It’s the Wimbledon finals this weekend, so here’s a story about Australia’s first Wimbledon champion, and it’s not who you think. I told a version of this story live on Ipswich’s West Bremer Radio.

Irene Jean Barron was born in Southport in 1899. She moved to Ipswich when she married Walter Nisbett and stayed here for the next fifty years.

Irene’s husband Walter grew up at Woodend, Ipswich, and was just ten years old when he watched his best friend drown at Woodend in the Bremer River. He let go of his friend’s hand when he was afraid of drowning himself, watched the other boy sink, and never saw him again. He didn’t report the death, lied to the family, and lied to the police, all because he was afraid of getting into trouble.

Her husband redeemed himself in adulthood when he served in the First World War at Gallipoli, was wounded in action in France, and years later awarded life membership by the Returned Services League which was the highest honour the league could bestow.

Irene’s father-in-law William Nisbett was an assistant foreman at the Railway Workshops in North Ipswich when one day he boarded the train at Sherwood, the ambulance bearers at Redbank proclaimed him dead, and took him to work at Ipswich anyway.

Irene’s daughter Joan Nisbett went to Ipswich Girls Grammar School and was an eighteen-year-old pianist when she was awarded a Fellowship of Trinity College of London. This was the highest musical award that could be given by the college.

You probably think that Australia’s first Wimbledon champion was Norman Brookes who won the men’s singles title in 1907. But in fact by some accounts, Irene’s father the Brisbane stone mason William Barron was Australia’s first Wimbledon champion.

Wimbledon today is famous its tennis championships, but in the 19th century Wimbledon was more famous for rifle shooting. The Wimbledon Rifle Meeting, which was the annual national rifle competition, had been held on Wimbledon Common since 1860.

It was the most prestigious shooting competition in the British Empire and the world. The shooting was held at Wimbledon until 1889 when it was moved 50km further out of town because of safety concerns for Wimbledon locals in the park. The tennis championships only began in 1877.

Irene’s father William was well-known for many reasons. He conducted the first Southport town band, conducted the Beenleigh and Nerang Bands, conducted the Southport Presbyterian and Congregational Church choirs, and was conductor of the Brisbane’s Ann Street Presbyterian Church choir.

William was also a colour-sergeant with Queensland’s Moreton Regiment. In 1886 he and Sergeant T. Grimes were selected to represent Queensland in the Australian rifle team to visit Wimbledon. (See the photo top of page – back row Barron centre-left, Grimes centre-right.)

After William’s death in 1933, a number of newspapers reported that William had won Wimbledon’s Prince of Wales’ prize and was presented with the trophy by Queen Victoria herself. The Prince of Wales’ marksman, just like it’s Wimbledon tennis equivalent, was considered the best in the world.

The problem is that the newspapers got it wrong. It was true that Colour-Sergeant William Barron competed with the Australian rifle team at Wimbledon in 1886.

But no Australian won Wimbledon’s ultimate prize that year – that didn’t happen until 1948. But in fact, the 1886 Australian team placed fourth in the Kolapore Cup.

The Kolapore Cup is the oldest and most prestigious international full‑bore rifle team matches in the world. The trophy began in 1870 when presented by the young Rajah of Kolapore. It represents more than shooting skill – it symbolises national pride, and continues today.

Australia’s fourth place on Wimbledon Common in 1886 was enough for Irene’s father to become a Queensland hero upon his return, and be awarded a beautifully engraved gold locket, with a large gemstone on the face and inscribed on the back, “Presented to Colour-Sergeant Barron on his return from Wimbledon, 1886.”  He was promoted to the rank of sergeant-major, and his legend grew even bigger after death.

The family dispersed from Ipswich, with Irene’s father’s last resting place in Southport, her husband at Holland Park in Brisbane, and her own in Maffra in Victoria. But I reckon the connection of our Ipswich housewife to sort-of Australia’s first Wimbledon champion should be noted.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO A VERSION OF THIS STORY TOLD ON WEST BREMER RADIO.

Photo credits:
Australian Rifle Team which visited Wimbledon in 1886 – Australian Town and Country Journal, Sydney, 13th October 1909, page 27.
Nisbett home, 116 Woodend Road, Ipswich – Realestate dot com website.
Colour-Sergeant Barron – Queensland Figaro and Punch, 23rd October 1886, page 17.
Sergeant Grimes – Queensland Figaro and Punch, 23rd October 1886, page 17.
Australian Rifle Team, Winners Kolapore Cup, Bisley, 1914, photographer Gwyer Gibbs – State Library of Victoria.
William Smith Barron, Southport Cemetery – Anita 2020 via Find a Grave website.