Papermaking Biographies - Australasia


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 1896 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.

BAIN, James Walker (c1841-1899)

Born c1841 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Trained as a printer's compositor in Scotland. Emigrated to Invercargill/Otago, New Zealand c1861. Was a junior partner in the founding of the "Southland News and Forveaux Straits Herald". After a trip back to Scotland he returned to New Zealand c1866 and became the proprietor and editor of the "Southland Times". He began experimenting with the use of native New Zealand plants for papermaking and having some success began looking into the possibility of establishing a local paper mill. About 1874 he convened a meeting of interested parties which led to the formation of the Mataura Paper Mill Company on 25 February 1875 and the founding of the Mataura Paper Mill. Died in 1899.

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 c1834 in Northampton, England. Emigrated to Australia in 1852. Married on 10 January 1865 at the Wesleyan Church, St. Kilda, 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 at the St. Kilda Cemetery, Victoria.

BRYANT, James Henry (c1810-1893)

Born c1810 in Compton Martin, Somerset, England, the son of James Bryant, paper maker. He married firstly in England, Eliza Bartlet. He married secondly in England, Susan Bartlet. In 1851 he married thirdly in St. Martin's in the Fields, London, England to Jemima Thomasina Weeden. Invented a process for converting waste agricultural products such as maize and millet stalks into paper and paper mache which was protected by Letters of Registration granted on 4 November 1867. Founder of the Dunmore Paper Mill on the Hunter River at West Maitland, New South Wales. Named as the Practical Manager in a prospectus to form The Maitland Paper, Paper Mache and Fibre Company (Limited) in October 1870. This apparently became The London and New South Wales Paper Fibre and Paper Company which exported half-stuff to England. Bryant was declared insolvent on 6 March 1873 by which time he had moved to Liverpool, New South Wales. He later designed and supervised the construction of a papermaking machine for the Mataura Paper Mill in New Zealand. Bryant and his family accompanied the papermaking machine to New Zealand in January 1876 per the ship "The Witch of the Wave". Was appointed the first manager of the Mataura Paper Mill. Returned to Australia. Died on 14 March 1893 at Kedren, Grenfell, New South Wales and was buried on 17 March 1893 at the Brundale Cemetery, New South Wales.

CLITHEROW, William (c1789-1850)

Born c1789. A native of Dublin County, Ireland. Spelling variations of his name include Clitheroe and Cludderoe. Was tried in the City of Dublin, Ireland in July 1814 with George Duncan and sentenced to transportation for life. He was described as being five feet, two and a half inches tall with a dark ruddy complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. He sailed on the 5 December 1814 from Cork, Ireland per "Canada" and arrived at Sydney on 5 August 1815. Obtained ticket-of-leave number 1032. Possibly worked with George Duncan and others in a paper mill near Sydney from 1818. At Newcastle, N.S.W. 1823-24. Returned to Sydney, N.S.W. where he was assigned to Thomas Barker who ran a steam engine. Married on 27 November 1827 at St. Phillip's Church of England, Sydney, N.S.W. to Mary Miller. Living with his wife at Argyle Street, Sydney at the time of the 1828 census. Died on 22 May 1850 when he fell down a flight of steps and broke his neck whilst intoxicated at Albion Row, Kent Street, Sydney, N.S.W., and was buried on 23 May 1850 from St. James' Roman Catholic Church, Sydney, N.S.W.

CURRIE, Archibald (Capt.) (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 on 5 September 1914 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.

DUNCAN, George (c1768-1836?)

Born c1768. A native of Edinburgh, Scotland. Was tried in the City of Dublin, Ireland in July 1814 with William Clitherow and sentenced to transportation for life. He was described as being four feet, eleven and a half inches tall with a dark pale complexion, hazel eyes and bald with some black hair. He sailed on the 5 December 1814 from Cork, Ireland per "Canada" and arrived at Sydney on 5 August 1815. Obtained ticket-of-leave number 1247. Partner with Frederick Fisher and others in a paper mill near Sydney from 1818. May have been the George Duncan, wiredrawer, who died in April 1836 aged 68 years, and was buried on 26 April 1836 from St. Philip's Church of England, Sydney, N.S.W.

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.

FISHER, Frederick George James (1792-1826)

Born in 1792 at London, England and baptised 4 November 1792 at St. Botolph without Aldersgate, London, England the son of Frederick and Ann Fisher. Was in business as a shopkeeper in London. Convicted on 26 July 1815 at Surrey, England and sentenced to 14 years in prison. He was described as being five feet, five and three-quarter inches tall with a fair pale complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. Transported to Australia, arriving at Sydney, New South Wales on 22 July 1816 per "Atlas". Later obtained a ticket-of-leave (No. 1590). In April 1818, in partnership with George Duncan and others, he established a paper mill near Sydney, New South Wales. Moved to Campbelltown, New South Wales about 1823. Landholder and farmer. Believed to have been murdered shortly after he was last seen on 17 June 1826. The government offered a reward and his body was eventually found buried close to his farm. Buried on 27 October 1826 at St. Peter's Church of England, Campbelltown, New South Wales.

