Each day thousands of Dubbo’s community members travel across the Emile Serisier Bridge. Have you ever wondered about the person behind the name?

Jean Emile Serisier arrived in Australia from France between 1840 and 1846 (aged between 14 and 20 years old). He was a French Marine and was left in Australia after suffering from suspected appendicitis onboard. He was unable to board when the ship left Australia, and he joined a French importing firm in Sydney. The importer business sent him to Wellington in 1846, and he then soon opened a trading store on the banks of the Macquarie River, which in time would become the village of Dubbo.

The enterprising Frenchman soon up took a number of different occupations including postmaster, auctioneer, magistrate as well as managing various stores. He also attempted unsuccessfully to enter parliament in 1872.

After marrying in 1858 and raising a family, Serisier sold his store and began a winery upon 4000 acres on Old Dubbo Road. While visiting France in 1880 it is believed Jean Emile Serisier contracted smallpox and died.