Dominic Cicolini was born in 1843 in Terzolas (Trentino – Alto Adige), South Tyrol, Italy and his wife Kreszenz Cicolini was born in 1852 at Baden – Wurtenburg, Germany, her maiden name being Kreszenz Wiedemann. They married in Italy, and both had travelled widely. They lived for some years after marriage in Italy, Germany and Paris and they left the latter city to come to Australia around 1889.
They settled in Upper Lansdowne where Dominic selected land and carved out of the virgin bush a home for themselves.
Dominic erected a steam sawmill in 1898 on his property at Upper Lansdowne. He purchased the 8-horse boiler (two ton weight) from Johns River and had it transported by Mr A J Payne. In 1902 Dominic purchased a new boiler and engine for his sawmill. He also acquired a dairy farm.
In 1905 Dominic began manufacturing broom handles at his sawmill for the broom stick factory in Wingham. He had purchased the machinery from Messrs Smith and Basham of Taree.
In 1890 a son Guiseppe Emmanuel (Joseph) was born. The family continued working the sawmill and dairy farm until Dominic passed away in 1912. Joseph then continued to run the family businesses.
Dominic died on 18 July 1912 aged 70 and Kreszenz died on 4 May 1942 at the age of 90 years. They are both buried in the Lansdowne Cemetery.
Joseph Emmanuel went on to marry Florence Emily Yarnold of Killabakh in 1912. Joseph and Florence had two sons Joseph Albert born 1913 and Claude Raymond born 1915. Joseph Emmanuel died on 31 May 1963 aged 72 years and Florence Emily died on 5 July 1990 aged 97 years. They are both buried in the Lansdowne cemetery.
Joseph Albert married Winifred Marie Noonan on 25 February 1933 and they had seven children: Gene b1933, Karl b1939, Errol b1939, Leon b194, Paul b1946, Narelle and Veronica b1955. Joseph Albert died on 19 August 1968 at Taree aged 55 years and Winifred Marie died on 18 November 1973 in Sydney aged 57. Joseph Albert is buried in Lansdowne Cemetery.
Claude Raymond married Olive Jane Ritchie from Upper Lansdowne in 1935 and they had 8 children: Pamela b1935, Claude b1937, Beverley b1938, Gloria b1940, Peter b1942, Phillip b1944, Jillian b1950 and Virginia b1952. Claude died on 3 February 2000 aged 84 years and Olive Jane died on 5 August 2001 aged 84 years. Both are buried in the Lansdowne Cemetery.
Joseph Albert chose to reside in Wollongong returning regularly with his family to Upper Lansdowne.
Claude Raymond and Olive and children continued working the family businesses where Claude acquired many more properties which his children operated at a very young age.
Joseph and Claude’s families reside in many areas, some still in the Manning Valley, Wollongong, Melbourne, Queensland and New Zealand.
Compiled by Gloria Crittenden – February 2025