Mrs Robert Denholm
Contents
Background
Goldfields Involvement, 1854
Post 1854 Experiences
Obituary
BALLAN. A PIONEER'S DEATH. Another of the old pioneers of the district, in the person of Mrs Robert. Denholm sen., has passed away aged 91 years. Mrs Denholm was believed to be the oldest resident of Ballan. She was born at Waterstone Ground, near Hawkshead, Lancashire, England, in 1826, and came to Victoria with her husband in in January, 1849, In September of the same year she arrived in Ballan, there being only two other white women there at the time, and only three buildings - the vicarage, an hotel, and a hut, She was the first postmistress in Ballan, being appointed to the position shortly after Black Thursday. She was in charge of the post-office in 1854, when the soldiers, on their way to Ballarat in connection with the Eureka riots, camped in an open piece of ground which is now the site or several tenements. She gave up her position as postmistress in 1858 when her husband acquired a farm property south of the township, where she resided up to the time of her death. Mrs Denholm (whose husband died in 1897) was the mother of 10 children, five of whom are living. The funeral took place to the Ballan New Cemetery. The coffin bearers were Mesrs C. F. Myers, J.P., T. P. Grant, E. Lay, and E. Gillespie; the pall being supported Cr G. C. Flack. Messrs W. J. Andrew J.P., J. H. Walsh. W. E. White, H. Densley, W. Warhurst, J. Cunningham, W. Elholt, S. Hastie. D. K. Fraser, M. Cantwell, W. Whitford, W. Pearpoint, and D. C. M'Kienzie. The Rev. E. J. Welch conducted service at the grave, and the mortuary arrangements were carried out by Messrs Hugh Evans and Son, of Ballarat East and Egerton.[1]
See also
Further Reading
References
- ↑ Ballarat Star, 9 September 1916