Menzies Institute Hobart
The photos have
been taken by Ann Williams-Fitzgerald, who is a current student with the
Wicking Centre housed in this building.
She is a descendant of the Jillett's first born son, William Bradshaw.
Menzies Institute cnr marking Liverpool and
Campbell Streets, whilst, on the opposite side, creating a dialogue with the
landscape of the Domain and the vehicular movement of the Brooker Highway.
The building is entered through a
formal archway on the street corner that leads into a glazed atrium.
During the excavations on the
site, which would have contained many old buildings, photos were taken by the
archaeologists involved.
Aerial
view of 53 Campbell St after excavation Excavated building showing wall
footings, steps and fireplace, Menzies Institute.
The
Cesspit was possibly not on the original house, given the dating. of 1840
Various artefacts were located. Some are not from the original
Jillett house.
These two are very likely to have
been discovered on the original house.
The Jillett house was taken over
by the Government, and used for Government purposes, according to one of the
Colonial Secretary reports, its location to the Barracks made it able to be
used for Government purposes.
Its location was near the first
Market Square.
There is
mention of a garage at the stable area.
There
was an engineering business at 17 Liverpool Street Hobart. It operated until around the 1960's.
Examining the Artefacts
There
was a Chemist operating in Liverpool Street, and his name was Andrew Paton
Miller
Mr Andrew
Miller, chemist, of Hobart Town, proved that he had sold to prisoner on 9th or
10th March 24oz. of nitric acid, a gross of phials, and some quicksilver ; on
the 24ith witness got some liquor from the Superintendent of Police, and found
it to be composed of nitric acid, quick silver, and water.
Launceston
Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899)
Saturday 4 April 1874
A saddle
horse having got at liberty in front of Mr. Miller's chemist shop, Hobart Town,
turned on the pavement opposite Messrs. Kerr and Young's drapery establishment,
in Liverpool-street, where it fell. It rose again, entered, and trotted up the
centre of the shop until it came opposite a mirror, where, seeing its own
counterfeit presentment, it stood immovable. The rider having arrived led the
animal quietly away.
Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Thursday 8 February 1883,
page 7
THE
INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION OF TASMANIA.
[BY TELEGRAPH] (FROM OUR OWN
CORRESPONDENT.) HOBART, Tuesday.
The Industrial Exhibition was opened this afternoon by the Governor,
with much ceremony. A public half holiday had been proclaimed, and all the
shops were closed. The Governor and Commodore were received by a guard of
honour consisting of members of the Rifle Regiment on entering the Exhibition.
The Orchestral Union under Herr Schott, played the National Anthem. Mr. James
Harcourt, the president, presented an address to his Excellency, who suitably
replied. He stated that the undertaking had his warmest sympathy, and declared
the Exhibition open, amidst great cheering. All the members of the Ministry, the
Mayor, and Corporation, and other public officials were present. The building
presents a very creditable appearance, especially considering that it had been
converted for its present use out of the old market.
The chief Victorian exhibits are the Oriental Tea Company's Pagoda,
Messrs. Cullis and Hill's furniture, Swallow and Ariell's biscuits, Henry
Young's jewellery, Howland's cordials. Chief among the Hobart exhibits was J.
Bidencope's hat display, with men at work, showing the manufacture of hats. Mr.
Golding exhibits a handsome case of jewellery; Mr. Evans, of Launceston, has an
excellent display of soap ; Mr. Stuart, of Launceston, shows locally
manufactured jewellery ; Mr. A. P. Miller, chemist, of Hobart, has a fine show
of Tasmanian parfumery; Messrs. Wignall
and Bridges exhibit basketware ; and Moir's cabinet of minerals of Tasmania
proved a great attraction. The building to-night was crowded, and illuminated
by the Brush electric light with good effect. A grand concert was given. It is
generally acknowledged that the whole display is far beyond the sanguine
expectations of the promoters.
Some of
our readers will remember, no doubt, that we (Mercury ) called attention some
time ago to a very beautiful glass case, containing perfumes in bottles and
other Articles pre pared and sold by Mr Miller, chemist, of Hobart. The case
was a richly ornamented one, and the glass was the very thickest plate
procurable, bevelled at the edges, which glass can only be procured from England. The case would have made a very
elegant exhibit, creditable alike to Mr Miller and the colony, but it met -with
such treatment on the voyage as that it. reacted Calcutta a perfect wreck. Mr
Miller has received a letter from Mr Just, in which our Commissioner states
that the large and thick sheets of glass were smashed literally to atoms, the
three glass shelves were also smashed, the brass work considerably damaged,
and, generally, the. whole case was a wreck. As plate glass could not be
procured, Mr Just had to put lead down the centre, and repair the damage as
best he could with common window glass. The result was, of course, that Mr
Miller's elegant and expensive case was deprived of all its beauty, and the -
work and taste entirely thrown away. Mr Just states that he has given the P.
and Co. notice that they will be held responsible for the damage done, but
whether Mr Miller will get any satisfaction remains to be seen.
