Roy Allport

Rollo Thomas “Roy” Allport was born on 31 March 1888 at Fullerton, New South Wales, the son of Thomas Allport and Ann Jane (nee Chisholme). His great grandfather was Joe Allport. Before settling at Lightning Ridge, Roy spent several years in New Zealand, returning to Australia when his mother became ill.

Allport was recorded on the ledger at Regan’s store in 1920. In 1935 he assisted Jack Boules in the construction of the second St. George’s Anglican Church.

Roy married “Queenie” Maud Molyneux on 5 July 1921 at Lightning Ridge. They had three children: John, William, and Ellen. A capable builder, he built the family home on Harlequin Street in 1924. Roy and Queenie lived for many years in their modest home, noted for its steep corrugated-iron roof and metal chimneys. During the 1930s and 1940s, travelling Anglican Bush Brethren often stayed overnight at the Allport house. The family also kept goats that roamed freely through the town, so much so that the laneway behind their home became known locally as “Billy Goat Lane”.

Roy Allport died at Lightning Ridge on 29 October 1959, aged 71. He is buried in the Lightning Ridge Cemetery. Queenie later moved to Harris Park, near Sydney, to live with their son John and daughter Ellen.

The Allport house was sold in the mid-1960s to a tourism operator who added a wide verandah for additional accommodation.

• Roy Allport @ Find a Grave.

Article: Research by Russell Gawthorpe and Leisa Carney, edited by Russell Gawthorpe. LRHS research compiled by Len Cram and Barbara Moritz. Sources: Lightning Ridge Historical Society oral history, Lightning Ridge: Turning Back Time - A Heritage Trail, Barbara Moritz, 1998, p. 26.