Category South Hobart

Aug 23 2012

1869: The Alfred Kennerley Mansion ‘Rouseville’, Davey Street, Hobart, Tasmania.

The two storey sandstone mansion named “Rouseville” was built in Davey Street Hobart in 1869 for Politician and Philanthropist Alfred Kennerley (1810-1897).

The 900 sq meter mansion was built by Tasmania’s famous architect Henry Hunter who also designed Hobart’s Town Hall. Rouseville cost of £3,400 and was named after Kennerley’s wife, Jane Rouse.

The mansion still stands on the corner of Davey and Elboden Streets in South Hobart and contains a large Ferguson & Urie stained glass window in the stairwell and a stained glass transom light  above the front entry door. The side lights either side of the door were vandalised many years ago but pieces of the sidelights are still in the possession of the current owner.

Photos taken: 13th August 2012.

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In 1867 Alfred Kennerley had also donated a pair of, two light stained glass windows depicting the apostles ‘St Matthew & St Luke’ and ‘St Mark & St Peter’ to the All Saints Church at the same time as his friend and fellow parliamentarian, John Foster, had commissioned Ferguson & Urie to create a stained glass memorial to his seven year old son who died in December 1866 as a result of a coach accident.

The Mercury, Hobart Tasmania, Wednesday 7th August 1867, page 2
“…the firm [Ferguson & Urie] are in receipt of commissions from John Foster, Esq, for a memorial window to be placed in All Saints’ church, Hobart Town, in remembrance of the donor’s deceased son, and from A. Kennerley Esq, for other decorated windows for the same church…”

The Foster memorial window and those donated by Alfred Kennerley were all crafted by the Melbourne stained Glass firm Ferguson & Urie and are all located along the north side of All Saints Church in what is known as the “Kennerley Aisle”.

In late 2012 the Ferguson & Urie stained glass windows will be restored by Tasmania’s heritage stained glass conservator, Gavin Merrington. As at August 2012 restoration and conservation work has commenced on the three light west window of the church created in 1864 by the London stained glass firm of Charles Clutterbuck.

The Mercury, Hobart, TAS, Tuesday 16th November 1897, page 3.

“DEATH OF HON. ALFRED KENNERLEY”

“The Hon. Alfred Kennerley, on of the most philanthropic and high principled men of Hobart, died yesterday at his residence, Elboden-place[i], in his 88th year, of old age and general decay, accelerated to some extent by the results of a stroke of paralysis having for some years prevented him getting about. He had spent a long and exemplary life in seeking to promote the good of others. A man who used to like to give expression to Tennyson’s lines – “Howe’er it be, it seems to me Tis only noble to be good; Kind hearts are more than coronets, And simple faith than Norman blood.”

He was no ordinary man, and has done an immense amount of good in his time. Mr. Kennerley was an English gentleman of means, who came out in the early days to New South Wales, where he acquired some property and was soon made a magistrate. Finding that the climate there was very trying, he and Mrs. Kennerley removed to Hobart, and permanently took up their residence in this city. Mrs. Kennerley, to whom he was devotedly attached, died 28 ye; ars ago, and shortly afterwards everyone heard with deep regret that Mr. Kennerley had suffered a paralytic stroke. He rallied wonderfully, though the effects never wholly disappeared, and few expected that his life would have been spun out to the great age he has attained. Being a man of means and leisure, upright and shrewd, with a very active mind, his good counsel was soon sought in public affairs. He was elected an alderman of the city early in his sixties, and was Mayor of Hobart in 1862 and 1863, and again in 1871 and 1872. He was also returned to Parliament, and was Premier of the colony from August 4, 1873, to July 20, 1876, his Ministry being composed of: Mr. Chapman, Colonial Secretary, to April 1, 1876, when he resigned; Mr. G. Gilmore, Colonial Secretary, from April 10, 1876; Mr. P. O. Fysh, Colonial Treasurer, to March 12, 1875, then without office; Mr. F. M. Innes, Colonial Treasurer, from March 13, 1875; Mr. Giblin, Attorney-General; Mr. W. Moore, Minister of Lands and Works. The munificent acts of the deceased have been numerous; he has aided very many good objects in a very generous manner. Mr. Kennerley was first and foremost a staunch adherent of the Church of England, and has been a very liberal supporter of All Saints’ Church for many years, giving an annual sum towards the salary of the incumbent, another annual sum towards the offertory, and also contributing towards the improvements of the edifice. The poor of the parish he was also ever mindful of. He purchased the property, and founded and endowed the Boys’ Home at a cost of about £3,000. The deceased gentleman leaves no children, his nearest relatives being his two nephews, Messrs. R. R. and Edward Terry, who resides in New South Wales, but who are well-known to a large circle of friends in Hobart. They are now on their way here to attend their uncle’s funeral.”