FORBES, David (1828-1885)

Born 26 January 1828 at Leslie, Fife, Scotland. Married Isabelle Bennett. Worked at Ramsden's paper mills in Melbourne. Died on 20 December 1885 at his residence, 1, Cora Linn Cottages, Argyle Place North, Carlton, Victoria. Buried on 22 December 1893 at the Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton, 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. Moved to South Australia where he ran a Paper, Printing and Paper Bag Works at Coromandel Place, Grenfell Stret, Adelaide. Returned to Melbourne c1903 and ran the Empire Printing Company at 551 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne to c1915. 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.

HUTCHINSON, John (c1782-1820)

Born c1782. A native of Ayrshire, Scotland. Wool-stapler and merchant at Halifax, Yorkshire, England. Tried at York Assizes in August 1810 and found guilty of forgery. Sentenced to death but following numerous petitions as to his character the sentence was commuted to transportation to Botany Bay for life. Spent time at Portsmouth on the hulk "Captivity" before sailing to Australia on the "Guildford", arriving at Sydney, New South Wales in January 1812. Was given a conditional pardon early in 1813. About July 1813 he entered into partnership with Simeon Lord in wool-stapling, cloth and earthenware manufacture. This partnership ended about December 1813. Superintendent of the Lachlan Water Mills. Died suddenly on 5 December 1820 at Sydney, New South Wales. Buried on 6 December 1820.

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 & McDougall". 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 30 October 1860 at Killead, County Antrim. Ireland, to 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. Arrived in Australia c1861. At Port Fairy, Victoria for some years. Married on 13 December 1867 at Melbourne, Victoria to Mary Ann Ebblewhite. Leading Melbourne printer. Joined the firm of Mason, Firth and McCutcheon of which his brother was a partner, and of which he himself later became the head. Barwon Paper Mill was sold in 1895 to him in trust for William Brookes and Archibald Currie. Member of the Victorian Parliament from 1902 representing St. Kilda in the Legislative Assembly. Director of the Equity Trustees Company. Died on 20 October 1918 at "Tarella", Chapel Street, St. Kilda, Victoria. Buried on 22 October 1918 at the Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton, Victoria.

MACDOUGALL, James Hutcheson (c1844-1909)

Born 28 February 1844 at Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland, the son of Duncan McDougall and his wife Janet , nee Paul. Apprenticed as a stationer with his uncle, J. Baird. Migrated to Australia when was 15 years old, arriving on the ship "Ocean Chief" on 4 December 1858. Worked for Sands & McDougall, being a relative of Dugald MacDougall, one of the partners. Married twice. 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. Managing director of Sands & McDougall Ltd. at the time of his death. Died on 5 April 1909 at his residence, "Meryla", Valentine Grove, Malvern, Victoria. Buried on 7 April 1909 at the Boroondara Cemetery, Kew, Victoria.

McGLASHAN, Edward (1817-1889)

Born in 1817, probably in Edinburgh, Scotland, the son of John McGlashan, furniture dealer, and his wife Mary, nee Fraser. 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. Brother-in-law of William Ross Noble. Arrived in Melbourne in June 1873 per "Ben Nevis" William Ross Noble and Robert Watt. Possibly intended to work at Samuel Fieldhouse's paper mill.

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. By 1871 he was in the Fiji Islands surveying land for the Polynesia Company Limited. In 1872, whilst surveying for the Fijian Government at Levuka, he sent plant and sponge specimens back to the Industrial Museum in Melbourne.

MILLAR, Andrew (1825-1889)

Born 10 November 1825 at Auchterderran, Fife, Scotland, the son of Thomas Millar, farmer, and his wife Barbara, nee Thomson. Believed to have first arrived in Victoria in March 1854 per "Salem" from Liverpool, England. 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. He had a younger brother named Robert Millar who may have been at Barwon Paper Mill in the late 1880's. Died on 18 August 1889 at his residence, Gertrude Stree, Geelong West, Victoria. Buried on 19 August 1889 at the Eastern Cemetery, Geelong, Victoria.

MURRAY, George (c1833-1898)

Born 1832 in Edinburgh, Scotland, the son of George Murray and Mary Cameron. He married firstly in 1861 at Edinburgh, Scotland to Isabella MacMillan. About 1867 he went into partnership with William Philip Dunlop in the Sydney paper firm of Murray, Dunlop & Co. In May 1875 he entered into partnership with Daniel Williams to run the Collingwood Paper Mill at Liverpool, N.S.W. Married secondly, in 1881 at Petersham, New South Wales to Mary Edith Parkes daughter of Sir Henry Parkes and his first wife, Clarinda, nee Varney. Insolvent in 1886. Died on 30 March 1898 at "Forbesville", Liverpool, New South Wales. Buried on 1 April 1898 at the Necropolis, Sydney, New South Wales.

