Crafting of an Australian Citizenship Quilt NSW Contributions

Gras, Marlene
Griffith NSW
The artist has incorporated an historic photograph of her husband’s pioneer ancestors from Spain c1920
in her square. Her husband is descended from one of the first Spanish settlers and one of the earliest
landholders in the Griffith area, Juan (John) Gras. He was the first of three brothers to arrive in
Australia in 1906, with his siblings, Francisco (Frank), Sigismundo (Peter), joining him in 1911 along
with a nephew, Jacinto.
ID151
“Peter brought with him his only child, son Jaime (Charlie) then 8 years old. Peter’s wife had died
during childbirth. They all came from Villa de Fordera, Spain.”
The brothers and Jacinto worked a vegetable lease in West Hurstville in Sydney, until identifying land in
the Griffith area in NSW.
“In 1916, John, Peter, Frank and Jacinto drew farms 16, 15, 2 and 1134 respectively… Living conditions
were very primitive… Most people lived in ‘bag’ huts, hence the original town name ‘Bagtown’.”
Jacinto passed away in 1920 aged 23 and his farm was sold. John, Peter and Frank all built houses on
their farms after which they travelled back to Spain and returned with brides. Peter eventually moved
back to Spain, leaving his son, Charlie, to take over the farm.
“All members of the Gras family became naturalized Australian citizens.”