Key Dates

 

1901               

The Bracher family move from Golden Square to join their father in Footscray

1902               

George Henry Bracher elected President of the Victorian Saddlers and Harness Makers Union

1904 July 2

George Henry Bracher is discharged from his debts

1910 October 8         

Death of Sarah Louisa Bracher

 

The Bracher family returned to Footscray in 1901, where George Henry rented a home in Geelong Road. Harry Bracher recalls:

 

“ Our day of departure had now arrived and upon loading up two vans filled with our belongings, the suggestion was made that to save a fare, Harry might as well travel down with the vans. The van men agreed and I had the unique experience of returning to Melbourne by road as well as having travelled up by road. We were on the road to Melbourne for about 3 ½ to 4 days as the horses could only proceed at a walking pace. My father had rented a nice new home in Geelong Road, Footscray where I was met by the whole family and soon we had the vans unloaded and began the task of settling in.

 

“ ..the breaking of ties with our Bendigo friends was a sad blow as we had in the nine years spent there become extremely fond of many fine people of whom we still have fond memories.”

 

The population of Footscray was about 18,000 at the time, but the home was surrounded by four or five acres of open space. This space formed the home ground of the local cricket club – the Melrose Cricket Club – which Harry helped to establish with other local boys and with the help of the local barber, Jimmy Smith. Fifteen year old Harry attended State School No. 253, about 300 yards from the home.

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Sarah Louisa was living at ‘Montrose’ in Harding Street, Portarlington with her daughter and son-in-law. Sarah Fanny and Robert’s house at Bullock Creek Road in Golden Square was being rented out at 3 pounds, 4 shillings and sixpence for eight weeks. In December 1902 Robert Jones made a part payment on another home at 21 Hotham Street in Footscray, which by the beginning of 1904 was housing the Bracher family. It may have been a joint investment between George, his sister and brother-in-law, or it may have been that, being still in debt, George and his family rented the property from the Jones’. More likely is the fact that, being insolvent, George would not have been allowed to trade in his own name and he therefore used Sarah and Robert as a front to enable him to re-enter the property market in the rapidly increasing prosperity of Victoria. This is confirmed in a letter from him to his sister in March 1903:

 

“….I have not attended any sales in Yarraville, but if you can give me the exact position of your lot in Bay View Road I will go down and see if I can easily ascertain its actual value also that in Malvern I would go and let you know all about some Saturday afternoon (??)…”

“ I think property is likely to come back a bit although there are no great bargains…I have made offers for two houses that would have suited us and could have got one at 360 pounds, but after giving them 3 weeks to accept it I declined as they were too slow…..”

 

and again in December 1903, when Robert on holiday in Warburton, he wrote to his wife in Portarlington about a visit to Footscray:

 

“…I went out to Footscray and saw Farnbach. He was not able to pay-in as much as I expected, so I got Calhoun to draw a p.o. (??) for 260 pounds instead of 250 pounds. It only means that George will have less to pay to us. The specifications to the shop front in Nicholson St were not out, some delays owing to getting consent of city surveyor…Farnbach told the tenant that I would not put up the room, but intended altering shop instead and the rent would be at one pound per week. He grumbled a good deal but Farnbach told him I did not want to compel him to stay, he could go wherever he liked…”

 

Political issues surrounding the saddlery and harness trade prompted George Henry to take a closer interest and, eventually, a higher profile in the industry association. In November 1901 he told his mother:

 

“…We are still working only half time and likely to be for some time, as the Federal tariff has robbed us of the protection we had, but we are taking steps to have it righted and I hope to be successful. You may have seen in the Argus of Friday last the account of a mass meeting of saddlers in the Temperance Hall at which I presided. It was the largest and most representative meeting that the trade has ever had as it included both the importers, manufacturers and workmen….”

 

The following year George Henry was elected as president of the Victorian Saddle and Harness Makers Union at Trades Hall. The following year he was telling his sister about the union picnic:

 

“…Yesterday was the saddlers picnic at Hampton. All were there except Lou and G and we enjoyed ourselves very much. Ella and Lionel both won races, but strange to say though Harry is very fast, he could not run on the sand. I was second in the Society members race, only beaten by 3 (seconds?) for first, but I prefer the 2nd prize. it is a twelve months issue of our trade journal the “Saddler and Harness maker” bound in book form….”

