Robert Towns

Robert Towns
Born	Template:Birth date Longhorsley, Northumberland, England
Died	April 11, 1873(1873-04-11) (aged 78)
Occupation(s)	Master mariner, merchant, pastoralist, politician
Years active	1809–1873
Known for	Founding Townsville, Queensland; sandalwood trading; whaling; blackbirding; cotton cultivation in Queensland

Robert Towns (10 November 1794 – 11 April 1873) was a British master mariner who evolved into a significant figure in Australian commerce, engaging as a sandalwood trader, shipowner, pastoralist, politician, whaler, and community leader. He is credited with founding Townsville, Queensland, which he named after himself, and was notably involved in blackbirding and the exploitation of immigrant workers.

Following a seafaring career in Britain, Towns arrived in Australia in 1843 serving as an agent for the London-based merchant Robert Brooks (MP). He launched his own mercantile enterprises in Sydney, specializing in sandalwood and pelagic whaling operations. His trading activities encompassed importing commodities such as sugar and tea, while exporting goods including wool, whale oil, and cotton. As a pastoralist, he was among the first to cultivate cotton in Queensland, frequently employing Kanakas.

The headquarters of Robert Towns & Company were located in Sydney, with additional branches established in Melbourne, Brisbane, Dunedin, and Townsville. His extensive commercial network linked merchants across regions including Mauritius, India, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), the Philippines, New Zealand, New Caledonia, China, the New Hebrides (Vanuatu), California, and Chile.

Early life

Born on 10 November 1794 in Longhorsley, Northumberland, England, Robert Towns received his education at a local village school before embarking on a maritime career in 1809 as an apprentice aboard a collier from North Shields. By age 17, he had advanced to the role of a mate, and by 19 he commanded a Mediterranean brig as a master. His initial voyage to Australia occurred in 1827 as captain of the Boa Vista, followed by regular trading trips including arrival at Sydney commanding the Brothers (325 tons) in August 1832.

In 1838, Towns captained vessels for London shipowner and financier Robert Brooks, eventually becoming part-owner. During the period of the First Opium War (1839–1842), he successfully breached the British blockade of Canton to load tea shipments under record freight charges. After returning to London, he was appointed to oversee Brooks’ agency operations in Sydney.

New South Wales

In March 1843, Towns reached Port Jackson to assume leadership of Robert Brooks & Co.'s agency in Sydney. His wife and son joined him the following year. His marriage in 1833 to Sophia Wentworth—sister of politician William Charles Wentworth—strengthened his connections within Sydney society.

That same year, he established Robert Towns & Co., General Merchants, Ship and Commission Agents, based in Sydney. One of his early ventures included acquiring the Elizabeth (174 tons) in 1843, initiating a trend of purchasing older vessels. Alexander Stuart became a partner by 1855. By 1857, the company had generated profits amounting to £245,000, largely fueled by capital provided by Brooks for joint ventures and advances secured against Australian export commodities.

Despite the colonial economic downturn of the early 1840s, Towns leveraged credit access to expand rapidly within shipping. He purchased eight ships alongside securing control of a key wharf at Millar's Point on Darling Harbour—later known as Towns' Wharf. His fleet engaged extensively in sandalwood trading, pelagic whaling expeditions, and general cargo transport. His business stature earned him a seat on the board of the Bank of New South Wales in 1850; he subsequently served as its president.

Towns entered sandalwood commerce when his vessel Elizabeth returned from Tanna in June 1845 carrying 100 tons of sandalwood that sold for nearly £50 per ton in China. He established Pacific trading stations at locations including New Caledonia (1847), the Isle of Pines (1848), and Aneityum (1853). These outposts procured sandalwood, beche-de-mer, and coconut oil for shipment to Asian markets aboard his ships. Return voyages often brought back tea, rice, and sugar—commodities that proved especially lucrative during gold rush periods.

Efforts to Secure Affordable Labour

During the early 1840s, towns and various employers across New South Wales confronted significant shortages of workers. In response, the Coolie Immigration Society was established in Sydney in 1842 to advocate for the importation of Indian labourers. In 1846, the vessel Orwell arrived carrying 69 Indian labourers, referred to as “coolies,” recruited by Towns primarily for domestic service roles. Throughout the journey, these labourers suffered from severe hardships, including inadequate food supplies and widespread illness; one individual passed away soon after disembarking. Their employment in Sydney was brief, working on Towns' wharf before ceasing due to insufficient provisions and unclear contractual terms.

By 1853, Towns had imported 300 Chinese workers aboard the Royal Saxon to alleviate workforce gaps caused by the Australian Gold Rushes; however, placing these labourers with employers proved challenging. By the following year, he had brought in a total of 2,400 Chinese and 86 Indian workers. Efforts to recruit Chinese and Indian labour for his cotton plantation ventures in Queensland were obstructed by British emigration officials. As a result, Towns shifted focus towards bringing in Pacific Islanders under indentured contracts or through illicit means akin to enslavement.

