1825: Luke Castray born in Grahamstown South Africa.
1842: Began as a miliary man in the Commiserate. He paid for everything the army needed. Food transport etc.
1844: Married Mary Ann Booth in Grahamstown. They had six children.
1842,1845,1846, 1847: Served in wars against the Boers and the Xhosas.
1860-1863: Served in Mauritius. Sent to Madagascar.
1864-1866: Served in New Zealand. Wars against the Maoris.
1872: Commissary in Charge, Acting Barrack Master, Military Accountant, Military Store officer, Assistant Commissary General and Justice of the Peace.
1897: Died in Hobart.
Obituary in The Mercury:
Luke Castray led a quiet unobtrusive life. His memory will be kept green in Hobart through his exertions in getting Castray Esplanade constructed as a pleasant healthful place of resort for citizens, and into which work he threw his whole heart in the seventies. Subsequently he entered with equal earnestness upon the cause of the Prisoners Aid Society, and his name is identified with much of the good work done by this useful institution.
He was an old Army Officer, and in every respect a Gentleman. Of late he had suffered from and affliction of the heart, and his demise was not altogether unexpected.
1923: Ted Castray (Luke’s son) said: My dad when in control of the Ordnance, which was then located at the end of Princess Wharf, it occurred to him that whole sweep of waterfront- which runs from Princes Steps to the boundary of Ross’s shipyard – could be turned into a seaside boulevard, for the use and recreation of the general public.
After talking the matter over with the civil authorities, Mr Castray mapped out his plans to construct a sea wall, and secured his labour from the HM Gaol. He undertook the sole supervision of the work, and the result was a spacious esplanade, seated and planted with foliage trees. So well was the work carried out, that to this day, it has never budged, and remains a standing monument to the memory of an esteemed and respected public man.
1842: Began as a miliary man in the Commiserate. He paid for everything the army needed. Food transport etc.
1844: Married Mary Ann Booth in Grahamstown. They had six children.
1842,1845,1846, 1847: Served in wars against the Boers and the Xhosas.
1860-1863: Served in Mauritius. Sent to Madagascar.
1864-1866: Served in New Zealand. Wars against the Maoris.
1872: Commissary in Charge, Acting Barrack Master, Military Accountant, Military Store officer, Assistant Commissary General and Justice of the Peace.
1897: Died in Hobart.
Obituary in The Mercury:
Luke Castray led a quiet unobtrusive life. His memory will be kept green in Hobart through his exertions in getting Castray Esplanade constructed as a pleasant healthful place of resort for citizens, and into which work he threw his whole heart in the seventies. Subsequently he entered with equal earnestness upon the cause of the Prisoners Aid Society, and his name is identified with much of the good work done by this useful institution.
He was an old Army Officer, and in every respect a Gentleman. Of late he had suffered from and affliction of the heart, and his demise was not altogether unexpected.
1923: Ted Castray (Luke’s son) said: My dad when in control of the Ordnance, which was then located at the end of Princess Wharf, it occurred to him that whole sweep of waterfront- which runs from Princes Steps to the boundary of Ross’s shipyard – could be turned into a seaside boulevard, for the use and recreation of the general public.
After talking the matter over with the civil authorities, Mr Castray mapped out his plans to construct a sea wall, and secured his labour from the HM Gaol. He undertook the sole supervision of the work, and the result was a spacious esplanade, seated and planted with foliage trees. So well was the work carried out, that to this day, it has never budged, and remains a standing monument to the memory of an esteemed and respected public man.