Papermaking Biographies


ADAMS, George (1839-1904)

Born on 14 March 1839 at Red Hill, Sandon, Hertfordshire, England the fourth son of William Adams, farmer and licensed victualler, and his wife Martha, nee Gilbey. The family emigrated to Australia, arriving at Sydney, New South Wales on 28 May 1855 per "Constitution". He married firstly on 19 June 1858 at St. James Church of England, Sydney, N.S.W. to Fanny Franklin. His wife died on 2 January 1883. He married secondly on 7 May 1886 according to Congregational rites at Randwick, N.S.W., to Norah Louie Malone. About 1895 he founded the Waterloo Paper Mills in New South Wales. Died on 23 September 1904 at his residence, "Highfield Hall", Hobart, Tasmania. Buried on 25 September 1904 at the Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Tasmania.

BERTRAM, James (1816-1861)

Born in 1816, the son of George Bertram, paper maker, and his wife Janet Ferguson. Like his older brothers, George and William Bertram, he commenced an engineering firm that produced papermaking equipment. Was in business with his younger sons, William and James Bertram, as James Bertram & Sons, of Leith Walk, Edinburgh, Scotland, engineers and manufacturers of papermaking machines. Died in 1861.

BROOKES, William (c1833-1910)

Born c1833 in Northampton, England. Emigrated to Australia in 1852. Married in 1865 in Victoria to Catherine Margaret Robinson. He and Archibald Currie bought Ramsden's Melbourne Paper Mills in 1882 from Samuel Ramsden's eldest son, George Ramsden. In 1895 Robert George McCutcheon, acting in trust for him and Archibald Currie purchased the Barwon Paper Mill at Geelong. Was one of the founders of The Australian Paper Mills Co. Ltd. in 1895 which combined the paper mills at Melbourne, Geelong and Broadford. Died on 4 September 1910 at his residence, "Brookwood", Queen's Road, Melbourne, Victoria and was privately interred.

CURRIE, Archibald (1831-1914)

Born on 11 September 1831 at Saltcoats, Ayrshire, Scotland, the son of John Currie, shoemaker and his wife Elizabeth, nee Nichol. Arrived in Melbourne in March 1853 as the third officer on the "Sir William Molesworth". Married on 3 April 1866 in Victoria to Jessie Rollo, daughter of John Ballantine Rollo and Janet, nee Gray. He and William Brookes bought Ramsden's Melbourne Paper Mills in 1882 from Samuel Ramsden's eldest son, George Ramsden. In 1895 Robert George McCutcheon, acting in trust for him and William Brookes, purchased the Barwon Paper Mill at Geelong. Was one of the founders of The Australian Paper Mills Co. Ltd. in 1895 which combined the paper mills at Melbourne, Geelong and Broadford. Retired in 1913. Died on 3 September 1914 at his residence, "Pladda", Dickens Street, St. Kilda, Victoria. Buried at the Boroondara Cemetery, Kew, Victoria.

DUCKER, William Francis (c1822-1907)

Born c1822 the son of Francis William Ducker and his wife Rebecca, nee Thompson. Arrived in Victoria on 19 April 1854 per "Borderer" from Calcutta, India. Married in 1855 in Victoria to Mary Anne Page. Barwon Paper Mill at Fyansford, Geelong, Victoria was established by W. S. Ducker & Co. in May 1878. The first paper was produced in August. In January 1884 the Fyansford Paper Mill was severely damaged by fire. Mr. Ducker was at the time the managing agent for the mill and Mr. Miller was the manager of the mill. The whole of the buildings were then valued at £50,000. His wife died on 22 August 1884. Acted as the liquidator of the Mercantile Bank c1893. Died on 10 February 1907 at his residence, 145 Auburn Road, Hawthorn, Victoria. Buried on 12 February 1907 at the Eastern Cemetery, Geelong, Victoria.

