Parkville | Ferguson and Urie

From a family history perspective there is quite a lot known about James Ferguson, his family, and his colonial colonial stained glass company from North Melbourne.

I have many historical artifacts which include photographs, pieces of furniture, documents, and many other interesting items which make up a magnificent collection of colonial history as well as my own family history.

James Ferguson was born in Ayr, Scotland circa 1818. His parents were Janet Kay (1791-1860) and Master Slater & Glazier, James Ferguson Snr (1777-1886).

On the 13th of June 1841 he married Jane Williamson Lawson (1820-1886), the daughter of Gavin Lawson and Margaret Williamson and between 1842 and 1852 five girls and a boy were born in Wallacetown;
Margaret (1842-1913) who was mentally disabled from birth, Janet Kay (1844-1925), Jane Williamson (1846-1875), Marion (1848-1927) and Antonia Wallace (1852-1926). A son named James was born in 1851 but died as an infant in the same year.

On the night of the 1851 Scottish Census (30/31 March) his future business partner, James Urie, was recorded as a visitor at his cottage in John Street Wallacetown. Whether this was one of many meetings the two men would have to discuss their bold plans for the future can only be speculation but only nine months later their plans would come to fruition.

In early December 1852 James Ferguson was given a farewell party at the Robert Burns Arms Inn at Wallacetown prior to his departure for Australia.

“…After the usual preliminaries, Mr John Templeton, watchmaker, in neat and appropriate terms, proposed the health of Mr Ferguson and, in name of many friends, present and absent, presented him with a splendid purse containing 25 sovereigns…”

James and his younger brother David departed Greenock on the 12th of December 1852 aboard the ‘Tamerlane’ and after more than four an a half months at sea they arrived in Port Philip on the 29th of April 1853. James’s wife Jane would remain in Wallacetown for two years with the children whilst James established the business in North Melbourne. She arrived aboard the ‘Emma’ with the five girls in November 1855.

In August 1853 the first business advertisements for the company, “Ferguson & Urie”, began in the Melbourne Argus Newspaper. The rest of the Ferguson & Urie history forms the basis of this entire web site.

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The Argus, Melbourne, Wednesday 18^th April 1894, page 5.

“The death is announced of Mr. James Ferguson, the surviving partner of the well known firm of Messrs. Ferguson and Urie. Mr. Ferguson was a colonist of about 40 years’ standing, and for many years carried on business with his partner in Collins-street near the National Bank. Mr. Ferguson died at his residence, Parkville, early yesterday morning, at the advanced age of 84 [sic].”

(James Ferguson was 74 years of age at death).

The North Melbourne Advertiser, Friday 20th April 1894, page 2.

“DEATH OF MR. J. FERGUSON”

“We regret to have to record the death of Mr. James Ferguson, the surviving partner of the well known glass staining firm of Ferguson and Urie. Mr. Ferguson was a colonist of about forty years’ standing, and for many years carried on business with his partner, Mr. Urie (deceased about six years ago) [sic: 1890], in Collins Street, near the National Bank. Mr. Ferguson passed away at his residence, Parkville, early on Tuesday morning, his death being simply a decay of nature, as he was in his seventy-first year [sic: 74]. For the past four years the business of the firm has been carried on in Franklin Street and Curzon Street, North Melbourne. Mr. Ferguson was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and was much respected as a private citizen, but never aspired to enter public life. He died a widower, and leaves a grown up family. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon, deceased being interred in the Melbourne general cemetery and the cortege was followed by a large number of mourners. The body was conveyed to the grave in a panelled hearse, and enclosed in a plain coffin. There were three mourning coaches. Mr. Ferguson was buried in the Presbyterian compartment, the arrangements being carried out by Alfred Allison, of 221 Victoria Street, West Melbourne.”

19-04-1886: Jane Ferguson (nee Lawson) (1820-1886)

19-04-1894: The funeral of James Ferguson Snr.

1886: The History of ‘Ayr’ Cottage, 1 Leonard St. Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria.

08-10-1887: ‘Ayr Cottage’, 1 Leonard Street, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria.

01-01-1888: The Ferguson Clan at Ayr Cottage, Parkville.

04-07-1901: The sale of Ayr Cottage, Parkville, Melbourne.

19-02-1874: The Hotham (North Melbourne) School of Art.

Short link to this page: http://wp.me/p28nLD-Jf

The North Melbourne Advertiser, Saturday 8^th October 1887, page 2.

“Mr. Harry Lording the well known local architect and builder, announces in our advertising columns that he has removed to a more central office at 18 Errol street near Victoria street. Mr. Lording’s works are characterized by good taste and boldness of design, one of his best efforts being the residence of Mr. James Ferguson at Royal Park. The Pavilion at the Recreation Reserve is another construction that will bear inspection, and proves the architect possesses considerable ability as a good designer and economical arranger.”

James Ferguson’s home “Ayr Cottage” at 1 Leonard Street Parkville (formerly Royal Park) still exists to this day. In 1901 it was purchased by the Victorian Children’s Aid Society and in 1966 changed into the hands of International House, the University of Melbourne, who still own it as at 2014.

Coincidentally, the architect/builder of ‘Ayr Cottage’, Harry Lording, had a son named Frank Clifford Lording (1860-1944) who was an apprentice of the Ferguson & Urie stained glass company.

Significant research detail on the history of Ayr Cottage can be seen via the links at the bottom of this page.