 

George Henry’s employment is unclear at this time. Presumably he was still involved in saddlery, hence his involvement with the Association. However, he was insolvent and could not trade in his own right. In one letter he speaks about leaving the insurance company to start his own shop at 6 Hopkins Street, Footscray, so we may presume that he was working for wages in the insurance business, while dabbling in property investment, using the money of his sister and brother-in-law. Money was obviously fairly restricted in the Footscray household, because in January 1904 Aunt Sarah Fanny received a letter from her niece Louie requesting help to purchase a piano:

 

“ Pa’s friend Mr Caldecott has a piano for sale which he has taken for a debt. Pa is very anxious to have it, but of course cannot see his way clear just now as he is starting in business next week as you know. Last night he expressed his desire, so George, Amy and I offered to buy it on terms…if you could manage to lend us 5 pounds for a few months we could manage the rest alright. Pa knows exactly what I am writing to you about. We are all satisfied that we are getting a chance that rarely occurs…This is the only way we will ever get one – Pa seems so pleased we offered to buy it. If you are obliged to ask uncle for it you can give him our word of honour that we would pay the money back in a few months, whatever else failed + George feels he can do it now that he is improving his position”.

 

George was preparing for business again in early 1904:

 

“….I have taken a nice handy shop for 6 months at 6 shillings per week…I have partly arranged for some work out of town to take up my spare time if I have any. I am not going to stock it unless I can do it on the sale or return principle, so I shall require no capital comparatively and as I am so close to Melbourne I can buy my stuff just as I want to use it, without keeping any more material on hand other than what I am using I suppose R (Robert?) will be at home on Saturday as I want to see him re the alterations he proposes to make in Nicholson Street before he does anything definite. I had intended to bring Lionel with me but Kate says she cannot send him for a few weeks as she wants to prepare some clothes for him.”

 

In June 1904 George applied for a certificate of discharge in the insolvency court from his debts and dispensation of the payment of 7/- in the pound . It was granted in July by the Court of Insolvency, Melbourne Central District. Judge Gaunt granted the application remarking that the case appeared to be one much deserving of relief by the court. George was back in business, but he still had his troubles…

 

“ Business locally has been worse this winter than it has been for years so the other trades people tell me. However I have been plugging away all the same on the saddles and hope soon to have all my stock clear. No doubt you saw the cheap ‘ad’ I had in the Herald and other papers. Anyhow although the bank threatened to oppose my application for dispensation they backed down at the last moment and I had no opposition whatever and the application was granted with a few sympathetic remarks from the judge…I hope ma has got quite right again and not been so wayward as I’m sure R and yourself have had quite enough to bear without any side worries…My lad at the shop is laid up with the fashionable complaint so I suppose I shall have the shop all to myself this week.”

 

It is about this time during the early 1900s that sees the emergence of Harry Bracher in the business and sporting world. In 1904 the 18 year old had joined the newly formed St Johns Church of England, Footscray Cricket Club, which won the B Grade Premiership in the first year, with Harry taking out two trophies. The Church of England Cricket Association embraced between 100-200 teams across Melbourne and was for many years the largest association in Victoria. He had also begun work with a stock agency and told his aunt by letter of his ambitions:

 

“ ..We have been fairly busy in at work ever since Christmas time for a rise in my salary was coming due. I naturally expected a substantial increase, but to my disgust they only offered me half a crown increase after 12 months service and as I did not consider this fair treatment I went and told the manager so, and he wrote to the principals at Sale, but so far he has had no reply, and if they decide not to give me a better increase I will just keep on with them and at the first favourable opportunity will leave them for somebody else’s employ. My plan is to write to the various Trust companies and look out for a good position as I consider that I have been very badly treated by Mathieson and Davis. “

 

His younger sister also wrote to her aunt, informing her about their new exercise program:

 

“….Harry and I are going in for physical culture under the instructions of a book written by D.L. Dowd and we hope it will turn out a success. Pa purchased a lawn mower and it cuts excellently. George has made a very nice garden in the yard on the right side of the house, and has planted a number of choice roses in it…”

 

Daily life for the Brachers of Footscray had settled down after nearly fifteen years of hardship and uncertainty. The letters assume a more domestic tone, as they report on everyday suburban occurrences and work:

 

“….I have been attending Mr Benson and have had teeth out as I arranged and have the temporary ones in, so I have been fairly quick I think and I will keep the temporary ones for about 6 months. Uncle was here this afternoon and saw Fan, whom I suppose you know has been rather bad but I am glad to say appears to be getting better…George left for Sydney by the French Wail boat today and I suppose I need not say that he will have a good trip. He has been making a list of places to visit and will have all his time taken up in visiting them. We are having a Japanese Fair down at the Sunday School and Ella is acting as a Geisha girl or something of that description. There is a great movement here for a station at Hotham St, which I hope will succeed as it will mean so much to property owners and this part in general….A gentleman came into the office today and remarked “my word what a big fellow you are growing” and I hope the growing part of the business will continue as I want to get as close to six feet as possible. So far have struggled to five feet nine so I hope my fond hopes will not be shattered too badly. Lou and Amy are beginning to sing very nice indeed. Amy in particular according to my judgement which I would not say is the best in Melbourne. Anyhow they have both improved wonderfully. You enquired through Pa’s letter if I had had my trip to Gippsland. Yes I did and thoroughly enjoyed the change, everything was so new to my eyes and the trees so large and majestic that it was an exceedingly pleasant trip not to mention the fern scenery which in places is extremely beautiful. I think you will gather from what I have written that I was pleased with my trip, more so when you know that all my expenses were paid for, but alas the accountant declares he will not let me go again as it entailed too much work upon him. I sincerely hope that uncle gets just what he wants from the Department as I am sure he deserves none but the best treatment. I had better conclude as you will begin to think that your nephew Harry is getting close up to lunacy and a fit subject for an asylum. Sincerely hoping that your health is improving as I heard that you were unwell and hoping that dear old grandma is jogging along as I am. Your affectionate nephew, Harry “(Harry Bracher to Aunt Sarah Fanny, October 1905).

