Fotheringham (Cr) James

**Fast Facts**
Type of person	Individual
Date of birth	1817
Place of birth	Orkney Islands, Scotland
Date of arrival	1838
Principal occupation	One of the founders of the Gawler Brewery. One of the original landholders of Gawlertown and Willaston township.
Date of death	10 October1866

One of the original landholders of the special survey of Gawler, One of the Founders of the Gawler Brewery, Married Margaret Barnet (sister of William Barnet Printer) in March 14, 1856, James Fotheringham was Councillor for East Ward in 1857.

THE LATE MR. JAMES FOTHERINGHAM^[1]. was one of the founders of the township, in the property of which he originally possessed one seventh share. The Special Surveys were an exception to colonial land policy, which generally prohibited land acquisition prior to official surveying. Under this system, private individuals or consortia could finance the surveying of large tracts of unsurveyed land and subsequently claim priority selection within that area. The practice of Special Surveys ceased after 1846, when the British government determined that land should be made available for purchase by the general public rather than reserved for the wealthy elite.

He arrived in South Australia in the ship Indus, and was a fellow passenger of Mr. Stuart, the eminent explorer, he had made several voyages to his native country (Scotland), from the last of which visits he returned exactly a year before his decease. By the observers of coincidences it may be noted that the same vessel returned to the colony when her former passenger was about to expire. One of the most recent benefits conferred by the deceased on the town of Gawler was the presentation of a very valuable piece of land in Murray street as the site of the future Institute. but the building was destined to its present site.

Obituary 13 Oct 1866.... THE LATE MR. JAMES FOTHERINGHAM. We feel sincere regret in recording the death of this much-esteemed and and respected gentleman, which event occurred at Mitcham on Wednesday last, the 10th inst. The occurrence excites peculiar interest in Gawler, as Mr. Fotheringham was one of the founders of the township, in the property of which he originally possessed one seventh share, and by the inhabitants of which, as his funeral yesterday amply demonstrated, he was universally respected. He arrived in South Australia in the Indus twenty eight years ago, and was a fellow passenger of Mr. Stuart, the eminent explorer, whose decease in England we had to chronicle a short time since. Mr. Fotheringham's health had latterly been declining, and he had made several voyages to his native country (Scotland), from the last of which visits he returned exactly a year before his decease. By the observers of coincidences it may be noted that the same vessel returned to the colony when her former passenger was about to expire. One of the most recent benefits conferred by the deceased on the town of Gawler was the presentation of a very valuable piece of land in Murray-street as the site of the future Institute. A numerous assemblage of relatives and friends accompanied the remains of the deceased yesterday from his late residence at Mitcham to the Adelaide Station of the Northern Railway, whence they were conveyed by the midday train to Gawler, to be deposited in the family vault in the Cemetery. At the Gawler Station a large con- course of the inhabitants of the township and adjacent country joined the mournful procession, for the most part habited in deep mourning. At the Adelaide Station admirable arrangements had been made by Mr. Calf, and at the latter by Mr. Percival. A list of the parties in attendance, if it could be accurately ascertained, would consume too large a portion of our space, and a list of exceptions would be equally difficult to compile from another cause. Generally speaking, the clergy of various demonstrations, the professional men, merchants, and tradesmen of the town, were all present, as well as many farmers from the surrounding country. Places of business of every description, with probably not an exception, were closed at midday, and remained so until after the funeral, and flags were hoisted half-mast high. The procession included from thirty to forty crowded vehicles, and both equestrian and pedestsian mourners were very numerous, probably making an aggre- gate of three or four hundred. The members of the Municipal Council of Gawler were present. The service was conducted by the Rev. Mr. Gordon in an earnest and impressive manner. The funeral details were entrusted to Mr. Mayfield, of Adelaide, and Mr. Finch of Gawler, and were carried out in a most creditable manner.

Excerpts from the Fotheringham Family History in Gawler/Kapunda South Australia

From “Gawler’s Industrial Buildings 1839-1939” University of Adelaide Architecture Papers pp 51-54 & 63

BEVERAGE MANUFACTURE

Fotheringham’s Brewery and Cordial Factory – Gawler (D. and R. J. Fotheringham Cordial Factory – Gawler) One of the most significant of Gawler's early service industries was that of brewing, Gawler reportedly having had three breweries during its history' (1). The only one of which any evidence was found was Fotheringham’s Brewery, built in 1846 by James Fotheringham, one of the proprietors of the Gawler Special Survey. James was later joined in the business by his two brothers, Thomas and Robert, and eventually Thomas took over the brewery.