FIELDHOUSE, Samuel (c1842 -1899)

Born c1842 at Keighley, Yorkshire, England, the son of Thomas Fieldhouse, farmer, and his wife, Esther, nee Brown. He married firstly Eliza Briggs, daughter of Benjamin Briggs, woollen cloth manufacturer, and his wife Mary, nee Bentley. He first arrived in Victoria with his wife and other relatives on 23 September 1863 per "White Star". Described at the time as a farmer. Following the death of his wife in 1870 he made a return trip to England where he married Phoebe Mary Briggs, a sister of his first wife. He arrived back in Melbourne on 8 March 1872 per "Calcutta" from Liverpool, Lancashire, England with his new wife and two daughters from his first marriage. Soon after he built a paper mill on the Yarra River immediately south of Princes' Bridge (Government Allotment L 1, parish of South Melbourne containing about 1 rood and 34 perches) and adjoining Samuel Ramsden's mill. The buildings were of brick, on bluestone foundations, with slate roofs. There was a lofty and elegant chimney-stack. The paper-making machinery was English and capable of making 60 inch wide paper. Samuel Fieldhouse became insolvent in 1874. His Mill was originally advertised for sale by auctioneers Gemmell, Tuckett & Co. on 15 April 1874 but the auction was delayed until Monday, 27 April 1874 with Samuel Ramsden being the eventual purchaser. Was later involved in flock manufacturing. Died on 24 February 1899 at Railway Terrace, Coburg, Victoria. Buried on 25 February 1899 at the Coburg Cemetery, Coburg, Victoria.

HARDING, Silas (c1821-1894)

Born c1821, probably at Ashburton, Devon, England, the son of Robert Harding and his wife Sarah, nee Soper. Arrived at Melbourne on 21 January 1841 per "Sir Charles Forbes" as a government assisted immigrant. He married firstly in 1846, probably at Geelong, to Mary Louisa Howell. Financial partner with William Francis Ducker, James Volum, Andrew Volum and Andrew Millar in the establishment of the Barwon Paper Mill, Geelong. He married secondly in 1890 to Elizabeth Marguerite Oldham. Died on 13 June 1894 at his residence, "Edgecombe", Aberdeen Street, Geelong, Victoria. Buried on 16 June 1894 at the Eastern Cemetery, Geelong, Victoria.

HUGHES, William Daniel (1853-1925)

Born on 5 July 1853 at Lomax Bank, Little Lever, Lancashire, England, the first son of Robert Hughes, paper manufacturer, and his wife Isabella, nee Smith. William worked with his father in the paper trade. He married on 26 April 1876 at the Wesley Chapel, Bradshawgate, Bolton, Lancashire, England to Caroline Rothwell, daughter of John Rothwell, iron works foreman, and his wife Mary Ann, nee Renshaw. In December 1888 he was named as the first manager of the Barwon Paper Mill by the newly formed Victoria Paper Manufacturing Company Ltd. and arrived in Melbourne in April 1889 with his wife and family per "Victoria". In October 1889 after resigning as manager of the Barwon Paper Mill he advertised for a business partner for the establishment of a new paper mill. At that time he said he had a paper-making machine in England ready to ship out to Australia. Constructed the Austral Paper Mill at Marnockvale, Geelong. Insolvent in March 1893. Later spent time in Adelaide, South Australia. Died on 28 October 1925 at the Victorian Homes for the Aged and Infirm, Royal Park, Victoria. Buried on 30 October 1925 at the Brighton Cemetery, Brighton, Victoria.

KENNY, Thomas (c1820-1866)

Born c1820 in London, England the son of Richard Kenny, corn factor, and his wife Mary, nee Fleming. Married c1843 in London, England to Jane Sands, daughter of Robert Sands, engraver, and his wife Hannah. Stationer at Liverpool, Lancashire, England. Emigrated to Sydney, New South Wales where he was in a bookselling and stationery business with his brother-in-law John Sands (1818-1873) as Sands & Kenny (formed partnership in Sydney in April 1851). Commenced in Melbourne c1852. In 1860 they took Dugald MacDougall (1834-1885) into the partnership as Sands, Kenny & Co. In 1860 Kenny went to England. In December 1861, after his return, Kenny retired from the partnership and the firm continued as "Sands & MacDougall". He then concentrated on the establishment of a paper mill in Victoria. He obtained a lease on Dight's Mill and a piece of ground at Dight's Falls on the Yarra River and engaged Thomas Rawlinson, C.E. to alter and add to existing buildings and construct races, etc. He also imported the requisite machinery which arrived about mid-October 1865 per "Black Prince" from Leith, Scotland. The paper-making machine cost about £8,000 and was made by Messrs. James Bertram & Sons of Leith Walk, Edinburgh and could produce paper seventy-two inches wide. The motive power was to be by a "vortex wheel" "turbine" patented to Dr. Thompson of Belfast and manufactured by Douglas of Kirkcaldy. However he died on 8 July 1866 at his residence, "Riversdale", Riversdale Road, Hawthorn, Victoria after a short illness and the mill was never completed. He was buried on 10 July 1866 at the Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton, Victoria.

KERR, Nathaniel (c1834-1907)

Born c1834 in Ireland. Married Deborah Moore, daughter of a Mr. Moore and his wife Jane, nee Davis. Was brought out to Australia by Thomas Kenny for his planned paper mill, arriving at Melbourne in February 1863 per "Morning Light" with his wife Deborah and daughter Jane. He had to take other employment for a time but was eventually employed at the Melbourne mill by Samuel Ramsden who relied on his practical experience as a papermaker. Nathaniel and his family lived in a cottage in the mill grounds for many years. Retired in March 1903. Died on 30 March 1907 at his residence, "Wendouree", Munro Street, Armadale, Victoria. Buried on 1 April 1907 at the Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton, Victoria.

LAW, (Mr.)

Of Redfern, Smith & Law, of Bury, Lancashire, England, manufacturers of papermaking machines. One of their machines, built in 1871 at Bury, was still working in 1953 at the Australian Paper Manufacturers mill in Melbourne. This firm was trading as Smith & Law in 1884.

LITTLEWOOD, Henry Thomas (c1830-1896)

Born c1830. Lived at "Bellevue", Church Street, Beechworth, Victoria. Married on 30 August 1860 at the residence of the bride's parents, Adelong, New South Wales to Agnes Anne Morgan daughter of H. G. Morgan, late of Worcester, England. By 1864 he was living at 4 Westbourne Terrace, St. Kilda, Victoria. Headed a group of five persons who, as the Victoria Paper Manufacturing Company Ltd., purchased the Barwon Paper Mill in 1888 for £35,000. Resided at "Madowla", St. Kilda Road, Melbourne. Died on 6 April 1896 at "Morvan", High Street, Malvern, Victoria. Buried on 8 April 1896 at the St. Kilda Cemetery, Victoria.

McCUTCHEON, Robert George (1841-1918)

Born 1841 in Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland the son of John McCutcheon and his wife Margaret, nee Bothwell. Married on 13 December 1867 at Melbourne, Victoria to Mary Ann Ebblewhite. Leading Melbourne printer. Barwon Paper Mill was sold in 1895 to him in trust for William Brookes and Archibald Currie. Member of the Victorian Parliament from 1902. Died on 20 October 1918 at "Tarella", St. Kilda, Victoria. Buried at the Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton, Victoria.

MACDOUGALL, James (c1844-1909)

Born c1844, probably in Scotland. Son of Duncan McDougall and his wife Margaret, nee Fraser. Apprenticed as a stationer with his uncle, J. Baird. Migrated to Australia c1853. Worked for Sands & MacDougall, being a relative of Dugald MacDougall, one of the partners. Established the Broadford Paper Mill in Victoria which started production on 27 October 1890. This was widely described as the only strawboard mill in the British Empire. Was one of the founders of The Australian Paper Mills Co. Ltd. in 1895 which combined the paper mills at Melbourne, Geelong and Broadford. Died 5 April 1909 at his residence, Valentine Grove, Malvern, Victoria. Buried at the Boroondara Cemetery, Kew, Victoria.

McGLASHAN, Edward (1817-1889)

Born in 1817, probably in Edinburgh, Scotland. Merchant. Emigrated to New Zealand via Australia c1850. Flour miller at Otago, New Zealand. Arrived in Melbourne from New Zealand in December 1873 per "Tararua" hoping to buy Fieldhouse's paper making machine. Involved in a traffic accident which almost crippled him and causing him to miss out on obtaining the machine. Departed per "Otago" on 8 February 1874 for Otago, New Zealand. Began Woodhaugh Paper Mill in New Zealand in 1876. Died in 1889.

McGOWAN, William (c1852- )

Born c1852 in Scotland, the son of Henry McGowan and his wife Margaret Low. Arrived in Melbourne in June 1873 per "Ben Nevis" possibly intending to work at Samuel Fieldhouse's paper mill. Returned to England. He married about September 1873 in Lincolnshire, England, to Fanny Metcalf, daughter of Matthew Metcalf, agricultural labourer, and his wife Mary. Settled at Pontefract, Yorkshire where he managed a newspaper and printing office. Still there in 1901.

