George Oakes

George Oakes married Mary Ann Shelley in 1837. He was educted by Rev.John Eyre a colleague of Francis Oakes Snr. In his early years he followed pastoral pursuits and in the 1840s he purchased land in partnership with his brother Francis. In September 1848 George Oakes was one of the provisional committee to make arangements for the formation of a Railway company and in the same year was elected as Parramatta's representative to the Legislative Council, a position he held till parliament was dissolved in 1855.In March 1856 he was chosen as one of two Parramatta Representatives in the new Legislative Assembly a position which he held until 1860 when he was replaced by Sir.John Lackey.Fom June 1872 till November 1874 he was member for East Sydney. He was a member of the first council and the second president of The Parramatta District Hospital Committee from 1850-1858 and 1860. He was a pastoralist at "Oak Park" in Crookwell and built "Perth House" in George Street, Parramatta, as his Sydney residence.

By 1854 he had three runs in the Wellington District amounting to over 100,000 acres and carrying 3,000 cattle. In 1859 after a tour of Europe he was nominated to the Legislative Council by Sir Henry Parkes and remained a member until his death in 1881.

George and Mary Ann had three children. Following the death of Mary Ann, George married again in 1867 to Mary Anne Morison who was to die at sea, between Australia and England, off the Island of Tristan Da Cunha.

George Oakes met his death by tragic fashion being hit by a tram whilst on his journey to Redfern Station to catch a train to his residence in Parramatta. He died in Sydney Hospital.

Published in "The Sydney Monitor" of Monday 29 May 1837:

"Marriage. On Thursday last, the 25th instant, by special license, at St. John's Church, Parramatta, by the Reverend Mr. Bobart, George Oakes, Esq., of Crookwell, to Mary Ann, youngest daughter of the late William Shelley, Esq , of Parramatta."