Having previously employed South Sea islanders on his sandalwood and whaling vessels, Towns expanded their recruitment for his Queensland pastoral and cotton enterprises. He partnered with recruiters such as Henry Ross Lewin, notorious for blackbirding—the practice of forcibly abducting and coercing islanders into labour. Towns frequently faced accusations linking him to kidnapping and slavery activities. In defense, he published a pamphlet outlining his directives to Lewin; however, critics argued it may have been authored after the fact and failed to guarantee essential conditions like adequate housing, fair wages, or repatriation for the island workers.

Sydney-Based Whaling Operations

In the mid-19th century, Towns emerged as a prominent figure within whaling in Australia. Recognizing Port Jackson’s closeness to rich whaling grounds in the western Pacific as a competitive edge for Sydney’s maritime entrepreneurs, he sought to diminish the industry's unpredictability by sustaining a fleet of approximately twelve deep-sea whaling vessels operating concurrently. Although entering the sector after its peak during the 1830s, he ultimately owned or co-owned 24 whaling ships based in Sydney that completed 127 voyages from Port Jackson between 1841 and 1878.

His approach involved purchasing older, low-cost ships staffed predominantly by South Sea islander crews compensated through a share-based ("lay") system. Experienced captains helmed these vessels on demanding long-distance expeditions. Securing insurance for many of his aging ships was often problematic; eight were lost at sea over time. Labour shortages during the gold rush era of the 1850s compelled him to recruit crew members from Hobart and Pacific islands. Despite opposition from business partners, Towns maintained Sydney’s whaling activities well into the 1860s and 1870s.

Furthermore, Towns diversified operations by having returning whalers transport Pacific trade commodities such as coconut oil, trepang, and tortoise shell. Some vessels were repurposed entirely for commercial trading voyages.

Contribution as a Civic Leader

Towns was a member of the inaugural New South Wales Legislative Council from 1856 until 1861 and received a lifetime appointment in 1863, serving until his death in 1873. Although not among the foremost political leaders of his time, his expertise in business matters was widely respected.

He held several prominent positions including president of the Sydney Business Chamber, membership on the Pilot Board, participation in committees of the Sydney Bethel Union, and was a founding councillor of the Sydney Sailors' Home. At its opening ceremony in 1865, he referred to himself as the “father of the tars in the colony,” reflecting his extensive maritime career that began in 1809. Additionally, Towns was an advocate for establishing steamship routes across the Pacific.

From 1864 until his passing, he resided at Cranbrook House located in Rose Bay, Sydney.

Queensland

During the American Civil War, a worldwide shortage of cotton led the Queensland government to encourage cotton farming in its subtropical environment. Entrepreneur Robert Towns seized this chance by bringing indentured Pacific Island workers to his Townsvale estate near Brisbane in 1863. Towns strongly promoted this labor approach, primarily recruiting young males aboard ships such as the Don Juan. Although denied, accusations of kidnapping and forced recruitment—referred to as blackbirding—continued to surround the procurement of these laborers. Over a span of two years, Towns imported approximately 400 Melanesian workers on short-term agreements through vessels including Uncle Tom and Black Dog.

From 1864 until 1904, nearly 63,000 South Sea Islanders were transported to Australia to work in shipping and sugar industries under severe conditions and minimal wages. When voluntary enlistment was insufficient, blackbirding tactics were reportedly employed, sparking ethical debates regarding labor exploitation.

As a trailblazer in extensive cotton cultivation within Australia, Towns recognized the necessity for a northern port. He supported exploratory efforts that resulted in Cleveland Bay being designated as a port of entry named Townsville in 1865. In 1866, he organized the initial arrival of South Sea Islander laborers to Townsville aboard the Blue Bell. Apart from limited Melanesian imports for beche-de-mer operations near Bowen, Towns played a key role in introducing Polynesian workers into Queensland.

Despite laws requiring payment in currency, laborers were frequently compensated "in goods." One agent referred to the workers as "savages who did not know the use of money," illustrating the exploitative mindset common at that time.

Towns also experimented with early coffee cultivation efforts in Australia. He obtained roasted coffee beans—which were unsuitable for planting—but still managed to acquire land titles through government programs aimed at awarding land under cultivation. Although his coffee venture was unsuccessful, this strategy expanded his land ownership around Townsville.

Later life

In 1870, Robert Towns experienced paralysis and his health deteriorated. Following another stroke on 7 April 1873, he passed away at his residence, Cranbrook, on 11 April 1873. His burial took place on 15 April 1873 at Balmain Cemetery.

Legacy

Balmain Cemetery closed its operations in 1912 and was transformed into Pioneer's Memorial Park by 1941. Towns' commemorative stone was moved to a monument located atop Castle Hill in Townsville.

He contributed the pulpit for St Andrew's Cathedral in Sydney. His former residence, Cranbrook House, later became the site for Cranbrook School.

On 1 November 1964, a monument celebrating the "100th Anniversary of Settlement in Townsville" was unveiled at The Strand, featuring Towns alongside Andrew Ball, Mark Watt Reid, and John Melton Black. This monument is currently situated in Anzac Memorial Park, Townsville.

A statue honoring Towns stands on Pioneers Walk in Townsville. In June 2020, its hands were painted red as a form of protest against Towns' involvement in blackbirding despite his public commemoration.