Gold sluicing machine running into river and tailings, with Melkjoer's Restaurant
Detail of above
Note: In between the taking of these two photos, a bark hut of equal height to Melkjoer's restaurant was built. The edge of it can be seen in the photo below.
W. Melkjoer's restaurant
Source: Mitchell Library, SLNSW
William Melkjoer (variously anglicised to Malkior, Malkion. Malkair, Melkior and Melchoir) was born in Denmark in about 1815. He married Marion Cristena/Maria Christina also a native of Denmark. They lived in the County of Wellington, Parish of Ironbarks NSW.
Their children included:
- James Peter - born 1849; died 22 November 1912; buried Stuart Town.
- Willhelmena C - born 1863; married Andrew Bell in Wellington in 1882 (NSW BDM 6709/1882); died 27 June 1963, aged 100.
- Carl Julias - born 1865 (NSW BDM 12920/1858); died 1870*
- William - born 1869 (NSW BDM 19342/1869); died 11 February 1869
*The birth record for Carl has spelling "Melchoir"
**Cemetery records show a Carl Malkior/Melkior dying in 1870 and buried at Farnham NSW (also known as Stoney Creek and located near Omigal).
William purchased a property in Omigal NSW (now called Stuart Town) in 1871: section 7, Allotment 5 at the corner of Wellington and Sibthorp Street.
1871 - DEEDS OF GRANT READY FOR DELIVERY
Source: Parish Maps, (Vol 120 Folio 216)
The restaurant photos (above) were taken on the Gulgong goldfield in 1872 and have been attributed to Home Rule but are more likely to be from Rouse's Paddock on Perseverance Lane. William and family may have spent up to two years on the Gulgong Goldfield running a restaurant. However, by 1874, mail to "W Melkior" at Gulgong was returned unclaimed. From at least 1875 onwards, William Malkior was licensee of hotels at Farnham and Newrea, in the same district they resided before their stint in Gulgong.
1874 - UNCLAIMED LETTERSGeneral Post Office, Sydney, 15th December, 1873. No. 24.LIST OF LETTERS RETURNED FROM THE COUNTRY, AND NOW LYING AT THIS OFFICE UNCLAIMED...194 Melkior W., Gulgong
PUBLICAN'S LICENCES
Stony Creek District
1875 - Malkion William - Farnham, main road to Orange - The Australian Hotel1877 - Malkion Wm - Farnham, main road to Orange - The Australian Hotel
1878 - Malkion William - Farnham, main road to Orange - The Australian Hotel
1878 - Malkion William - Farnham, main road to Orange - The Australian Hotel
Wellington Licensing District
1883 - Malkair William - Newrea - Newrea Inn1884 - Malkion William - Newrea - Newrea Inn1885 - Malkior William - Newrea - Newrea Inn
[NB After 1886 the licence was held by Andrew Bell, son-in-law and in 1888 the hotel burned to the ground.]
Source: New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900) Wed 19 Aug 1885 [Issue No.352 (SUPPLEMENT)] Page 5413
Marion Cristena Malkior died 18 March 1885 at Newrea, near Wellington. (NSW BDM 14741/1885)
William Malkior died 6 August 1891 (NSW BDM 15669/1891). They are both buried at Wellington NSW.
1885 - MALKIOR.March 18, at Newrea, Christenier, the beloved wife of William Malkior, hotel keeper, and mother to J. P. Malkior and Mrs. Andrew Bell, of Newrea, after a long and suffering illness, which she bore with Christian fortitude, aged 59 years.
Marion Cristena Malkior
Died March 18th 1885
Aged 59 Years
Aged 59 Years
Native of Denmark
Leaving a sorrowing husband and two loving children to mourn her lossFarewell to you our mother dearThe loss of you to us is greatWe know your gone to join our Saviourin that happy home above.
Also William Malkior,
Native of Denmark,
Husband of the above,
died August 6th 1891,
aged 66 years.
Source: Austcemindex
