Joshua Gurr


Joshua Gurr was a businessman in Adelaide, South Australia.

History

Gurr was born at Lewes, Sussex, and trained as a blacksmith. He emigrated to South Australia aboard Moffatt in August 1839, and shortly entered into partnership with coachbuilder John Green Coulls, who arrived aboard Java in February 1840. They had some part in the construction of John Ridley's first stripper.
In September 1845 Gurr left Coulls's Hindley Street business and opened an iron and coal yard in Currie Street, which prospered.
Jean Ogilvie arrived aboard Symmetry in February 1844; they married on 25 July 1845.
He was a foundation member of Zion Chapel, Pulteney street and a generous contributor to the Adelaide City Mission, the Royal Institution for the Blind, and the Blind and Deaf and Dumb Institution, Brighton. In 1903 he established the Jean Cottage Homes, a charitable settlement consisting of three-room homes for elderly couples in Jean Street, Elgin, named for his wife's birthplace, and where he owned considerable property.
He died at his home on Gurrs Road, Kensington after two years as a near-invalid.
Their son John Henry Gurr was born in Adelaide, and was educated at J. L. Young's Adelaide Educational Institution. He joined his father's business, and subsequently worked as a land agent and invested in mining shares. He was associated with the Glenelg Congregational Church.

Family

Joshua Gurr married Jean Ogilvie of Elgin, Scotland, on 25 July 1845. They had one son only: