Frankston, Victoria, Australia — Oceania
Thompson's Folly
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, August 14, 2026
1. Thompson's Folly Marker
Thompson crossed Port Phillip Bay with the Liardet brothers and came to Frankston; where he purchased property during the township's first land sales in 1854. This included a large holding in Langwarrin, which now forms part of the Langwarrin Flora and Fauna Reserve and a parcel of land in High Street where he built his home called "Skirbeck".
In 1860, he bought 289 acres north of Skye Road but when farming this land failed to make a profit, he purchased a schooner and returned to the sea. He named the schooner "Hannah Thompson" after his wife and used it to carry timber, fish and granite from Frankston to Melbourne; a very profitable trade.
To provide quicker access to his schooner, he built a road down the hillside from High Street at his own expense. The locals, thinking Thompson foolish for having constructed it himself, referred to the road teasingly as 'his
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Thompson was a prominent character within the community. He opened a general store in Frankston, which became the first office of the Frankston Standard newspaper and sat on the committees for the rebuilding of the Frankston Pier and new Mechanics Hall. In 1885, he was elected Shire President and in 1889 he became a member of the Board of Directors for the launch of the Frankston Standard. By 1891 he was the newspaper's Chairman of the Board.
At the height of his prosperity in 1887, Thompson's wife Hannah passed away at the age of 50. Four years later he married Elizabeth Armstrong but by neither marriage did Thompson have any children. Thus, when he died at Skirbeck in 1901 aged 74, he had no son or daughter to inherit his wealth.
In the late 19th century, passage to and from Frankston was often difficult. With no established road or rail network, the journey could only be made on foot, by boat or with a horse and buggy. A trip between Melbourne and Frankston would typically take two days.
When I first came to Frankston in 1960, everybody used to meet at 'the top of The Folly' to go to the beach.
Glenda Viner.
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, August 14, 2026
2. Thompson's Folly Marker at the top of the hill
Erected by Frankston City.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Parks & Recreational Areas • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1854.
Location. 38° 8.896′ S, 145° 7.003′ E. Marker is in Frankston, Victoria. It is at the intersection of Esplanade and High Street, on the left when traveling north on Esplanade. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Esplanade, Frankston VIC 3199, Australia. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Oceania, in Australasia, in the Pacific Ocean, in South Pacific, on the Pacific Rim, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 19 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: 100th Anniversary of Legacy (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Frankston War Memorial (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Frankston War Memorial - Rust Stains (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Centenary of Armistice Day (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); In Memory of Fifteen Young Men (approx. 10.3 kilometers away); K. M. Reedy (approx. 18.2 kilometers away); Tom Roberts (approx. 19.1 kilometers away); Ricketts Point (approx. 19.1 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Frankston.
Also see . . . 10 Stories of Frankston. <blockquote>We know that Wilbraham Liardet had the Royal Mail run as one of his many enterprises. He needed a Captain for his steamer Angenora so he appointed John Arthur Thompson for the job. John Thompson held this position for seven years, and while he was working for the Liardet family, he would often come down the Bay with brothers Frank and Frederick to Frankston on their visits. So it was that in the Land Sales of 1854, he bought considerable tracts of land including 16 hectares in Dandenong Road, an 8 hectare block in Beach Street and a large holding in Langwarrin.
When he retired from his position as Captain of the Angenora he purchased a further 117 hectares of land north of Skye Road to start a farm. This undertaking was not a success so he “returned to the sea”, buying a schooner to carry timber, granite (to be used for all the Public Buildings that were being built at that time in Melbourne) and fish for the Melbourne markets. This venture was much more profitable and John was able to build himself a home “Skirbeck” in High Street, Frankston, near the Esplanade. The story goes that Thompson used to keep a look-out for his schooner from the front of his house as the ship came in to dock at the pier. Should anything appear to him to be amiss, he was in the habit of going down to sort things out himself. He found that it was taking him too long to get there so he built a road down the side of the cliff. To this day the road is known as The Folly, although its correct and full title is “Thompson’s Folly”.
In 1883, when the Colonial Government was looking for land on which to train military personnel, Thompson sold his land at Langwarrin. This is now the site of the Langwarrin Flora and Fauna Reserve. Thompson also opened a General Store in Bay Street (now the Nepean Highway) which became the first office of the Standard Newspaper of which he was a Director and Chairman. Thompson also became Shire President and was made a Justice of the Peace.We know that Wilbraham Liardet had the Royal Mail run as one of his many enterprises. He needed a Captain for his steamer Angenora so he appointed John Arthur Thompson for the job. John Thompson held this position for seven years, and while he was working for the Liardet family, he would often come down the Bay with brothers Frank and Frederick to Frankston on their visits. So it was that in the Land Sales of 1854, he bought considerable tracts of land including 16 hectares in Dandenong Road, an 8 hectare block in Beach Street and a large holding in Langwarrin.
Thompson’s wife Hannah died when she was only 50 years old. Four years later Thompson married Elizabeth Armstrong and, having no children by either wife, he died with no heirs in 1901 at 73 years of age. (Submitted on September 11, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 11, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 11, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
