Thomas John was the eldest son of Robert and Martha Ann and was born in Woodend, Victoria, Australia and came to N. Zealand when he was an infant. When he married his father bought for him the farm at Holmhead, which was adjacent to Deerpark. His first wife Lile Couper died at a young age and he remarried to Ann Waters Stevenson on December 10, 1902

When Thomas John retired from farming he built a smaller house beside Holmhead which he called Woodend after the place of his birth.

Thomas John was buried in East Taieri cemetery not far from the grave of his father, Robert. His two wives are buried in the same grave.

The inscription reads as follows

In Loving Memory

of

Eliza Lile

Beloved Wife of

Thomas J Gawn

who died July 9th 1900

Aged 36 years

also

Ann Waters

Beloved Wife of

Thomas J Gawn

Died 7th Sept 1930

Aged 66 years

Also

Thomas J Gawn

Died 13th July, 1940

Aged 78 years