Thomas Christian (a Ross Maroney interview with Alex, the son of Thomas, and an insight into Millards and the building trade in Young).
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Thomas Christian, born in Sussex, England, came to Australia with his wife Susan who was born in Somerset. They settled at Smithtown, near Kempsey and had four children, Phyllis and Alexander, Gladys and Mena. In 1921 the family moved from Goulburn to Young, they lived in one of the Summerhayes houses in Main Street. Thomas was a police officer and moved from Young to Dubbo in 1928 as an Inspector.
Alex, born 1911, came from Goulburn to Young and attended Young Primary School and Young High School. While still at school he worked for a local builder, AG Brown.
He transferred his apprenticeship to WS Millards in 1927. Frank Millard's son served his apprenticeship at the same time. At the Timberyard where Alex served his time, were:
- Peter Stumpf, cabinet maker in charge
- Frank Bladwell, machinist
- "Wang" Wallace, general hand
- "Cocky" Sheriff, carpenter
- Hilton Sheriff, cabinetmaker
- Ray Foster, who lived at Wambanumba
- Jack Symonds, building foreman
There were two Taylor brothers, one in charge of the Timberyard, the other the company carrier.
Alex remembers the big fire at the factory one Sunday afternoon.
Alex remembers that in 1921, Blackett and Sons had just finished the new Presbyterian Church in Lynch street. AG Brown built the Rural and Commonwealth Bank buildings. Millard built the Southern Cross Hall, and the building on Schmidt's corner.
During Alex's time with Millards, they:
- Extended some show ground buildings
- Erected house Wombat Street for Webb's
- Erected Basil Hills house Wombat Street
- Erected cottage off Brock Street for Frank Hopwood (Young Witness Office)
- Erected cottage on western side of Presbyterian Manse for Marshall, a real estate agent
In 1928 the Christian family moved to Dubbo and then to Orange. Alex worked at Bloomfield for eight years. He took a keen interest in the Orange Historical Society. Sadly he suffered a stroke and moved to Wontama Homes, where he died. His funeral was at St James' Presbyterian Church, Mathews Avenue, Orange.
- Sourced from an interview with Ross Maroney.
Young's Gold Mine
The following article is from the Sydney Morning Herald, May 10, 1910.
Young, is a town which has a gold mine within it's boundaries. There is no fear of a gold rush this time. This mine is situated on Quartz Reef Hill and its shaft has been sunk to 120 feet , the last assay was at the 120 feet level and was 4 oz 18 dwt to the ton. The width of the reef is only eight inches, but it promises to extend to a lower level. Water is making readily in the shaft. When WO Judge, upon whose property this mine is situated, had a visitor staying with him some time ago. This visitor made a hobby of prospecting and expressed his intention of having a look around the old diggings, which indent the whole surface around Young.
Half jocularly, Mr. Judge told him that there was no need to go far as he believed there was gold under a certain stump in his grounds. The stump, it appears, has been a source of annoyance to Mr, Judge, and it was with secret satisfaction that his visitor was taking his suggestion seriously. He commenced to dig around the stump with the intention of uprooting it to see if there was any "colour" in the stony ground. To the surprise of everyone, and of Mr Judge in particular, his enthusiastic visitor came across a gold bearing leader. He forthwith put two men to work on the reef and now there are nine men working on Quartz Reef Hill.
No doubt a shaft in one's yard is more offensive than a stump, but when the shaft contains gold one can overlook any little inconvenience. A local syndicate now has control of the mine.
- Historian, Brian James, contributes his column to the Young Witness each Tuesday on behalf the Young Historical Society Inc.
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