Harrie Wicking
Harrie Wicking was born in Ballarat in 1870, he was the eldest son of Richard Wicking. Harrie trained as a Jeweller/ Optician/ Watchmaker and opened his first shop in 1895 at 19 Sturt street Ballarat. In 1903 he relocated the business to 159 Sturt street, in Shoppee Square, the more prosperous section of Sturt street.
History
Harrie Wicking was born at Ballarat East on November 16th 1870, his parents were Richard Wicking (clerk) & Harriet Wicking (schoolteacher). The family lived at 199 Mair street Ballarat. Harrie was named after his mother Harriet, a tradition he followed when naming his own son, Harrie Lewis Wicking in 1920.
At the time of Harrie's birth few of the young children in Ballarat attended school, however, this situation soon changed when the Victorian Government enacted the Education Act of 1872. It stated that "education should be free and compulsory for all". To meet the demand for education services, seventeen new State Schools were built in Ballarat between 1874 and 1880.
In 1876 Harrie's father Richard was appointed Clerk at Anderson's Mill and the family, which had grown to include one year old baby Alice moved to nearby Smeaton where Anderson's Mill was located. Two more sisters were born at Smeaton, Ellen (1877) and Amy (1879). Harrie attended the Smeaton School and was frequently to be seen peddling his bicycle around Smeaton delivering telegrams for the Post Office. In 1890 the family moved back to Ballarat.
It is believed that Harrie Wicking obtained his Watchmaker & Optician qualifications at the Ballarat School of Mines, Australia's oldest technical institution. In 1896~7 Harrie Wicking aged 26 established his first Jeweller Optician Watchmaker shop at 19 Sturt Street in what was part of the old Corner Hotel building; John Deardon photographer was situated next door at number 21. Signage in this Sturt street scene of 1895 clearly shows, "Harrie Wicking Jeweller Optician".[1]
Harrie was a member of the "Christ Church Young Men's Club", he read his paper "The planet Mars" at the June 1894 meeting. In 1895 Harrie was appointed treasurer of the Ballarat Literary Society. [2] In 1896 Harrie was operating a Jewellers shop at 112 Albert street Creswick. (rate book)
Later that year Harrie visited Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Departing Melbourne aboard sailing ship RMS Orotava he sailed via Port Adelaide to Albany W.A. arriving on October 31st 1896. [3] Using the newly opened rail link he made his way to Perth by steam train then on to Boorabbin aboard the Eastern Goldfields Railway. The final leg to Kalgoorlie was by horse drawn coach. One year later Harrie attended first Masonic Gathering in Kalgoorlie in August 1897. [4]
By 1900 Harrie had returned to Ballarat and in September that year he was official Time Keeper for The Davies - Franklin bicycle road race. [5]
Harrie Wicking appointed Hon. Secretary of the Greater Ballarat Movement in 1901. [6]
Prior to his marriage, Harrie lived with his parents & three younger sisters at 10 Dawson St. [7]
On December 12th. 1906, Harrie Wicking aged 36 years, of Ascot Street, married Alice Beatrice Mitaxa aged 27 years of 7 Talbot Street at the Baptist Church Ballarat. [8]
In late 1902 Harrie relocated his business further up Sturt next to Mr. Allender tailor.[9]and again in 1903 he moved to the more prosperous Shoppee Square at 159 Sturt St. (next Town Hall).
Harrie Wicking was a member of the Ballarat Yacht Club. [10]& he provided a trophy, "The first event for Mr H Wickings trophy was sailed this day", [11]
In 1907 Harrie and Alice left Ballarat moving to Hamilton, Victoria where he established a Watchmaker Optometrist business. Their first daughter Nellie Beatrice was born October 7th 1907.Second daughter Esme Ruth followed on October 6th. 1908. The family were residing in Thompson St. Hamilton in 1909. [12] In 1910 the family moved to Melbourne living in the suburb of Brighton where their third daughter Doris was born on February 10th. 1910. In 1913 the family resided in a single fronted weatherboard house at 74 York Street Prahran where their fourth daughter Amy Gwendoline was born on May 5th. 1913. Harrie conducted his Jewellery business from a shop in Chapel St. Prahran next to Foys. Between 1917 to 1924 the family resided at 57 Highbury Grove East Prahran where their only son, Harrie Lewis was born on January 31 1920. In 1925 the family resided at 20 Bonview Rd. Malvern.[13]
Harrie Wicking died on January 4th. 1940 aged 70 years. He is interned at St. Kilda Cemetery in a common grave with his grandfather James Wicking 1862 & later Harrie's wife Alice Beatrice 1947. [14] At the time of Harrie's death his family believed that Harrie's father Richard Wicking was buried in the family plot at St. Kilda. Explaining why the 1940 headstone was inscribed in error with “RICHARD”- it should read James Wicking. Richard Wicking is infact buried at Queenscliff Cemetery with his wife Harriet.
Legacy
See also
Notes
Photos from family album
References
- ↑ Rate Books + photo of 8 Hour Day Parade Sturt St.
- ↑ The Ballarat Star May 23rd. 1895
- ↑ The West Australian Nov. 2 1896
- ↑ Kalgoorlie Miner Aug 19 1897 & family history/photo
- ↑ The Ballarat Star Sept. 15th. 1900
- ↑ The Star Feb. 8th. 1901
- ↑ Ballarat & District Directory 1903 +1905
- ↑ Wedding Certificate
- ↑ The Star Dec. 22nd. 1902.
- ↑ The Star Sep. 17th. 1906
- ↑ The Star, April 6th 1907.
- ↑ 1909 Hamilton electoral roll
- ↑ Electoral Rolls
- ↑ Compartment C grave 282 with his grandfather James Wicking 1862
Further Reading
External links
--Howard Wicking 10:51, 16 March 2016 (AEDT)