Richards JP Frederick James

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Fast Facts
Type of person Individual
Also known as: F J Richards
Date of birth 1879
Place of birth Wallaroo Mines
Principal occupation Town Clerk
Date of death 1964
Place of death South Australia

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Frederick James Richards was born at the Wallaroo Mines in 1879. He completed his basic education at local public schools and qualified in draftsmanship and surveying at the Moonta Technical School.[1] From 15 he worked in the underground mines for 3 years, before becoming underground foreman and going on the be a surveyor and draftsman for the Wallaroo Mining Company for twenty years.[1][2] He also spent two years working in the mining industry in Western Australia.[2] He married Amy Felicia Inglis, daughter of the Kadina Town Clerk, in 1906 and they went on to have three children (see details below). In 1923, F J Richards accepted the position of Gawler Town Clerk; and the family moved to Gawler, making their home in a residence on Julian Terrace facing the river (this home must have since been demolished – the site upon which it stood has not yet been determined). Amy’s widowed mother Margaret Annie Inglis came to live with them; she passed away at the home in 1929[3] and is buried in the Willaston Cemetery.

In 1935, the family moved to a heritage villa at 3 Warren Street, Gawler East (the property, which was purchased in Amy’s name consisted of part of allotments 252 & 253, visible on the original Gawler Town Plan – originally the street was known as High Street,[4] but the name was likely changed as it was separated from the main part of High Street by the Pioneer Park Cemetery). Middle daughter Lola married 'Ted' Edward George Miller (son of Gawler butcher Hartley Burfield Miller) in 1939.[5] Daughter Felicia and son ‘Don’ Frederick Donald were still in the family home in 1940, Don was working as a hairdresser,[6] he later ran his own salons in the metro area (brother-in-law Ted Miller also went into hairdressing). The family sold a portion of their land to their neighbour, blacksmith Alexander Stewart, of 5 Warren Street in 1940,[7] but kept the house until 1950.[8]

During his time as Gawler Town Clerk, in addition to all the work connected to the office of the corporation, F J Richards took on the roles of Surveyor, Overseer, Inspector and Secretary of the Local Board of Health, Curator of the Willaston Cemetery, Building Inspector, Inspector of Weights and Measures, Returning Officer for Council Elections and Secretary to other local bodies.[1][2] He kept this up for 31 years, only retiring in 1954, aged 74, as his wife Amy had severe arthritis and needed constant care, necessitating their move to their daughter’s home in Adelaide.[9][10] In acknowledgement of his service, the Councillors voted to award him four months’ furlough on full pay as there was no superannuation scheme.[9] “It was pointed out that Mr. Richards had not taken his annual three weeks holidays for about five years because of the inconvenience it might cause Council.”[9] A farewell function was held in the Town Hall, with words of appreciation spoken by Mayor Elliott Goodger, former Mayor Mr Louis Ey (who was also a personal friend) and each of the Councillors.[11]

Following their move to Adelaide, Amy passed away in 1957, aged 76, and Frederick James in 1964, aged 84. They are buried together at Centennial Park Cemetery. Richards Avenue part of the c1950s Gawler South Housing Trust Development area is named in honour of F J Richards.

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Compiled by Nikki Wight - with thanks to Frederick James Richards' granddaughter Judy Ward (nee Richards) for sharing her photographs, documents and recollections.

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See also: Town of Gawler CEO's, Executive and Senior Staff

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Other Gawler Connections

Two of Frederick Richard's sisters also came to live in Gawler:

  • 'Polly' Mary Ann Richards (1876-1960) married 'Ted' Edward Joseph May (son of Joseph May) in 1916 in Adelaide. He was an engineer at his uncle's May Bros Foundry. Polly and Ted are buried together at Willaston Cemetery (Plot 31 Q 4).
  • 'Olly' Olive Beatrice Pearl Richards (1883-1958) married 'Fred' Edgar Frederick Woolcock in 1905 at her father's residence at the Wallaroo mines. Fred Woolcock work for South Australian Railways (SAR) and went on to be stationmaster for the North Gawler Railway Station.

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Birth, Death & Marriage Information

RICHARDS Frederick James

b. 15 Sep 1879, Wallaroo Mines, SA, son of William Richards and nee Mary Ann Stevens (Reg. Daly 229/407)

m. 11 Apr. 1906, ‘Amy Felecia INGLIS’, Lerwick House Kadina, SA (Reg. Daly 227/159)

  • Felicia RICHARDS (LEES)(1906-1995)
  • Lola RICHARDS (MILLER)(1908-1997)(m. 'Ted' Edward George Miller, son of Hartley Burfield Miller)
  • ‘Don’ Frederick Donald RICHARDS (1910-1968)(m. Lilias BRADLEY)

d. 19 Feb 1964, SA (Reg. South Australia 969/1160)

Buried 20 Feb. 1964 Centennial Park Cemetery, Pasadena, SA (Plot General D/Path 11/765)


INGLIS Amy Felecia (RICHARDS)

b. 9 Jan. 1881 ‘Amy Falicia Ingles’ [sic], Kilkerran, SA, dau of John Millier Inglis & nee Margaret Annie Moody (Reg. Daly 255/430)

m. 11 Apr. 1906, ‘Fredrick [sic] James Richards, Lerwick House, Kadina, SA (Reg. Daly 227/159)

d. 21 Mar 1957, SA (‘Amy Felicia Richards’, Reg. SA 856/1619)

Buried 22 Mar 1957, Centennial Park Cemetery, Pasadena, SA (Plot General D/Path 11/765)

Amy’s mother ‘Margaret Anne Inglis’, died at her daughter’s Julian Terrace, Gawler, residence in 1929 and is buried in Willaston Cemetery (Plot 20 F 4). Her name is also inscribed on her husband’s memorial at Kadina Cemetery.



References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The News (31 July 1929) https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/129177025
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Bunyip (5 July 1946) https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/96843746
  3. ↑ (Observer 23 Feb 1929) https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/164873663
  4. ↑ Certificates of Title CT 1316/133 & CT 1402/92
  5. ↑ The Advertiser (3 Jan 1939) https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/49786392
  6. ↑ Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980 via Ancestry
  7. ↑ Certificate of Title 1762/157
  8. ↑ Certificate of Title 1762/158
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Bunyip (14 May 1954) https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/96903546
  10. ↑ Judy Ward nee Richards (Granddaughter of F J Richards)(2026), pers. comm.
  11. ↑ Bunyip (23 Jul 1954) https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/96902205




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