Thomas Hale ³

  General Notes:

"In 1841 Thomas and Jane sailed for Australia aboard the "Middlesex" which departed from Plymouth, England and arrived into Port Phillip, Victoria on 30th September 1841. Also on board was a young widow, Mary Bishop, who was born Mary Hill in Port Isaac, Cornwall, England in 1814 to Samuel and Hannah Hill. Thomas and Mary were married in Melbourne on the 28th December 1841 shortly after their arrival. Mary could not sign her own name and would therefore sign X as her mark. Jane was a witness to this marriage. Thomas and Jane were assisted passengers, both being able to read and write.

Thomas worked in his occupation as a carpenter and builder, temporarily visiting the goldfields at Forest Creek and Bendigo but wisely preferring his own occupation to the uncertain returns of mining. In 1852 Thomas and a partner had a thriving business as contractors, in addition keeping a retail business composed part of ironmongery. He prospered, purchased land in the suburb of St. Kilda where he built a residence, and availed himself of the visit to Europe of his partner to induce his mother, by now a widow, also some of his siblings, Elizabeth, Henrietta and William, to immigrate to Australia.

In 1860 Thomas Hale was a land surveyor and was reputed to be wealthy. He was proposed to represent St. Kilda in the Victorian Parliament, failing, it is understood, to carry the seat. Eventually his settled employment was that of an Architect and Mining Registrar. Thomas died on the 6th August 1884 aged 63 years at his residence in Daylesford, Victoria. Thomas and his first wife, Mary, had six children. He had been 43 years in Victoria. " [Rosemary Hale 2003]

I found a 1931 St Kilda City Council publication in two volumes "The History of St Kilda 1840 - 1930" by John Butler Cooper (Melbourne: Printers Proprietary Limited, 1931). I came across vol 2 at the St Kilda Library. In an appendix it shows a T.Hale as serving 4 terms as councillor from 1857-1861. There are also a number of references around p44 to a Councillor Hale especially with regard to what became in 1859 a very drawn out and public debate, the so-called "Tablet Question". This burning issue revolved around whether on the memorial tablet for the new town hall the chairman, Alexandra Fraser MLC, should be described as "The Honourable" or not. "... rather than sustain a fight for the amusement of the people of Melbourne" the town hall was erected with no memorial.

There is a an engraving and a photograph in the State Library of Victoria collection showing The Oriental Bank formerly on the SW corner of Queen and Flinders Lane. "Robertson, James and Hale, Thomas architects" are recorded as the "Creators" (of the photo or the building - James Robertson seems to have been a photographer as well as an architect). There is another reference to Robertson and Hale (at http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Buildings.html) as architects of a warehouse built in 1857 at 131 Flinders Lane (still standing and in disrepair in 2005).

"Went overseas to attend masonic functions, left business affairs with manager who messed things up and left wife in necessitous circumstances" [MHM rec of conv MHS 1992]

  Chronology:

He emigrated in Sep 1841 from From Plymouth To Melbourne On The "Middlesex". ^{8 9}

He worked as a Carpenter in Feb 1843 and resided at Melbourne, Australia. ¹⁰

He worked as a Partnership with George Hailes in 1850 and resided at Melbourne, Australia. ^{11 12}

He resided in 1851 in "Dwelling House", Off Little Collins St. ¹³

He worked as a Timber Merchant in Dec 1853 and resided at Melbourne, Australia. ¹⁴

He resided in Dec 1853 in Stephen St (Now Exhibition St), Melbourne. ¹⁵

He resided as "Dwelling House" in Sep 1854 in Little Collins St, Melbourne. ¹⁶

He resided as "house" in Nov 1854 in 70 Stephen Street. ¹⁷

MISC: FIREWOOD, 5 Mar 1855. ¹⁸ "100 TONS Firewood on sale. Thomas Hale, Maryville, St. Kilda, near French Con- sul's. 50 mar 6"

