Herbert A Brigden
Herbert A Brigden married Janie Brown (first wife).
1945 - GULGONG DISTRICT NEWS
Sudden Death of Gulgong Native Came as Great Shock
Friends in Gulgong were shocked when they heard of the death of Mr. Herbert A. Brigden, who collapsed in a shop in Willoughby road, Sydney, on Saturday morning, February 10.
Deceased was born in Gulgong on October 12, 1871 (about twelve months after the discovery of payable gold by the late Mr. Tom Saunders). His parents were the late Mr. and Mrs. John Brigden, his mother having conducted a little shop in Herbert street, opposite the site of Mr. Len Price's store.
He was named after Herbert street — the street in which he was born.
His first wife was formerly Miss Janie Brown, whose father was one of Gulgong's early general storekeepers, the store being situated opposite the old Belmore Hotel (delicensed many years ago) in Herbert street.
The late Mr. Brigden joined the staff of the Gulgong Post Office as a messenger boy at the age of 16 years. A little later his industriousness and capabilities earned for him the position of acting postmaster at Mendooran and later still he was postmaster at Coolah. Whilst at this latter centre he was instrumental in having the telephone system installed.
He also served the P.M.G.'s Department at Goulburn, Narrandera, Wauchope, Gundagai, Newcastle (during the period of the last war), Haymarket, Oxford street, Milson's Point and North Sydney.
After some years' retirement from the department he lived at North Sydney till his first wife died. About two years ago he returned to his old home town, and after staying with a nephew, Mr. Alfred J. Brigden, and Mrs. Brigden, he acquired a house in Herbert street opposite the Town Hall.
This street must surely have had a fascination or fond memories for him. His name and the street were
synonymous terms! Deceased had a great love for the "old" town of Gulgong and its older hands. He found a great delight in meeting old friends, meeting new Gulgongites, and chatting merrily away about people and things in general. He was greatly admired and very highly esteemed.
His series of articles under the caption of "I Remember" which were printed in many issues of the "Gulgong Advertiser" last year and the year before aroused great interest in Gulgong's earlier days and made excellent reading. They furnished proof of the friendly interest he took in the town and its people.
The late Mr. Brigden married again last July, the bride being Miss Maud Gudgeon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Gudgeon, of Sydney and formerly well known and highly respected Gulgongites. One of the best citizens Gulgong has ever had, the late Mr. A. E. Brigden (who passed away some years ago at his residence in Bayly street), was a brother of deceased. Other brothers and sisters of deceased were: Will (who died at Warren), Edward (at one-time licensee of Prince of [Wales] Hotel, Gulgong), Walter and Alfred (who for many years conducted the cordial factory in Gulgong, now carried on by Mr. Alf. J. Brigden). Sisters living are: Mesdames George Smith (Castle Hill), A. Williams (South Hurstville) and J. Chegwyn (Glenorie). Our sympathy is extended to the bereaved.
The following tribute to deceased has been printed in the Wauchope newspaper:
The late Mr. Brigden was postmaster at Wauchope from 1908 to 1912, and was responsible for the telephone service being started in Wauchope and the connection to Port Macquarie — in fact telephones were somewhat of a mania with the late Mr. Brigden, and many district folk bless him for his enthusiasm in this regard.
The late Mr. Brigden was also instrumental in having the post office erected on the present site, protesting to the department against the choice of a low-lying block opposite the Commercial Bank. It was through the efforts of the late Mr. Brigden that the Bain Memorial Gates were erected at the entrance to the park.The deceased, with his late wife, were staunch members of the Presbyterian Church, and only a few weeks ago the late Mr. Brigden was made an elder of the Neutral Bay Presbyterian Church. Deceased is survived by a daughter, Amy (Mrs. Roy Overton (Sydney), and sons Alan (Newcastle) and Gerald (R.A.A.F.). He also leaves a sorrowing young wife of seven months duration. Service was held at Neutral Bay Presbyterian Church on Monday at 2.30 p.m., and thence to Northern Suburbs Crematorium.
