is a beautiful gold mourning locket for Alice Mowle, Dr Wilson's grand-daughter who died in 1853 aged 18 months.
Braidwood museum spokesman Antony Davies said: "The survival of these beautiful objects is really extraordinary considering the hardships that Dr Wilson encountered. Wilson made nine voyages to Australia as a naval surgeon, and two of these ended in shipwreck. He was stranded in the Torres Strait and West Australia for many months during which time he mapped several unexplored areas of the west coast. In Braidwood he actively petitioned for the establishment of the town in the late 1830s despite personal misfortunes. His infant son and wife died in 1837 and 1838, and in 1840 his house at Braidwood Farm was burnt down. Only a handful of possessions were saved. The 1840s depression forced the abandonment of his substantial brick windmill near Mona and of his partly built mansion on the slopes of Wilson's hill. This acquisition will allow the Braidwood museum to create a major central exhibit in honour of our town's founder."
Dr Wilson died in 1843 and was buried with his wife and child in the family cemetery on Wilson's hill. Following his death the bankrupt estate was sold forcing his daughter Mary to stay with friends at Manar and St Omer, before marrying and moving to Eden. Mary's husband Stewart Mowle purchased some items including the desk, a piano, a carriage and some jewellery at the estate sale and some of these were handed down through the families of her children.
Wilson was a remarkable man in every respect. He encouraged experimental farming methods on his farm and sponsored ploughing matches, horse races and balls at the Doncaster Inn. Wilson was the first to successfully import the European bee for honey, and it was at his suggestion that Ryrie Park was set aside as a public market and recreation ground. Always philanthropic, Dr Wilson provided the plants for Ryrie Park, which he laid out with his superintendent Joseph Taylor. No other items belonging to Dr Wilson are thought to have survived.
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