MISC: ARSON, 13 Aug 1855, Richmond Flat, Melbourne. ¹⁹ "ARSON -The Government of Victoria offer _ _ _ _ _ a reward of £25 for the incendiary who fired two houses in Richmond Flat, on the 13th inst., the property of Mr. Thomas Hale, Maryville, St. Kilda. At the time the fire broke out a man of the following descrip- tion was seen loitering about the premlses:- 5 feet 8 inches high, stoops, thin visage, rather stout built, had on dark clothes, and black billy- cock hat." (A "billycock" hat is similar to that worn by Thomas Hale in the top photo - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowler_hat)

MISC: V.V.R. Regiment, 9 Oct 1855, Melbourne. ²⁰ THE V. V. R. REGIMENT.
To the Editor of the Argus.
Sir,--- In your report of the ball practice of the V. V. R. R. this morning you stated that "The firing was very creditable, particularly that of No. 2 company, whose target was completely riddled," and that "No. 3 company also fired well." The facts are the following : -- No. 3 company (Prahran and St. Kilda) had nearly as many shots in the target as both Nos. 1 and 2 companies combined. They had nine times as many as No. 1 in the bull's-eye, and three times as many as No.2 in the bull's eye. As I have no doubt that your mistake occurred by the figure two being substituted in the place of the three, and vice versa, I would thank you to correct the same in your next issue, as I feel assured you only wish to publish facts.
I am, Mr. Editor,
Your most obedient servant,
THOMAS HALE,
Sergeant in charge of Target No. 3 Com.
October 8th, 1855.
(We have referred to our reporter on the subject above alluded to, and he has explained to us that, though the number of shots in the bull's-eye was as stated above, yet that he considered the target of No. 2 to present the best sample of firing. He does not pretend to have counted the number of shots which struck, but he believes the fact to be as stated in his report.---ED. A.)

He resided in 1856 in Elsternwick. ²¹

He worked as an Architect in 1856 and resided at Elizabeth St. ²²

He worked as an Architect, Robertson & Hale (Architects & Estate Agents) from 1857 to 1860 and resided at 9 Elizabeth St, Melbourne. ^{23 24}

He worked as a St Kilda Councillor from 1857 to 1861 and resided at Melbourne, Australia. ²⁵

MISC: "Original Letter" The Argus, 29 Jun 1857, Melbourne. ²⁶ MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF ST. KILDA.
To the Editor of the Argus.
Sir,-This day's statement of the doings of the above reads thus---"The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed." They were confirmed after the whole of the clause referring to a letter signed by me was totally expunged therefrom, and which letter appeared in the Argus a few days since ; the motion to that effect having been duly pro- posed, seconded, and carried, with but one dissentient voice. By giving insertion to this in your Monday's issue, you will oblige, Sir,
Your obedient servant.
THOMAS HALE, Councillor.

He worked as an Architect, Robertson & Hale (Architects & Estate Agents) from 1861 to 1862 and resided at 54 Flinders Lane East. ²⁴

He worked as a Mining Agent in 1865 and resided at Office, 3 Howe Street, Daylesford. ²⁷

He worked as a Mining Registrar from 1866 to 1884 and resided at Daylesford, Victoria. ^{28 29 30}

He worked as a Deputy Registrar of Births and Deaths From Sep 1869 and resided at Daylesford, Victoria. ³¹

He resided on 30 May 1872 in Daylesford, Victoria. ²

He worked as an Architect on 30 May 1872 and resided at Daylesford, Victoria. ²

Thomas married Mary Hill, daughter of Samuel Hill and Johanna (Hannah) Apps, on 28 Dec 1841 in Melbourne, Australia.¹ (Mary Hill was born in Feb 1814 in Port Isaac, Cornwall ³², christened on 24 Apr 1810 in St Endellion, Cornwall,³³ died on 11 Sep 1870 in Raglan Street, Daylesford ³² and was buried on 14 Sep 1870 in Daylesford Cemetery ³².)

Thomas next married Frances Moore, daughter of John Moore and Annie Doyle, on 30 May 1872 in St Pauls, Glenlyon, Victoria.² (Frances Moore was born in 1847 in Dublin, Ireland ³⁴ and died on 7 Apr 1925 in Uxbridge House, Nicholson St, Fitzroy ³⁵.)