Thorup Emil

**Fast Facts**
Type of person	Individual

THORUP Emil

1813 - Born in Denmark

1845 – Married, 1 March to Charlotte Luise Hauss at Trinitanis, Copenhagen, Denmark.

1854 – Arrived at Port Adelaide on board the ship “Wandrahm” from Hamburg, Germany, 20 April 1854.

1855 – Reported in the South Australian Register dated Tuesday, 4 April: Shipping Intelligence – Imports from Hamburg. “La Rochelle” I case prints, E Thorup.

He came to South Australia in 1856, lived in Gawler for 20 years and built the house in Duffield Street [to be called Martindale] which he sold to John Felix Martin.

The rates records show that William Paxton originally owned the land where Martindale is now, and Emil Thorup took ownership sometime prior to 1868. At that time, there was just vacant land. Emil Thorup built the house, which was substantial in size, sometime between 1868 and 1876.

Emil Thorup owned and lived in the house until 1879, and the house is listed as having an orangery at that time. The house was then owned by John Felix Martin (not James Martin) from 1879, and he lived there until at least 1892.

James Martin & Co owned land just to the north of Martindale, which contained workshops associated with the foundry, but it was John Felix Martin who owned and occupied Martindale, according to the rates records.

1857 – Advertisement, Adelaide Advertiser, Saturday 2 May

1858 – Shipping Intelligence – South Australian Register, Friday 22 Oct 1858 – Imports from Hamburg per “Sophie”, 5 casks, 7 cases, E Thorup. He continued to receive imports on a regular basis.

1859 – South Australian Advertiser, Friday, 25 March Mr E Thorup paid a subscription of one pound stirling to the Bushfire Relief Fund.

1859 – South Australian Register, 26 October – Mr E Thorup was elected to the Gawler Institute committee.

Derek Whitelock's book "Gawler" page 248 states that on 22nd June 1864 "Proposed by Mr E. Thorup to sell sufficient land to open a roadway into High Street from Murray Street, Considered by The Corporation & accepted."

1866 – Bunyip, 30 June – NOTICE – In consequence of Mr E Thorup’s illness, his shop will be closed for about one month. Gawler June 25, 1866

1870 – Evening Journal, Thursday 10 March – The late Mr Haas died at North Adelaide, a music teacher of some note. The deceased was a native of Denmark, and nephew of Mr Thorup of Gawler.

1872 – South Australian Government Gazette, Page 1146 – Naturalisation – Chemist of Gawler

1873 – Adelaide Observer, 21 June – A Choice Garden – Any chance visitor to Gawler when Nature has donned her garb of green cannot fail to be pleased with the many beautiful and well-kept gardens surrounding the pleasantly situated residences above the town. There is scarcely a house north or north-east of Murray Street that has not a neatly cultivated plot, commanding a good birdseye view of the green plains stretching towards Adelaide, and even taking in a sight of the Port with its shipping and river. Somewhat east of High Street, there is a house which from its most eastern style of architecture forms a striking object not to be overlooked, and by the courtesy of the owner, Mr E Thorup, we lately were gratified with an inspection of the beautiful grounds attached. The dwelling – a handsome structure – is situated on a hill, whilst the garden slopes down into a deep gully, and rises to the top of the opposite eminence. Taking advantage of the position of the land, Mr Thorup has placed terraces, one above the other, as is the case in Beyer’s garden, so that a visitor obtains a distinct view from various points. No trouble or expense has been spared to perfect the arrangements. Trees, shrubs, and plants, useful and ornamental, grow luxuriantly in tastefully attended beds which lie below each winding terrace, and a substantial stone wall surrounds an extensive plantation. We were shown over the residence, which being surrounded by a series of stone archways – veranda-like – has the look of a house within a house. In one room immense quantities of raisins were in process of drying, and in another, a lathe is used by the proprietor, who has a taste for making elegant pieces of turnery. He has also devoted much attention to soriculture, and has a quantity of fine silk reeled off besides many hundreds of cacoons. A stroll over the chaste grounds will well repay the visitor who can appreciate the results of taste, patience and untiring industry.

1873 – Bunyip, 7 November – Veterinary Surgeon – Mr H Iverson, Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Copenhagen, can be consulted daily in his Profession at Mr E Thorup’s chemist, Gawler.

1873 – South Australian Register, 20 December. Mr E Thorup, passenger aboard the “South Australian” bound for London.

1874 – Bunyip, 14 August – Advertisement – DAVEY James, General Storekeeper, Murray Street South (near Thorup’s chemist). Highest price given for Bacon, Butter, Eggs and all colonial produce.

1878 – Bunyip, 4 January – Advertisement – E THORUP, in relinquishing his business transferred to Mr T J Barker, takes this opportunity of returning his sincere thanks to the inhabitants of Gawler, and the public generally, for the liberal support enjoyed by him during the more than twenty years he has carried on business in Gawler; at the same time he begs to recommend his successor, confident that he will carry on the business to general satisfaction. All formulas have been handed over to Mr Barker.

1880 – South Australian Chronicle, 14 February. The steamer “Orient”, which recently left for England, took among its passengers, Mr E Thorup, the well-known chemist of Gawler. Mr Thorup’s intention to proceed to Denmark, where it is probable he will spend the remainder of his life.

