Nathaniel Dawes
Nathaniel Dawes was the first Anglican Bishop of Rockhampton from 1892 until 1909. He was the first bishop to be consecrated in Australia.Early life
Dawes was born in Rye, Sussex, England and educated at Montpelier College, Brighton and St Alban Hall, Oxford. He was an engineer who was involved in the construction of the Blackfriars Bridge.Religious life
Dawes was ordained a deacon in 1871 and priest in 1872. His first post was as a curate at St Peter's, Vauxhall from 1871 to 1877 after which he was Vicar of Charterhouse before emigrating to Australia to become the Rector of St Andrew's South Brisbane. He was then appointed Archdeacon of Brisbane and later its first coadjutor bishop before translation to Rockhampton in 1892. He was consecrated a bishop on 1 May 1889 at St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney, by Alfred Barry, Bishop of Sydney. In 1897 he was involved in the establishment of the Bush Brotherhood, an order of itinerant outback priests. Dawes travelled to England in 1907 for medical treatment. On 27 May 1908, on medical advice, he reluctantly resigned his see and was succeeded by George Halford.Later life
Dawes died on 12 September 1910 in Malvern, Worcestershire, England.