 

Amy Bracher became a qualified teacher in 1905 and on 12 September 1907, the second daughter, Louise May Bracher married R.Ferdinand Hester, the only son of Mr and Mrs R.H. Hester of Healesville and Canterbury. The Brachers were listed as living at ‘Sylvanus’ in Hotham Street Footscray. The union produced a daughter, Joy St Clair Hester, whose talent and notoriety in the Australian art world provided some ‘colour’ within the wider family between the 1930s and her death in 1960.

 

George Henry’s prosperity and level of comfort must have been sufficient by 1905 for him to take an active role in local politics. This included a prominent role in a Footscray lobby group to persuade Premier Thomas Bent to build a railway station in Seddon. However, his involvement was not without controversy. Correspondence in the local papers of 1906 alleged some degree of impropriety by George in claiming expenses for his honorary role in the Seddon railway project.

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The Age of 3 December 1909 reported on the appointment of G.H. Bracher as an honorary magistrate at Footscray Court. His appointment – supposedly ahead of other potential candidates – caused some local consternation. His detractors publicly alleged that the appointment was made because of George’s involvement with the Labor movement and especially through the influence of the local MLA. The Footscray Independent Newspaper said that the appointment had caused “more feeling in the district that any similar appointments for years”. It was reported that when George took-up his position on the bench, he was not accorded the usual words of welcome. Notwithstanding, George devoted the next decade of his life to sitting on the local bench in Footscray and his decisions were often reported in the Melbourne papers.

 

Harry’s cricketing interests received a considerable boost in 1908 when he moved from St Johns Church of England Cricket Club in Footscray to the North Melbourne Cricket Club to play on a turf wicket. He was picked for the Second Eleven and by the third match he was picked for the First Eleven. He was never out of the First Eleven for the next 15 years and for about 12 years “took strike” for the side. North was one of the leading cricket teams in Melbourne, with many brilliant batsmen. Harry made six centuries during his time, with his highest being 154 not out and in his last innings for the team he made 131 in a semi-final against Melbourne.

 

The final months of 1910 spelled the end of another chapter of the Bracher family history. Kate’s mother, Catherine Smith (nee Barry) died at White Hills, Bendigo on September 10th from a Cerebral Haemorrhage. Her father, Peter Smith (previously Pedro Herara) had died in White Hills in 1887

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A month after Catherine Smith’s death, October 8th 1910, 91 year old Sarah Louisa Bracher died of what the burial certificate recorded as ‘senile decay’. The average age for female deaths in Australia at the time was 58, so Sarah Louisa had defied it by several decades. She had spent the last 20 years of her life in the comfort of her beloved daughter, Sarah Fanny, and son-in-law, Robert Disney Jones. She died at their home at 20 Hobbs Street in Seddon.  She was buried with her husband and one of her daughters in the Kangaroo Flat cemetery. The Rev. Ernest Smith of the Methodist Church in Footscray officiated. Sarah Louisa and George Bracher are acknowledged as pioneers of Bendigo. The obituary for Sarah in the Bendigo paper mentioned that she had operated a private school in Kangaroo Flat for some years after they arrived in 1853.

 

For many years, a plaque recognising both of their contributions was affixed to two trees in Melbourne Road, Kangaroo Flat. In 2001 The City of Greater Bendigo advised that Kangaroo Flat's Pioneer Avenue was established by the Kangaroo Flat Progress Association in the late 1920s to honour those who fought in the 1914-18 War. However, for the sum of ten shillings, they said, anyone could have their name attached to a crate which surrounded each and every tree. It would seem that the great self-promoter George Henry was determined that their legacy in Bendigo should not be soon forgotten.

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It is not known when their last house in Kangaroo Flat was removed, but an early colour photograph of the home suggests that it may have been razed sometime during the mid to late 1960s. George, Harry and Lionel Bracher also recalled travelling to Bendigo during the early to mid 60s to view the old house.  Knowing that it was going to be demolished, Harry ripped a souvenir paling from the old front fence, which is still in the family's possession.