1882 – Bunyip, 31 March – Advertisement (see photo)

1890 – Bunyip, 6 June – Advertisement – Tenders will be received by the undersigned until Wednesday, 18th June, 1890, for the purchase of that valuable property (known as Thorup’s) comprising portion of allotment, No 202, in the Town of Gawler, having frontages to Murray Street of 95 feet, and to High Street of 92 feet 6 inches, together with the three shops and dwellings and other building erected thereon. For further particulars apply to S B Rudall, Solicitor, Gawler.

1896 – Death Notice - Adelaide Observer, 30 May. Emil Thorup died at Copenhagen, Denmark on 28 March 1896. Aged 83 years. He was formerly of Gawler.

1896 – Bunyip, 19 June – Death of Old Gawlerite – News was received a week or two ago of the death of one of the identities of Gawler in the early days, Mr E Thorup. The deceased gentleman came to South Australia 40 years ago and after carrying on the business of a chemist in Adelaide for a short time in partnership with Baron von Mueller now of Melbourne, he came to Gawler and started business here. His venture was successful and he afterwards built the row of shops in Murray Street, below the Post Office, and known as Thorup’s shops. Later on he built the handsome and commodious residence now owned and occupied by Mr J F Martin, and which on account of its novel design attracted much attention.

Mr Thorup left for Denmark, his native country, about 17 years ago, and lived quietly at Copenhagen until March 28 last, when he expired at the advanced age of 83. The deceased gentleman was skilful in his profession and his sterling qualities were well known to the early residents of the town. He took no active interest in public affairs. He was left a widower before he came to the colony and never afterwards married. Mr F T Thorup, of Murray Street, is a nephew of the deceased gentleman.

THORUP Frederick Theodore was born c1837, Denmark. His father Christian being brother to Emil Thorup. Frederick married Mary Ann Farnworth at Gawler on 24 December, 1872. Frederick Theodore Thorup died at Gawler, 23 October, 1901 and was buried in the West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide.
Mary Ann Thorup nee Farnsworth was born c1848, her father being Thomas Farnsworth. She died on 3 January, 1928 at her daughter’s (Mrs Nielson) residence, Kalamunda, West Australia and was privately interred at Karrakatta cemetery. Frederick and Mary had a family of 6 children. Frederick T Thorup was a member of the Gawler Institute Literary Society.

1. Thorvald Charles THORUP, born at Lefevre Peninsular, South Australia, 11 September, 1875 and died at Manna Hill, South Australia on 14 September 1891, late of Plympton East.

2. Christian Emil Theodore THORUP born at Gawler, South Australia, 26 November, 1876. He married Mary Laurie ARTHUR at the residence of James Arthur, Gawler South on 12 May, 1903 and they had Freda Alexandra, Gwendoline Isabel, Charlie, Ida Marguerita and Jean Laurie all born, Gawler, South Australia. Christian E T and Mary Laurie Thorup are recorded on the Australian Electoral Roll for the years 1919 to 1937 as residing in Melawondi, Queensland, his occupation given as fettler and Mary as railway gatekeeper. There deaths were recorded in The Telegraph, Brisbane. Christian died on 21 July 1943 at Melawondi, Queensland, his funeral took place on 23 July 1943, leaving from the Funeral Chapel, Stanley Street, South Brisbane for the Crematorium. Mary passed away at Gympie, Queensland on 17 January, 1943.

3. Frederick William THORUP, was born 7 December, 1877 at Lefevre Peninsular, South Australia. Frederick William Thorup married Frances Susannah Dorcas Clayton nee Hoare at Glenelg, South Australia. Frances was born at Clare, her father being Harry Hoare. She died in Adelaide, 28 February, 1940. They had a daughter, Ida Mavis THORUP born 8 April, 1910, Gawler. She married at St Augustine’s Church, Unley to Royce Melven Wiesner (born 1911, father Rudolph Heinrich Wiesner) on 12 December, 1936. Frederick William Thorup died at a Private hospital in North Adelaide, 28 November, 1915 and was interred 30 November, West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide late of “Farnsworth”, Rose Park, South Australia

4. Eleanor Christina THORUP born 10 December, 1879 at Freshwater, Port Adelaide. She died at Athelstone, 4 May 1888.

5. Ida Margaretta THORUP was born at Freshwater, Port Adelaide, 8 September, 1881. She married Frederick John Joseph FREAK at St Georges Church, Gawler, 10 February, 1907. Frederick J J was in partnership with F Rawlings in a hairdressing and tobacconist establishment, Murray Street, Gawler. Frederick J J Freak passed away at the Hutchinson Hospital, Gawler on 15 January, 1930 and was interred in St Georges Anglican Cemetery, Gawler East. Ida Margaretta Freak nee Thorup died not fifty yards from her home at 4 East Terrace, Gawler East on the 14 June 1947 and was interred with her husband in the St Georges Anglican Cemetery, Gawler East.

6. Mary Edith Ada THORUP was born at Freshwater, Port Adelaide, 13 December, 1884, married Otto Schack Nielson (born 1884, father Lars Pieter), 29 November 1913 at Holy Trinity Church, Adelaide. They moved to Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Otto Schach Nielson was killed in action, 1916, France. They had a daughter, Sheila Mary.

Compiled by Gawler History Team member – Margaret Howse

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