3 January 1828 Launceston Tasmania Australia Isabella Buchan Mowatt John, George Audley, Mary Ann, David, John, Andrew William, Tasman, Colin John & Audley

George Shields was born in London on 3 Jan 1828, and christened on 10 Feb 1828 at the London Wall Scotch Church. He arrived in Launceston as a five year old with his family on the Chili in Mar 1833. His parents were John Shields (1802-1874) and Bridget Audley (1809-1884) who married on 9 Oct 1826. George was at the Bendigo goldfields during the rush of the 1850s, before settling permanently in Launceston where he worked as a blacksmith, shipwright and engineer until he retired in 1884. George married Isabella Buchan Mowatt at the York Street residence of the Presbyterian minister on 24 Feb 1853. Their nine children were born between 1853 and 1878. George died on 25 Aug 1901 at his residence 'Apsley', 3 Brisbane Road, Launceston. Isabella died the following year on 19 Jan 1902. They were both buried at the Scotch Cemetery.

Their son George Audley Shields (1854-1933) was a fuel and produce merchant in William Street and the Esplanade, Launceston in 1891-92. He advertised in the Tasmanian Exhibition catalogue selling Newcastle and Tasmanian coals, wattle and oak firewood, linseed and linseed meal, flour, potatoes, fowls' wheat, hay, chaff, bran, oats, straw and peas.

George's wife Isabella, sons John, Andrew, Colin and Audley, sister Martha Peter, nephew James Peter and niece Jeannie Peter are also pictured in the Launceston Family Album.

See The Examiner 9 Dec 2006, page 38.

Barbara Valentine & Marion Sargent Jun 2008