Granny Hutchinson Cottage Historic Site

Known locally as Granny Hutchinson, Rose Ann Hutchinson (nee Breen) was born in Ireland in 1840 and, at the age of just nineteen, she set off for the colonies.

She arrived in the district to take up a position with the Forrest family as a nursemaid to their children, two of whom were leading explorers and politicians John and Alexander.

Lord John Forrest never forgot his old nurse, and whenever they met, he would give her a half sovereign. One of these she gave to my father when he left for the Great War. I can remember in later years he wore it on his watch chain and my brother still has it today.
Great-granddaughter, Marie Elizabeth Wright.

In 1861, Rose married William Jones at the Church of England, Picton. Their marriage produced five children, including their daughter Elizabeth, who would later marry Charles Wright of the nearby Roseleigh Farm family.

Sadly, William died in 1871. Three years later, Rose married John Thomas Hutchinson and had another five children.

She died as a widow in 1921, aged eighty-one.