Henry and Gus Lawrence came to Alton Downs schoolhouse c. 1938. Henry was the newly appointed School Head Master after the transfer of Mr. Harold Loney. They married at St. Luke's Church, Wandal in 1935 and their family of four - Yvonne, Aileen, Noelle and Charles experienced life at Alton Downs. He was an avid historian and much of the effort of this history is as a result of his commitment to events.
Henry came from the Central Highlands and Gus from an old family settled at Black Gin Creek. Her father James and mother Julia Crook had a family of four - Bernard, Augusta, George and Thomas; the latter losing his life in a well accident in 1925. The family obtained a farm on Nicholson Road called "Ebenezer Farm" in 1909 until 1926. It is recorded that Mrs. Crook helped in the cutting of the ribbon on the new Ridgelands rail line. A photo of James Crook was hanging in the Alton Downs Hall.
As a young woman Gus always wanted to be a nurse and to learn the piano. Her first job was at J. Bremer and Sons Rockhampton after her Kerr's College Education. Henry and Gus Lawrence retired to Rockhampton. Gus attended both Dalma Road and Alton Downs Schools.