Monday, October 25, 2021

McCULLOCH

This article is about Alexander and Edward McCulloch of Gulgong, For more information about the extended McCulloch family, their Scottish roots and biographies of some of their Australian descendants, see "Southern Branches, Northern Roots: A history of the Isaacs, Parker, Liddy, McCulloch and Pratt families." 
(Contact: kljacobsen@ozemail.com.au)

Alex McCulloch, Bookseller and Stationer, 1870-75
Click here for zoomable image

The building is also visible in this image of Herbert Street.

1872 Advertisement

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 48, 13 January, 1872

Alex McCulloch, Bookseller and Stationer, was located next to the Gulgong Guardian office on the western side of Herbert Street next to the Mudgee Drug Store. 
Source: Information supplied by Baldwin & Davis, Research Gulgong (July 2006)

McCulloch's Stationery Store at Home Rule*, 1870-75
Click here for zoomable image

* The man on the right is George Coleman who had his own store at Home Rule and appears in other photos in the Holtermann Collection.

ALEXANDER McCULLOCH

Alexander McCulloch, Sydney, 1873
Source: Kris Jacobsen via WikiTree

Alexander McCulloch, Gulgong, 1870s
Source: Kris Jacobsen via WikiTree

After operating as a stationer and bookseller in Gulgong and Home Rule, Alexander McCulloch married Emma Parker in Sydney in 1876. Their children were:
  • Alex
  • Breashur - 1877
  • Camilla - born 1880
  • Darwin - born 1882
  • Emma
  • Francis - born 1884
  • Grace M - born 1887
  • Harold - born 1891
1876 - WEDDING
McCULLOCH — PARKER. —January 4, at Sydney, by the Rev. Henry Macready, Presbyterian minister, Alexander McCulloch, of Gulgong and Parkes, N. S. Wales, third son of John McCulloch, of Inverness, Scotland, to Emma, eldest daughter of the late Samuel Charles Parker, of Sydney.

In 1876, Alex was involved in a coach accident on the way to Rylstone to visit his business partner Henry White. They had ended their partnership in Home Rule in 1875 and Henry and Alex recommenced in Rylstone. This partnership was eventually dissolved in September 1877 when Henry purchased the whole right and title. Then Alex pursued other interests in Sydney as a bookseller, stationer, patent medicine vendor and fancy goods importer. This venture was short-lived and he relocated to Temora and set himself up as a stationer, bookseller and tobacconist etc.
Source: Descendant, Kris Jacobsen

1876 - RYLSTONE - COACH ACCIDENT.
Since my last report we have had our share of the sensational in the shape of a coach accident, which was happily unattended with fatal consequences. The Ilford and Rylstone mail coach, a two horse buggy, while heavily laden with seven passengers, including two ladies, besides the coachman and a large quantity of luggage, when about four miles from Ilford, and in descending a hill with a sharp turn in Petticoat Lane, through some neglect the horses bolted, and could not be pulled in. They went fast and furious, a trace or two giving way accelerating their speed. The driver had them in hand, and kept them well together. Over stones, through ruts, shaving logs, they went their fearful pace for nearly a mile, when the axle broke, and in some miraculous manner the horses stopped without capsizing the buggy. While this terrible ride lasted all the passengers managed to retain their seats, those in the back scarcely being aware of their imminent danger until one or two of them wore jerked out without injury, while one gentleman, Mr. McCulloch, of Gulgong [Alexander or Edward?], was thrown heavily over the near front wheel and left insensible, sustaining sever contusions and a deep scalp wound, besides other cuts.
The accident occurred about a mile from Mr. P. Callaghan's, where the distressed passengers met with every assistance possible, and upon hearing of the accident in Rylstone, two buggies were dispatched to bring them in. Mr. McCulloch is now rapidly recovering from his injuries, under the hands of Dr. Pericles.
 
1877 - BIRTHS
McCULLOCH. —January 6, at Sydney, the wife of Alexander McCulloch, of Parkes, Gulgong, and Rylstone, of a son. [Breashur]

1880 - BIRTHS
McCULLOCH—Jan. 29, Sydney, Mrs. Alex. McCulloch, daughter. [Camilla]

1884 - BIRTHS
McCULLOCH.—January 1, at Weemala, Blue Mountains, the wife of A. H. McCulloch, jun., of a son. [Francis]

1878 - PUBLIC NOTICE.
I beg to state (to whom it may concern) that I have disposed of my Business at Parkes to Mr. JOSHUA CLARKE, and have also, this day. sold my Business at Gulgong to my brother, EDWARD M'CULLOCH. Any accounts that I owe, and have overlooked, if sent to me sharp, at the General Post Office, will receive my prompt attention. ALEXANDER M'CULLOCH, Late of Gulgong and Parkes. Sydney, N. S.W., April 4,1878.



1880 - PUBLIC NOTICE
ALEXANDER M'CULLOCH, late of Gulgong and Parkes, begs to Intimate to the inhabitants of Sydney and suburban towns, also to his friends the gold-miners, merchants, and others, residing in the various up-country districts, that he has RESUMED his Business as a BOOKSELLER, STATIONER, PATENT MEDICINE VENDOR, FANCY GOODS IMPORTER, &c, in those, handsome premises named the "School of Arts Bazaar," 273, Pitt-street, Sydney, adjoining the School of Arts, and from his practical and lengthened experience in the various goods he has upon sale his patrons may in safely depend upon receiving the best value for their cash and custom. ALEXANDER M'CULLOCH, 273, Pitt-street. Sydney. Late of Gulgong and Parkes.