MARTELLI, Alexander (c1820- )

Born c1820, probably in Italy. Graduate in architecture and civil and canon law from Turin University. Friend of Guiseppe Garibaldi. Arrived in Victoria on 23 September 1858 per "Jedo" from London, England. Civil engineer and architect at 6 Collins Street East, Melbourne in 1861. In 1863 he applied to the Emerald Hill Municipal Council for permission to build a paper mill on the Yarra. Introduced mulberry trees into Victoria and was interested in their use for the cultivation of silkworms. Partner with Luigi Veroli as masons and stonecutters running a marble store at La Trobe Street West in 1868. Was also a farmer at Lilydale, Victoria. Believed to have spent time c1871 in the Fiji Islands surveying land for the Polynesia Company Limited.

MILLAR, Andrew (c1826-1889)

Born c1826, probably in Scotland, the son of David Millar and his wife Barbara. Married in 1863 in Victoria to Anne Morrison Croll. An engineer, he selected the machinery for the Barwon Paper Mills on a visit to the British Isles, arriving back in Victoria in November 1876 per "Northumberland" to supervise its installation. The machinery arrived at Hobson's Bay, Victoria per "Loch Garry" and was placed on the lighter "Protage" for the journey to Geelong, arriving on 4 January 1877. Died on 18 August 1889 at Geelong, Victoria.

NOBLE, William Ross (c1843-1908)

Born c1843 in Scotland. Married in Scotland to Margaret McGowan, daughter of Henry McGowan and his wife Margaret Low. Arrived in Melbourne in June 1873 with his wife and three children per "Ben Nevis". Paper machinist. At Melbourne 1873-1877. At Geelong 1878-1880. Returned to Melbourne c1881-c1897. His wife died in 1894 at South Melbourne, Victoria. Died on 23 April 1908 from a heart attack while taking a walk along the River Yarra at Melbourne.

RAMSDEN, George (c1846-1896)

Born c1846, the son of Samuel Ramsden and his first wife, Eliza, nee Hillidge. Married on 18 August 1870 at St. David's Cathedral, Hobart, Tasmania to Elizabeth Marshall, daughter of Henry Marshall and his wife Mary Ann, nee Warner. Following the death of his father in 1877, George inherited the Melbourne Paper Mill. He ran the mill until 1882 when he sold it to William Brookes and Archibald Currie. Died on 14 September 1896 at Kew, Victoria. Buried at the Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton, Victoria.

RAMSDEN, Samuel (c1822-1877)

He was born c1822 in Yorkshire, England, the son of George Ramsden, coal miner, and his wife Hannah, nee Naylor. After leaving school Samuel moved to Hulme, Manchester, Lancashire to learn the trade of a stonemason. Married in 1842 at Manchester Cathedral, Lancashire, England to Eliza Hillidge, daughter of William Hillidge, butcher, of Hulme, Lancashire. He arrived at Melbourne on 17 February 1844 per "Wallace" from Liverpool with his wife. He was then a journeyman stonemason and was involved in numerous public works for the government. He visited Europe in 1854, arriving back with his wife and family on 6 December 1854 per "Argo", and soon after his arrival back started running a flour mill at Carlton in partnership with David Aitken. This partnership was dissolved in 1857 with Aitken taking over their Castlemaine Mill and Ramsden retaining the Carlton Mill. His wife died in 1861. In 1862 he married secondly, Eliza Timbrell, daugher of Charles Timbrell, excise officer, and his wife Sarah, nee Hayes. He was able to purchase the late Thomas Kenny's paper-making machine from Messrs. Macfarlan & Co. for about £3,000. He received a grant/seven year lease from the Government of two acres of land on the south bank of the Yarra near Princes Bridge, Melbourne. He had not proceeded with Kenny's site at Dight's Falls as he considered that serious obstructions would arise from the pollution of the river with the refuse flowing from the works. The whole of the land at his new site had been raised above the highest flood level. Died 19 February 1877 at his residence, 7, Fitzroy Terrace, corner of Gipps and Clarendon Streets, East Melbourne, Victoria. Buried on 21 February 1877 at the Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton, Victoria.

RAWLINSON, Thomas George ( -1882)

Civil Engineer. Thomas Kenny engaged Mr. Rawlinson, C.E. to alter and add to existing buildings and construct races, etc. for his paper mill at Dight's Falls. Spent 28 years in the colony. With the Roads and Bridges Department. Built the bridge over the Merri Creek on the Northcote Road and over the Yarra River at Heidelberg. Died 3 March 1882 at Southport, Lancashire, England.

