Streets of Bunbury

FLAHERTY FAMILY OF WELLINGTON LOCATION:  ROELANDS, BRUNSWICK & PICTON

EDWARD FREDERICK FLAHERTY (1832 - 1884)

Edward was the youngest son of Edward John and Sarah Flaherty (nee Chapman) and was born in Bassendean (reference).  

He worked with his father on John Septimus Roe’s property at Roelands from early 1840’s to sometime in 1850’s, when he became a tenant in his own right on Robert Huckvale’s property at Location 29 & 31 Melville Road, on the Brunswick River.   

Whilst official records don’t exist to confirm this statement and he would have been young to be a tenant, the following has some suggestion that it may be correct:

A C Staples in his book They made their destiny makes the statement that Edward Flaherty was at Melville Park, but doesn’t give dates ( 1 ). In the Shire of Harvey Municipal Heritage p 53 it lists a man named Edward Flaherty of Flaherty’s Brook, Roelands living at Melville Park in 1849 (it could be that they’ve taken this information from A C Staples) (reference, p53) .  Edward Jnr is still at Roelands when his sister Ellen dies in a tragic accident in 1850 (reference) .  Edward Snr was at Roelands in 1852 when he lodged a legal notice in the newspaper about strayed stock on his land (reference).

In approximately 1861 (actual date unconfirmed) Staples writes in his book that Edward left Melville Road as James Moore obtained the lease ( 1 ). Staples refers to Clifton probably approving of Edward Jnr's move to Picton.  Unsure of the basis of his thought as Clifton’s diaries have been referred to in this research and whilst there is reference to John & Edward Snr, there is no mention of Edward Jnr.  Clifton died on April 10th 1861.

Interestingly, Edward’s  sister Louisa and her husband Alfred Moore owned the same property, Melville Park during 1890 - 1900 (reference, p53).

Edward’s brother-in-law James Robert Mylne, who married Henrietta Flaherty in 1849, purchased Lots 140 & 167, Picton (which became known as Sungrove) and at an unknown date, Edward, his parents and his sister, Elizabeth, moved there ( 2 ).

By the 1860s Edward’s parents had died (reference , reference ).

In 1874, Edward married Esther Allison at Australind (reference). Esther was the daughter of Sgt John Allison, who accompanied Lt Bunbury on his first visit from Pinjarra to Vasse in 1836.  Her mother was Esther Price, who died when Esther Jnr was only five weeks old (reference).

Edward was listed in the The Herald Western Australian Almanack as being a farmer at Picton from 1874 - 1881 (reference; reference; reference).

During winter of 1883 a measles outbreak was spreading through Perth and Fremantle and by early 1884, it had reached the south west of Western Australia. Sadly, Edward succumbed to it on March 4th (reference; reference).

James Mylne, owner of Sungrove, died in 1899, but he bequeathed the property to his son Ernest on the basis that Esther and Elizabeth could remain living there (reference, p185).  From about 1903 - 1913, Esther’s niece, Fanny von Bibra also lived with them.

In 1912 nearly six years after Elizabeth’s death, the property was put up for sale (reference).

The 1913 electoral roll shows the Flaherty family still at Sungrove (reference).  By 1916 they had moved to Spencer Street, originally called Vasse Road (reference).  They remained there for a number of years.  By the 1943 electoral rolls, house numbers were included and it shows they were at 43 Spencer Street (reference).  Sadly the property no longer exists.

Esther passed away on 8 July 1942 and was buried at St Mark’s Church, Picton with Edward (reference; reference; reference).

State Library of WA has three photographs of Esther, her daughters, sister-in-law Elizabeth and niece Fanny von Bibra:

Esther, daughters Edith and Florence with sister-in-law Elizabeth and Fanny von Bibra in 1890 in a garden.  Call no 9609B (reference).

Esther walking along possibly Bunbury jetty wearing a long black coat and hat, taken in 1920 Call no 9615B (reference).

Esther, daughters Edith and Florence in a garden taken in 1920.  Call no 9614B (reference).

Florence Ellen Flaherty 

1875 Picton, WA - 5 October 1947 Nedlands, WA

Little is known about Florence, apart from her living with her mother and sister and at some stage after 1943 the sisters moved to 93 Archdeacon Street, Nedlands (reference).

Florence died on 5 October 1947 aged 71 at Nedlands (reference). She was buried with her aunt Elizabeth, at St Mark’s Church, Picton (reference).

Edith Esther Flaherty

1878 Picton, WA - 15 May 1956 Nedlands, WA

Edith was an accomplished artist who first exhibited pencil drawings in the Wesleyan Floral and Industrial Society Exhibition in Bunbury in 1895 (reference).  She was appointed as a sewing teacher at Picton School in 1898 (reference).   In a newspaper article in 1904 it was stated that Lady Bedford and Mr Prinsep were actively involved in promoting Edith’s artwork which she was still doing despite her poor eyesight (reference).   By 1929 she was advertising as an art teacher in Clarke’s buildings, Victoria Street, Bunbury (reference).

A few years after her mother’s death, Edith and Florence moved to 93 Archdeacon Street in Nedlands, where she remained until her death on 15 May 1956, aged 78 (reference).  She was buried at  Karrakatta Cemetery (reference).

A short biography about Edith and her work was written by Dr Dorothy Erickson in 2010, in which she states:

“Described by a relative as “Every inch a lady, she resembled a Dresden China figurine. With her white hair, blue eyes and delicately made-up countenance, her air of breeding, old-world charm and large brimmed hat she seemed to be of another age. In her youth she must have been very pretty.””

(reference).

Battye Library at the State Library of WA holds a photo of Edith taken in 1920.  Call no 9615B (reference).

1. A C Staples; They made their destiny - History of settlement of the Shire of Harvey 1829 - 1929 (Bunbury, WA:  South West Printing & Publishing Co P/L) pp119-120

2. Staples; They made their destiny pp 156-157