 

External links:

Australian Dictionary of Biography: Alfred Kennerley (1810 – 1897)

Wiki: https://wikivisually.com/wiki/Alfred_Kennerley

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Aug 18 2012

13-08-2012: All Saints Anglican Church, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

All Saint’s Anglican Church at South Hobart is restoring the church and it’s historic stained glass windows. The restoration of the stained glass windows will be carried out by Tasmanias restoration and Conservation expert Gavin Merrington over a period of more than a year. The church contains stained glass by Ferguson & Urie of North Melbourne, William Wailes of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, London and Charles Clutterbuck, London.

ABC News, Monday 13th August 2012. Interviews include, Ray Brown, Gavin Merrington and Duncan Foster.

1. Ray Brown: 3xGreat Grandson of James Ferguson of the Colonial Victorian Stained Glass firm Ferguson & Urie. The church contains three two light stained glass windows by the firm.

2. Gavin Merrington: Tasmania’s own historical restoration and conservation expert with over 30 years experience in stained glass.

3. Duncan Foster: Tasmania’s expert heritage Stone Mason

Related posts:

1868: All Saints Anglican Church, South Hobart, Tasmania.

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Jun 25 2012

1868: All Saints Anglican Church, South Hobart, Tasmania.

The Colonial Victorian Stained Glass firm, Ferguson & Urie created the John Henry Foster Memorial Window, and the ‘St Matthew & St Luke’ and ‘St Mark & St Peter’ windows at All Saints Anglican Church, South Hobart, Tasmania.

The vast majority of our historical stained glass memorial windows have an element of tragedy and mystery surrounding them, but over the course of more than a century the story behind who they were memorials to has long faded from memory.

In August 1867, James Urie, a principal partner in the Colonial Victorian Stained Glass firm, Ferguson & Urie, was travelling Tasmania with a portfolio of the companies secular and ecclesiastical stained glass designs. Amongst the many commissions he had received for stained glass windows, was one for Mr John Foster Esq, to be erected as a memorial to his eldest son, John Henry Foster[1].

 “DECORATIVE ART– The admirers of art workmanship will be glad to hear that there has for the last couple of weeks been sojourning in Tasmania, a partner of the Victorian firm of Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon, to whom many ecclesiastical and private edifices in this and the neighbouring colonies are indebted for some of the finest specimens of pictorial decoration on glass, of which they have yet become the possessors…”[2]

“…the firm are in receipt of commissions from John Foster, Esq, for a memorial window to be placed in All Saints’ church, Hobart Town, in remembrance of the donor’s deceased son, and from A. Kennerley Esq[3], for other decorated windows for the same church…” 

Photos taken 8th October 2010.

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The two light Foster memorial window for All Saints Anglican Church in Hobart was created by Ferguson & Urie and erected circa 1868.

A trefoil above both lights depicts the Lamb of God (Latin ‘Anus Dei”) carrying the Christian banner.

The central figures in each light depict beautifully coloured and intricately designed figures that correspond with verses from Mark 11:22, with the text below: “HAVE FAITH IN GOD” and Luke 18:16 with the text, “SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME”.

Above each figure is an angel carrying a ribbon with text from Revelations 14:13 “Blessed are the dead” and “Which die in the lord”

The bottom edge of the window has the memorial text:

“ERECTED BY JOHN FOSTER ESQ. IN MEMORY OF HIS DEAR SON”.

