Career
Born in 1827, Robert Mewburn lived at Stockton on Tees, Durham, and worked as a printer and clerk, but was convicted of "stealing boots and larceny" and sentenced to seven years" transportation. He arrived in Western Australia on board the Pyrenees in May 1853. He received his ticket of leave on arrival in the colony, and was issued with a conditional pardon the following year.
We worked for Thomas Peel at first, and later ran a general store at Mandurah.
He also acted as a lay preacher in the area. In 1872 he organised a petition for a regular teacher in the Mandurah area, and this resulted in him being appointed government schoolmaster.
He then built his own school, and taught there until his death in 1891.