1914 - DEATH - ALEXANDER McCULLOCH

Mr. Alexander McCullock, a pioneer colonist, died at his residence, at Darlinghurst. Sydney, recently.
He arrived in Melbourne from Scot land in 1852 and joined in the great rush to the Ballarat gold diggings. Later he went to Lambing Flat, and with varying fortunes afterwards, followed the occupation of a miner at Bendigo, Fiery Creek, Ararat, and Rutherglen, in Victoria, and Gulgong, Young, Gundagai and Parkes in this State.
He was in business for some years at Gulgong. He has left a widow and two sons and three daughters. Deceased was a brother to Mr. E. McCulloch, of Mayne street. Gulgong, and will be remembered by many of the old hands. He conducted the first newsagency business in Gulgong in the old days, and owned Souter's Corner, which he sold for £90.

Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 11 Jun 

EDWARD McCULLOCH

Edward McCulloch, 1877, photo taken in Sydney
Source: Kris Jacobsen via WikiTree

Edward McCulloch, Gulgong, 1881
Source: Kris Jacobsen via WikiTree

Alexander's brother, Edward, who took over the Gulgong business when Alexander moved to Sydney, married Rosannah Cline in Gulgong in 1880. Their children, all born in Gulgong, included:
  • Edward - born 1880
  • Mildred - born 1882
  • Rubina - born 1884
  • Kathleen - born 1886; married Alfred Moore O'Brien on 7 May 1907 in Gulgong. 
  • Oswald N - born 1887
  • Cecil R - born 1889
1882 - BREAK-IN
McCulloch's stationery and fancy goods, store at Gulgong was broken into on Monday night, and over £100 worth of jewellery was stolen. The police have made three arrests on suspicion.

1934 - Mr. EDWARD McCulloch
Mr. E. McCulloch, who was the best authority in the Gulgong district on land matters, passed away at his residence early on Friday last, aged 84 years.
Deceased, who was a land agent, was many years ago town clerk of Gulgong. He was a most methodical man, and whilst in business kept records and details of land sales and transactions.
Although a native of London, he was associated with Gulgong in its early days, and played no small part in helping to build up the town. Here he married Miss Rosani Clive, who survives, and who was of great help to him during his noble career.
The following grown-up family are also left to mourn: Messrs. Edward McCulloch, Oswald McCulloch, Roy McCulloch, Mrs. O. V. Cooper and Misses Mildred and Ina McCulloch.
The funeral took place to the Presbyterian portion of the Gulgong cemetery, the Rev. T. K. Gibson officiating. Mr. R. S. Bayliss carried out the arrangements.
Fuller particulars of his life will be printed in next issue.

1934 - LATE MR. McCULLOCH
A LINK with Gulgong's early days was severed by the death (as reported in last issue) of Mr Edward McCulloch (84).
Born in London, he came to Australia in 1873 and almost immediately joined his brother, the late Mr A. McCulloch, in a bookshop in Herbert street, near the premises now occupied by Mr J. Kelly. Not many years after the discovery in 1870 of payable gold by the late Mr T. Saunders, Herbert street used to be a popular shopping centre, and there were a number of hotels and wine shops in this street. At times so densely was the street packed that it was impossible for a vehicle to travel along it. The McCulloch brothers did good business. The business was later removed to the present premises in Mayne street, where the late Mr E. McCulloch carried on up till the time of his death.
Just after the inauguration of the municipality the late Mr McCulloch was appointed town clerk (a part-time position). The municipal chambers were almost opposite the present courthouse in Herbert street. Later the residence now occupied by Mr and Mrs S.J. L. Turner in Mayne street was used. The municipal library was also housed in these premises, deceased being librarian. He was also clerk of works in the council's early days, during which time he supervised the making of a number of Gulgong's streets. Some of these were partly formed and covered with tailings from the mullock heaps, and that partly accounts for specks of gold being invariably picked up in some of them after heavy rain.
Deceased was for 60 years a member of the Gulgong (Happy Valley) branch of the Manchester Unity Lodge and trustee for over 30 years.
He was the oldest land agent in this district, and was a great fighter for those who sought his services. He knew more about land values and land transactions than any other resident of the district.
Deceased was an honorable, upright citizen, and made many friends. He was very highly esteemed by all sections of the community. Members of the Happy Valley branch marched in the procession to the graveside, the lodge's funeral service being conducted by Bro. B. Coleman, P.G.

1935 - IMPORTANT - Sale of Town Property
AN important auction sale of town properties is to take place in Gulgong next Friday (June 28). Mr. W. A. Saunders is to submit to public auction, at his rooms in Mayne Street, commencing at 11 o'clock, a number of properties on account of the estate of the late Mr. Edward McCulloch. These include a block in Mayne Street (next to Powell's Hotel) on which is erected a shop and residence and a block in the same street (opposite Dr. Tunley's surgery) on which is erected a brick house of eight rooms, a three-acre block in the town at the junction of Canadian and Home Rule roads, three blocks (facing four streets) at the rear of Mr. Saunders' residence and others.

1939 - Mrs. E. McCulloch
Mrs Roseanna McCulloch, widow of the late Mr Edward McCulloch, formerly of Gulgong, passed away on Thursday last at the residence of her daughter at Oxford street, Woollahra, aged 85 years. The late Mrs McCulloch, who left Gulgong a couple of years ago, was a kindly old soul who had resided in Gulgong for many years.
Deceased was interred privately at Woronora cemetery last Friday. Our sympathy is extended to the bereaved family.


Edward McCulloch's business stamp
Source: Inside a notebook from O'Brien family collection

_______________________________

Search the ONLINE HISTORY OF GULGONG AND SURROUNDS for numerous additional references to the McCulloch brothers in digitised newspaper articles.

See also: