Robert Waters was born in Barnes, England in the year 1814. Just seven weeks after his nineteenth birthday he arrived in the Swan River Colony in the ship 'Freak' on 11 October 1833. His brother Thomas, had arrived four years earlier in the 'Caroline'. Robert arrived just in time to witness the marriage of Thomas and Sarah Price on 15 October 1833. It is likely that Robert spent some time with his brother who had land on the Swan at 'Olive Farm' but by 1840 he had built a thatched cottage on land in the Toodyay valley. This is referred to in notes from Henry de Burgh's diary and pictured in 'A History of Toodyay' by Alf. T. Thomas. A letter from Robert's mother, Mary, who was still living in Barnes, England was addressed to him at Barn Elms Farm, Toodyay. It was written on 26 March 1849. Robert finally settled at 'Spring Gardens' in the Toodyay valley on a property of 100 acres. At 27 years of age he married on 3 February 1842 to Susan Betts at Guildford, she was then only sixteen years of age. She had arrived in the colony as a child of five in the 'Rockingham' with her parents Richard and Elizabeth Betts on 14 May 1830. From that marriage in 1842 there were fourteen children. Twelve of these reached maturity but two died shortly after they were born. A story that was passed down through the family demonstrates Robert's tenacity, determination and bush craft. Hearing that another settler was interested in purchasing land that he wanted, he set off to walk through the bush to Perth. He walked all day and night and was there when the lands title office opened the next morning. He obtained the block that he was seeking. No doubt he purchased many more blocks and was able to leave land to many of his children. Robert later built a stone house which I believe still stands today. He was an excellent gardener and Orchardist. His farm became a show place in the Toodyay district. Robert died 25 June 1893 at Toodyay and his wife Susan died two months later on 15 August 1893 at Toodyay. They were buried in the Culham Cemetery north of Toodyay.