NOBLE, William Ross (c1843-1908)

Born c1843 in Scotland. Married 21 December 1867 at Lasswade, Midlothian, Scotland to Margaret McGowan, daughter of Henry McGowan and his wife Margaret Low. At Doagh, County Antrim, Ireland in 1872. 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. Lived in Tasmania for a time before returning to Melbourne. Died on 23 April 1908 from a heart attack while taking a walk along the River Yarra at Melbourne. Buried on 25 April 1908 at the Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton, Victoria.

RAMSDEN, George (c1846-1896)

Born on 1 March 1846 and baptised on 25 May 1846 at St. James Church of England, Melbourne, 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 his residence, "Byram", Studley Park Road, Kew, Victoria. Buried on 16 September 1896 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 on 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 Ellis (c1822-1882)

Born c1822. Civil Engineer, Surveyor and Architect. Married 1858 in Victoria, Australia to Elizabeth Harrison. Living at Highett Street, Richmond c1860. Had an office at 58 Temple Court, Melbourne. Thomas Kenny engaged him 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 on 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 & Kenny. In 1860 Dugald MacDougall joined the partnership and in 1861 Kenny retired, the firm in Melbourne then becoming Sands & McDougall. Died on 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 (1835-1923)

Born on 20 November 1835 at Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland, the son of Alexander Steel and Jean Jackson. 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 the Mill Engineer at Ramsden's Paper Mill. Married in 1871 in Victoria, Eliza Agnes Bourne, daughter of James Bourne and Martha Sophia Neuman/Newman. Resided at 42 Bright Street, South Melbourne in 1890's. Died on 11 November 1923 at his residence, "Moana", 68 Bamfield Street, Sandringham, Victoria. Buried on 13 November 1923 at the Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton, Victoria.

VOLUM, Andrew (1819-1906)

Born c1819, the 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 on 29 May 1906 at Geelong, Victoria. Buried on 30 May 1906 at the Eastern Cemetery, Geelong, Victoria.

VOLUM, James (Captain) (1803-1884)

Born in 1803, the 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. Resided at Corio Street, Geelong, Victoria. Died on 8 April 1884 at Geelong, Victoria. Buried on 10 April 1884 at the Eastern Cemetery, Geelong, Victoria.

WATT, Robert (c1830-1893)

Born c1828 in Scotland, the son of Thomas Watt and his wife Elizabeth, nee Sharp. Married on 3 September 1858 at 36 Lansdowne Crescent, Glasgow, Scotland to Margaret Spears (or Speirs/Spiers), daughter of Andrew Spriers and Mary Harvey. Arrived in Melbourne in June 1873 per "Ben Nevis" with his wife and children. Worked at the Brookes and Currie paper mills in Melbourne. Died on 4 April 1893 at the residence of his son-in-law, 139 Cobden Street, South Melbourne, Victoria. Buried on 6 April 1893 at the Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton, Victoria.

WEARNE, Joseph (1832-1884)

Born on 19 August 1832 in Cornwall, England, the son of Joseph Wearne, miller, and his wife Susannah Rogers. Emigrated to Sydney, Australia in 1849 per "Harbinger". Married on 21 January 1857 to Isabella Caldwell. Insolvent in 1875. Commenced a paper mill at Holdsworthy, New South Wales about 1876. Died on 8 June 1884 at Liverpool, New South Wales. Buried at North Parramatta, New South Wales.

WILLIAMS, Daniel (1827-1884)

Born on 26 July 1827 at Luton, Bedfordshire, England, the fourth son of John Williams, builder, and his wife Caroline. Emigrated to Australia in 1852 per "Coromandel". Married on 14 July 1854 at Geelong, Victoria to Eliza Myles. Moved to New South Wales in 1861 and resided at Macleay Street, Sydney. In May 1875 he purchased the Collingwood Paper Mill at Liverpool, N.S.W. from the Sydney Paper Making Company. At the same time he entered into partnership with George Murray to run the mill. Returned to England in 1881 for health reasons. Died on 9 May 1884 at St. Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex, England.


Sources:

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 (various volumes)

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D'Aprano, Charles From Goldrush to Federation (INT Press, Ascot Vale, Vic., 1997)

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

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McKillop, Robert F. (Bob) Furnace, Fire and Forge (Light Railway Research Society of Australia Inc., Surrey Hills, Vic., 2006)

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

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Pitkethly, Anne Paper Manufacturing in Victoria, from European Settlement to Federation (privately published, Melbourne, Vic., 2017)

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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" (Melbourne, Vic., 1992)

Newspapers:

New South Wales:
"Maitland Mercury"; "Sydney Mail"; "Sydney Morning Herald"; "Town and Country Journal"

Tasmania:
"The Mercury"

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

England:
"Leeds Mercury"

Ireland:
"Freeman's Journal"

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