In August 1853 the first newspaper advertisement for the Ferguson & Urie business appeared in the Melbourne Argus newspaper.

The Scottish Brothers, James & David Ferguson from Wallace Town, and James Urie from Kilmarnock, were by trade Slaters, Glaziers & Plumbers from Ayr in Scotland and had arrived in Melbourne circa 29th April 1853 to seek their fortune in the Australian Colony.

Although the discovery of gold in Victoria was a temptation to many immigrants, the three men stuck to the business principals of making money via a demand for a commodity and advancing the likelihood of their success from the side economic effects of the gold rush. In the years 1853 to 1861 the company stuck to the skills of their trade, primarily as slaters, glaziers and plumbers, but in late 1861 this situation would change. The company’s new direction would see them cemented in history as Australia’s Pioneers in the medieval art of stained glass craftsmanship in Australia.

The Argus, Melbourne, Friday 19 August 1853, page 7.

“LATTICE Windows – Lead lattice Windows, for churches, cottages, etc, made to say pattern or design by Ferguson and Urie, north-east corner of Benevolent Asylum”.

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