The memorial text on the window doesn’t reveal much information, but the prominent Tasmanian newspapers of the time reveal the sad story of the boys demise.

On the evening of the 3rd of December 1866 a tragic accident occurred near the Foster family home at 94 Davey street Hobart. In the vicinity of the barrack gates in Davey street, the young John Henry Foster was knocked from his pony by a coach and subsequently run over by its wheels and he died shortly after.

“DISTRESSING AND FATAL ACCIDENT.- One of the most distressing and fatal accidents, which it has for some time past been our lot to record, occurred in Davey-street at about half past four o’clock yesterday afternoon. It appears that Master Foster, son of John Foster, Esq., of Davey-street, a promising little lad between six and seven years of age, was riding on his piebald pony along Barrack-street, being accompanied by Master Hinsby, who was also on horseback. When nearing the corner opposite the barrack gate a cab was observed coming down Davey-street at full speed. Master Hinsby kept his right side, taking a full sweep, and passing the cab. He was closely followed by Master Foster, but the cab took rather a wide sweep in turning the corner and ran right into the poor lad, who was struck it is believed by the pole, knocked off his pony and the wheels of the cab passing over him. He was at once picked up, and under the direction of the Hon. R. Q. Kermode, Esq., and Dr. Benson, who were passing at the time, he was conveyed into a cottage near the residence of Captain Clinch…”[4]

Young John Henry Foster was subsequently dispatched to hospital and Dr Bright was in attendance within half an hour but “…on his arrival the poor little fellow had breathed his last.”[5] Equally tragic was the fact that the boys parents were away in Melbourne at the time and it was left to the Hon R. Q. Kermode to contact them and advise of the tragedy.

“Mr. Kermode has, we believe, written to the bereaved gentleman informing him of his terrible loss.” [6]

An inquest was held in the absence of the boys parents, at the Greyhound Inn on Wednesday the 5th of December 1866 [7] before A. B. Jones, Esq,. and a jury of seven. The jury foreman was none other than the long time friend of John Foster, the Hon Alfred Kennerley, Esq.

The inquest found that the cab was not speeding as previously reported and that the pole brace attached to the collar of the cabs outside horse had bumped the rear of the boys pony causing the boy to fall off and go under the wheels. No blame was attributed to any anyone for the accident.

“…The jury would not call upon the coroner to go through the evidence, and returned a verdict that deceased had been accidentally killed, requesting that it might be noticed by the press that no blame was attached to John Newhey, the driver of the cab, nor did the jury attribute any blame to Mr. Hinsby, junior. The inquest was then closed.” [8]

The funeral of Master John Henry Foster didn’t occur until his parents had arrived back from Melbourne some twelve days later and was interred in the Foster family vault at Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart, on the 15th of December 1866 [9].

 Over 144 years has passed since the tragic event and the windows creation by Ferguson & Urie. The newspaper article from 1867 also mentioned that Alfred Kennerley had also commissioned Ferguson & Urie for other decorative windows:

“…and from A. Kennerley Esq[10], for other decorated windows for the same church…”

The windows donated by Alfred Kennerly are the ‘St Matthew & St Luke’ and ‘St Mark & St Peter’ windows. None of these windows appear to be memorials as such and are likely to have been erected at the same time as the Foster memorial window.

Biographies:

John Foster (1792-1875)

Alfred Kennerley (1810-1897)

End Notes:

[1] John Henry Foster, born 27th January 1860. (date as per memorial at Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart)

[2] The Mercury, Hobart Tasmania, Wednesday 7th August 1867, page 2.

[3] The Hon. Alfred Kennerley. Alfred Kennerley (1810-1897)

[4] The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, Tuesday 4th December 1866, page 2.

[5] ibid

[6] ibid

[7] The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, Thursday 6th December 1866, page 3.

[8] Ibid

[9] The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, Saturday 15th December 1866, page 1.

[10] The Hon. Alfred Kennerley.

Restoration/Conservation:

The Ferguson & Urie windows are undergoing restoration in 2013 by Gavin Merrington. The Foster memorial is the first in the series to be restored and has been removed as at May 2013.

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