DescriptionAnn Smith was born the daughter of Sarah Dowling and Abraham Smith, a farm bailiff at Rowbury Farms near Andover in Hampshire. In 1854 she married William Knight. The couple had a daughter and two sons prior to emigrating to Australia. Where a third son was born. Their daughter Albina had died prior to the move.
William was a master baker and had two shops, one at Prahran and another at Oakleigh.
When William heard of the gold found at Gabriel's Gully, he set out for Otago. Ann and the three boys remained in Melbourne. They followed in February 1862.
At Waitahuna, William's bakery was making 1 pound a day. The family had two tents and felt they were a little ahead of other people who had only one tent.
The family briefly lived at Miller's Flat before moving to Waipori in 1864. They were initially on the south side of the river before setting up the bakery, made of wattle and daub, on the north bank. The bakery was situated between two hotels and it became the centre of activity for the miners who came in from the surrounding hills for their bread.
William Knight died on 12 July l865 aged 50. Ann continued to run the bakery for a further 15-years. Ann retired in 1880 aged 60. She left the baking to John Fraser, the main baker on staff, who continued to work for many years at Knight Brothers store, and in 1882 son Fred Knight took over the business.
Ann died on 14 June 1901 aged 81. Her obituary described her as 'a woman of remarkable strength of character. When in business she earned the respect of all by her honesty, straightforwardness, and untiring industry.' William and Ann are buried in the Waipori Cemetery.
This information comes from pages 171-172 of 'Gold Beneath Dark Waters | The People of Waipori,' by David Still.PhotographerUnknown DateC.1890RightsThis item is out of copyright. ContributorWaipori Goldfields Charitable Trust
