Descendants of Thomas & Jane Rose Annual Picnic at Rose Cottage
The Thomas & Jane Rose Family Society's annual Picnic Open Day aims to bring together descendants, friends and community members for a day of fun, reminiscence and appreciation of Thomas and Jane Rose as the first free settler family in Australia. It is held at heritage listed Rose Cottage (1811).
Our annual picnic and Rose Cottage Open Day is fast approaching again on 19th May 2024 and we hope to see many descendants of Thomas and Jane Rose, the first free settler family to the Colony aboard the Bellona on 16th January 1793, in attendance.
Why not make a weekend of it. We are encouraging people to attend dinner the night before at the Heritage Hotel opposite the Cottage, attend service at St Johns Wilberforce and visit Thomas and Jane Rose and descendants graves in St Johns Cemetery also.
The day will be begin with a flag raising ceremony and smoking ceremony and have traditional Maypole dancing which the children always enjoy.
Entry to the Cottage is by gold coin donation and we also are affiliated with the Australiana Pioneer Village where you can extend your day for a reasonable entry fee with loads of fun events and things to see and do.
Descendants can provide updates to their BDMS for our new Rose Family of the Bellona books and interact with their line Co-ordinators.