The premises consisted of a number of buildings located on a large site at the corner of Juliana Terrace and Bridge Street, the two storey brewery being the focus of the complex. The ground floor was constructed of masonry, presumably of stone, as there were no brick makers in Gawler until 1856 (2) and the upper floor was built partly of timber (3). Underneath this building was a large cellar which had a flagged floor and whitewashed walls (4). Attached to the brewery was the boiler room, a single storey masonry Structure (5) housing a boiler manufactured by James Martin and Company, which provided steam for a 4.5 horse-power engine (6). A small single storey masonry office was also attached to the brewery at the rear. Sited at right angles to the brewery was the malt house, a low single storey building with a shingle roof (7). This appears to have been a store for the malt imported from England. A large cellar used for storing excess beer was located under this building (8). Attached to the malt house was the bottling room, again a single storey masonry building. At the rear of the premises was a large masonry stable containing ten stalls and housing various drays and wagons used by the brewery for deliveries (9). A small cottage was attached to the stables. Several small corrugated iron sheds were also located at the premises (l0). All the buildings surrounded an open yard in which the well for obtaining water for brewing was probably located. This well was over forty-four feet deep. AII wastes from the brewery were drained into a large cemented tank in this yard. Firewood for the boilers was stored on the opposite side of the brewery (11). ln about 1898, Thomas Fotheringham commenced manufacturing aerated water and cordials (12). With the success of this venture, he discontinued brewing of beer and instead devoted part of the premises as an agency for city brewers (13).

Thomas’s son took over the business after his death and ran the premises until 1932, when he sold it to the South Australian Brewing Company. The original buildings were largely demolished in 1946 when they were converted to a clothing factory which operated until quite recent times. Thepremises are now used by a car dealer, the only reminder of the brewery 2 being a keystone which was incorporated into the doorway of the clothing factory.

As well as the aerated water and cordial business operated in the brewery, there were several earlier businesses. One, operated by a Mrs Monro in Gawler South of which little is known, and another, larger establishment owned by David and Robert John Moir Fotheringham (14) located on Goose Island. Fotheringham's Cordial Factory was erected prior to 1880 (15) and was a bluestone building with brick quoins and a corrugated galvanized iron mono pitched roof. Considerable corrugated galvanized iron extensions were later

added. ln the 1880's Fotheringham’s used a three horsepower engine imported from England which was able to turn out three hundred and fifty dozen bottles per year (16). A large brick chimney was located near the premises. ln 1880 the firm was planning to import another engine to cope with

increased demands for their product. They employed approximately twenty people over the summer months when, naturally, their products were in greatest need (17). in 1905, W.L. Haydon and Company took over the premises and continued the aerated water and cordial business, installing new machinery (18). They ran the business for a number of years. Parts of the premises used by Haydon’s are still in existence today, although they are not the original Fotheringham buildings.

FOOTNOTES

Beverage Manufacture

1. The South Australian Register, 3 June 1851.

2. Coombe, History of Gawler, p. 107 .

3. Pierce, Plan of Murray Street.

4. Loyau, Gawler Handbook, p. 59.

5. Pierce, Plan of Murray Street.

6. Loyau, Gawler Handbook, p. 50.

7. Pierce, Plan of Murray Street.

8. Loyau, Gawler Handbook, p. 58.

9. Ibid, p.60.

10. Pierce, Plan of Murray Street.

11. Loyau, Gawler Handbook, pp. 59-60.

12. Coombe, History of Gawler, p. 118.

13. “Another Chapter Closed. Fotheringham’s Long Connection Ceases”

Gawler Bunyip, 26 February 1932, and Maurice H. Ward, “Some Brief

Records of Brewing in South Australia” from Colin Ranger of the

South Australian Brewing Co. Ltd.

14. Loyau, Gawler Handbook, p. 57.

15. Ibid.

16. Ibid.

17. Ibid.

18. Coombe, History of Gawler, p. 118.

DISCUSSION

Brewing was one of the first industries to develop in Gawler, testifying to a thirsty population. It remained prominent until the turn of the century, ceasing 3 altogether as an industry soon after. Cordial manufacture was still active in the early twentieth century, dwindling in importance prior to the 1940's. Both these industries came under the domination of large companies centralised in Adelaide and small businesses such as those in Gawler were not able to compete. Location of both these industries was probably strongly influenced by the South Para River, pure fresh water being vital to them. Significantly too, they were located in association with other industries; the cordial factory with a previously-built flax mill, and the brewery with the Union Mill, these two buildings often being described as a gateway to Gawler. The difference in complexity of the manufacturing process was clearly evident in these two buildings. The brewery process required several stages of production which was facilitated by a double storey structure. Other functions such as storing malt and bottling of the beer were carried out in other buildings. In comparison the activities of the cordial factory were all housed in one simple single storey building.

An excellent article has been provided by Richard E Henderson of Tanunda Fotheringham History in SA Part One By Richard E Henderson

Further research by GHT member Paul Barnet

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