Family background
Robert Spence was born at Dumferline, Fife, Scotland on 31 July 1805, the son of Alexander Spence and Jane McKay. He married Alice Grisdale (1813-1856) at Eccles, Manchester, Lancashire, England on 5 February 1837 and they had 4 sons and 4 daughters.
Spence, his wife and son, Alexander, immigrated to Australia as Bounty Immigrants, arriving in Sydney on 25 October 1841 by the ship Ayrshire. They lived on George Street, Redfern.
Spence died at Redfern on 11 February 1879, aged 73, and was buried at Rookwood Cemetery.
Occupation & interests
Robert Spence established his building yard at Redfern and he worked with a small band of specialist tradesmen constructing brick and stone cottages. He was a Freemason and a member of Loyal Victoria Lodge.
Local government service
Robert Spence was an alderman for Belmore Ward of Redfern Council in 1868-70.
References
‘Borough of Redfern’, NSW Government Gazette, 15 September 1868, p.3234, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225578220