Mr Miller
says, that after this experience he is not likely to again send exhibits beyond
the seas, and we do not wonder at his resolution.
His
business was at the corner of Murray and Liverpool Streets, confirmed in this
advertisement 1888.
Miller was a man of great enterprise and he immediately introduced a
number of specialties which made his name famous for he was one of the first in
Tasmania to manufacture eucalyptus oil from the leaves of the pure blue-gum
tree and the product was formulated into eucalyptus toilet vinegar, ointment
& salve, veterinary ointment, pastilles, cream, dentifrice, and soap, as
well as many others.
His eucalyptus oil was shipped world-wide and included the Parke, Davis
& Co. firm in Detroit, Michigan. In addition he distilled on his premises a
“a fragrant and refreshing perfume, being an exquisite combination of exotic
and Tasmanian flowers .....put up in elegant ‘Tasma caskets” of Tasmanian
ornamental woods, containing the perfume in chaste cut-glass bottles” of 2
sizes, costing £2 2s. and £3 3s.
Mr. Andrew Paton Miller was educated at Ayr Academy in Ayr, Scotland, he
served his apprenticeship in Paisley, Scotland, and came out to Melbourne in
1856, where he remained until he settled in Hobart in 1871. His son Andrew John
Miller was born in Hobart on 26 January 1872, was educated locally, joined the
VDL Bank in 1889, and after 18 months he apprenticed with his father, later
graduating in Melbourne at the College of Pharmacy, became associated with his
father’s pharmacy again, and in 1893 was admitted into partnership in the firm.
This information was extracted from ‘The Cyclopedia of Tasmania’ article
(Volume 1, 1900) which spent so much time extolling the virtues of the 3-story
(second) building, as well as the myriad of the medicaments made from the
distilled eucalyptus oil, that it never mentioned his full name, nor when A.P.
Miller was born (he was said to be 28 in 1871, so his birth was ca. 1843), and
he was still alive at the time of publication of the article. An idea of the
extensiveness of the business is given by the number of those employed, 13 in
their town premises, and from 12 to 15 at the Eucalyptus Distillery.
Andrew Paton Miller was described as a good
employer, public-spirited and a liberal-minded citizen, prominent in all
important movements for the improvement of Hobart, and the promotion of healthy
recreation amongst its citizens. He had been a pioneer mining speculator, but
not prominent in political life, although he had considerable influence with
the electors generally.
Once
again I am indebted to Margaret Harman, Heritage Collections, State Library of
Tasmania, Hobart, for the information used in preparing this article.
Addendum (November 2007): This registered cover from DALBY/
9A/ DE 28/ 1905/ QUEENSLAND is addressed to Mr. A.P. Miller, Chemist , Hobart,
Tasmania (Figure 4).
David McNamee's definitive book 'Catalogue and Handbook of
Tattersall's Covers (2006)' gives additional information on the Miller
father and son on page 127. I highly recommend this book in regards to the
great documentation of Tattersall's covers.
Andrew Miller was born at Ayr, in Scotland.
According to his obituary, this was in 1843, although some other sources cite
1839. He was educated at Ayre Academy and served his apprenticeship as a
chemist at Paisley and passed his examinations with distinction.
He emigrated to Melbourne where he became an assistant
chemist before purchasing his own pharmacy business.
In 1869 Mr Miller moved to Tasmania where, on 30
November 1869, he married Ann Mary McAllan.
In 1871, aged 28, he purchased the Hobart pharmacy
business of Dr Smart. It was at this time that his advertisements included
statements that he sold homœopathic medicines.
According to his obituary, Mr Miller proved to be
"an estimable citizen being well endowed with those faculties of energy,
industry, and enterprise which have made Scotchmen famous all the world over in
their mastery of business and commercial affairs generally. ... In all his
dealings Mr Miller was remarkable for his honesty of purpose,
liberal-mindedness, and integrity of principles, though making no open
profession of those virtues. He had the courage of his convictions, and there
was nothing of the hypocrite, the envious spirit, or the 'little Hobartian'
about him, for he heartily sympathised with all progressive efforts."
He was involved with the Tasmanian Racing Club, one
of the pioneers of the mining industry in Tasmania, especially on the West
Coast, and was one of the first in Tasmania to commence the manufacture of pure
eucalyptus oil from the leaves of the blue gum, establishing an oil distillery.
Mr & Mrs Miller had two sons and four
daughters. He died suddenly on 2 April, 1904.[2]
He died
in 1904, and his will confirms his address.
From the
National Trust 1990, this was his site. From
Name/Title Corner of Liverpool and Murray St, Hobart,
Tasmania[3]
About
this object D. P.
Miller's Pharmacy site at the corner of Liverpool and Murray Streets, Hobart,
Tasmania.
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