Mary Reibey

The Argyle Stores stands on land once owned by Mary Reibey (1777-1855), born as Molly Haydock.  She began life in England, where she was a businesswoman and trader.  Disguised as a boy, she was arrested for stealing a horse and deported to Australia, arriving there in 1792.  Two years later, in 1794, at the age of 17, she married Thomas Reibey.  Together they built a farmhouse.  They acquired interests in hotels, trading, shipping, farming and city buildings, and 1828 she owned the land on which the Argyle Stores stands.