REDFERN, (Mr.)

Of Redfern, Smith & Law, of Bury, Lancashire, England, manufacturers of papermaking machines. One of their machines, built in 1871 at Bury, was still working in 1953 at the Australian Paper Manufacturers mill in Melbourne. Had apparently left the business by 1884 when it was trading as Smith & Law.

SANDS, John (1818-1872)

Born on 12 November 1818 at Sandhurst, Berkshire, England, the son of Robert Sands and his wife Hannah. Arrived at Sydney, New South Wales about 1837 and commenced business as a stationer. Married on 6 December 1850 at Sydney, N.S.W., to Marjory Moffatt. In 1851 he went into business with his brother-in-law, Thomas Kenny as Sands and Kenny. In 1860 Dugald MacDougall joined the partnership and in 1861 Kenny retired, the firm in Melbourne then becoming Sands and MacDougall. Died 16 August 1872 at his residence, "Marmion", Waverley, N.S.W. Buried on 18 August 1872 at the Waverley Cemetery, Sydney, N.S.W.

SMITH, (Mr.)

Of Redfern, Smith & Law, of Bury, Lancashire, England, manufacturers of papermaking machines. One of their machines, built in 1871 at Bury, was still working in 1953 at the Australian Paper Manufacturers mill in Melbourne. This firm was trading as Smith & Law in 1884.

STEEL, Alexander (c1840- )

Alexander Steel came out from Scotland specially to set up Thomas Kenny's paper-making machinery. Possibly arrived on 22 November 1866 per "Erl King". He had been engaged to superintend the erection of the machinery, which, with the exception of the boilers was then in position. Was later Ramsden's Mill Engineer. Residing at Bright Street, South Melbourne in 1893.

VOLUM, Andrew (1819-1906)

Born 1819. Son of William Volum and Cath Youngson. Brother of Captain James Volum. On of the promoters that established the Barwon paper Mill at Geelong in 1878. Died 29 May 1906 at Geelong, Victoria. Buried at the Eastern Cemetery, Geelong, Victoria.

VOLUM, James (Captain) (1803-1884)

Born in 1803. Son of William Volum and his wife Cath, nee Youngson. Brother of Andrew Volum. In 1875 he was said to be the originator of the project to build a paper mill at Fyansford. He and other promoters raised between £40,000 and £50,000 to establish this mill which was said at the time to be the largest and best paper mill in the southern hemisphere. Died 8 April 1884 at Geelong, Victoria. Buried at the Eastern Cemetery, Geelong, Victoria.

WATT, Robert (c1828- )

Born c1828. Arrived in Melbourne in June 1873 per "Ben Nevis" with his wife and children.


Bibliography:

Amcor Archives (University of Melbourne Archives, Baillieu Library, Melbourne)

Angus, John H. Papermaking Pioneers (New Zealand Paper Mills, Ltd., Mataura, N.Z., 1976)

A.P.M. Market Research A Brief History of Paper Making in Australia (A.P.M., 1975)

Australian Dictionary of Biography

Clapperton, R. H. The Papermaking Machine (Pergammon Press)

D'Aprano, Charles From Goldrush to Federation

Gillespie, F. Elise Early History of Geelong Paper Mill (A.P.M., 1950)

Graham, Sally (ed.)The Ramsdens (Seaview Press, Henley Beach, S.A., 1999)

Milner, Peter (Dr.) The Engineering of the Barwon Paper Mill at Fyansford (Appita Vol. 39, No. 2, Melbourne, 1986)

Rule, Andrew Through the Mill, A History of the Broadford Mill (Floradale Productions Pty. Ltd., Kilmore, Vic., 1990)

Shelley, Betty (Mrs.) Personal communications (Descendant of William Ross Noble)

Sinclair, E. Keith The Spreading Tree, A History of APM and Amcor 1844-1989 (Allen & Unwin, North Sydney, N.S.W., 1991)

Volum, W. G. "The Volum Family"

Newspapers:

New South Wales: "Sydney Morning Herald"

Tasmania: "The Mercury"

Victoria: "Argus"; "The Age"; "The Australian Mechanic and Journal of Science and Art"; "Geelong Advertiser"


© 2005 Alexander Romanov-Hughes


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