A very busy man!
I take my inspiration to write a blog about a Rookwood resident (or two) from many sources. It could be a newspaper article, an anniversary of a significant event, etc. etc. Today I have taken inspiration from a new historical fiction novel I read recently which has Victorian funeral practices at its heart. This novel was set in Sydney in the 1860’s and tells the tale of a young woman who becomes an embalmer and inherits her husband's business, an undertakers. Rookwood (or as it was known at the time of the setting of this novel, Haslem's Creek Cemetery) features prominently. Several well-known Sydney people of the time appear, and it is one of those people I highlight today.
ARTHUR RENWICK
Arthur was born in May 1837
in Glasgow Scotland, the only son of George, a bricklayer, and his wife
Christina. He arrived in Sydney in July 1841 with his parents, who had paid
their way to the colony, and his younger brother. His father, once settled,
advertised as a plasterer operating near Tooth's Brewery. He did well, was well known
in the area and became an alderman in 1860, chaired Redfern Council from
1862-1863 and became Redfern's first mayor in 1868 after retiring from
business, serving in that office until 1871. George was a philanthropist
involved in many community activities. He played a major role in the building
of the Redfern Congregational Church, was a director of the Benevolent Society
for 22 years and the Institution for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind, as well as
President of Randwick Asylum for Destitute Children continuing in that role until his
death in 1897. He was described as one of the pioneer aldermen of Redfern
Council and was one of the oldest Justices of the Peace in the colony.
Arthur was able to be
educated at Redfern Grammar School, matriculating at the University of Sydney
with a B.A. in 1857. He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh in 1860-1861
and became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh. After
undertaking further research courses in Glasgow, London and Paris, he returned
to Sydney in 1862. He married Elizabeth Saunders, the daughter of the Rev. John
Saunders at the Redfern Congregational Church in the presence of George Allen
and John Fairfax (both of whom reside in Rookwood).
It wasn't long before he
established a thriving practice and was skilled in forensic surgery. From
1862-1877 he was visiting medical officer for the Benevolent Society of NSW, in
1866-1875 an honorary physician at the Sydney Infirmary and examiner in medicine
of the University of Sydney. He was appointed to the Medical Board in 1873 and
later became its President.
During the 1870's Arthur's
workload picked up but amongst other things he became the honorary surgeon for
the NSW Institution for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind as well as its President in
the 1880's. In 1878 he became President of the Benevolent Society and also
during the 1880's he was the first President of the NSW branch of the British
Medical Association. The list went on...but during this time he also became an
alderman, and Secretary for Mines in the Parkes ministry. In 1885-1887 he
represented Redfern like his father had done previously.
Arthur did not rest there but
was consumed by his charitable works and brought about improved conditions at
the Benevolent Asylum especially for women and children. In 1881-1901 he was
President of the State Children's Relief Department, establishing a boarding
out system for orphans. Arthur in this capacity had much to do with the
bringing in of old age pensions in NSW. He became a member of the senate of the
University of Sydney and vice-chancellor on several occasions.
Despite all these
activities, Arthur displayed a great ability as an organiser which led to him acting as the Commissioner for NSW at the international exhibition in
Melbourne in 1880, and in similar positions for exhibitions held in Amsterdam,
Chicago and Adelaide.
His wife was also an
energetic charity worker and helped Arthur in the State Children's Relief. She
was President of a number of associations including the NSW Bush Missionary
Society and the Young Woman's Christian Association as well as the Women's
Suffrage League of NSW.
Arthur Renwick was knighted
in 1894 for his business skills as well as his philanthropy. He died at his
home, "Woodstock" in Burwood in November 1908 suffering from heart disease and
was buried in the Independant section of Rookwood. Lady Renwick joined him in
1918. Two of his sons are also buried in his vault.
His mother and father are buried in a large plot just a few metres away.
George and Christina Renwick's grave - find-a-grave
It would appear that Arthur
was given great inspiration from his father with his many charitable acts
whilst in the public domain. Arthur added the skills of a gifted surgeon and
did not shy away from acting upon various areas he found were lacking in society.
Arthur features in the novel "Black Silk and Sympathy" by Deborah Challinor, as does Henry Shiell, the City Coroner (the subject of a previous blog). The author has researched her subject well, that of the fictional first female undertaker in Sydney. In her extensive notes she details Victorian funeral practices in great detail and her information about Rookwood - before it was even known as that name - is hard to fault. The book is available from all major outlets.
The inspiration for today's blog
My research has found that the first recognised
female undertaker in Sydney was Esther Sparks who took over the reins of her
husband’s business in 1895 in Parramatta upon his death and also became the
first female embalmer qualifying in March 1896. Esther was soon joined in this
field by Ada Coffill, John Coffill’s third wife who became an embalmer in July
1897 - Wood Coffill Funerals Pty. Ltd is still operating today. Mrs. P Kirby
and Sons, Funeral Directors was operating from a building in Elizabeth Street
Sydney near Hunter Street but not before 1898.
Jordan and Esther Sparks are
buried in Rookwood in the Old Methodist section.
Deborah Challinor has stated
that her fictional female undertaker "Tatty" Crowe will feature in
another novel which unfortunately won't be available until next year - can't
wait!
In the novel Tatty has a
meeting with Arthur Renwick with the intention of donating to the Benevolent
Society in a mutually attractive proposal to better the lives of women. In the
novel he is as “keen as mustard!”
For today’s references I
have utilised ancestry.com; the Australian Dictionary Encyclopedia article by
Martha Rutledge; Wikipedia; Parliament of NSW; Parramatta History and Heritage
and other google and trove searches.
Arthur Renwick worked hard
to make life better for the people on the bottom rung of society. From my research
he performed the work of several people juggling all his responsibilities with
aplomb. The next time I visit his vault I will salute him but also advise him
to continue to rest peacefully - he deserves it!
I am intending to write a
further blog about funeral directors and how their businesses altered to
reflect the changes in funeral practices at the height of the cemetery’s popularity
in late Victorian/early Edwardian times.
If you have any insights or
comments about this Blog please add them below or at the group facebook page
which can be found at
Rookwood Cemetery
Discoveries
or simply send me a message
via
lorainepunch@gmail.com
Until next week!
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