The story of Robert Gibb

ROBERT Gibb lived from 1904 to 1988, and was known as Bob.

Bob came from Jack Street in Motherwell, Scotland.

At 12 years old, his father died after lifting a large engine alone. He was a very strong man. As a result, Bob had to look after his mother, as well as two sisters and three brothers, all younger than himself.

Later in 1928, after a big farewell party, his mates (all drunk) helped to get him on the ship, but it wasn’t actually going to Canada so Dad could go gold mining.

It was the wrong ship. He found out when the ship was on its way that it was the ‘Hobsons Bay’ going to Melbourne so Bob ended up in Melbourne and he did go gold mining at Ballarat.

He also worked at a Boys Home where he gave swimming lessons. Bob also helped build the Palais Theatre in St Kilda.

Bob loved fishing, which brought him to the Thornton area a few times. To get from Melbourne he walked, taking a week, so he sang and played the piano in hotels to earn a meal along the way.

He also went gold mining around Alexandra and Thornton. He was living off the land, fishing, rabbiting for food, also a little gold to buy flour, tea, etcetera.

Bob met my mother, Muriel and married in 1936. Then, Bob was working on a timber mill near Buxton (out in the bush). A house was provided. The first night it rained unfortunately. The roof leaked on the marital bed during the night.
In November 1938 I was born in Alexandra when Black Friday happened (1938-39 fire).

The fire was approaching the mill. Bob got us out, left us at the Buxton Hotel and went fire fighting.

He loved fishing around Thornton and Eildon so we moved to Thornton about 1943-44.

It was a farm owned by people who wanted someone to look after the house and milk a cow, so my mother did.

Then another daughter was born and I went to school. Dad was given a block of land next door by…

by Elvie Thompson

Image: Siblings Bill, Jean, Bob, Mary, Tom and Jack.