Campbell and Plumridge Timber and Chocolates

101 Christian Street, Clayfield

The initial start of this post was an advertisement in the Real Estate section of Brisbane's Courier Mail. The colour pictorial of the address 101 Christian Street, Clayfield depicted a very original and wonderfully kept timber home that definitely is distinctive. The research started and in Trove an advertisement was found of the house being auctioned in 1950. 

The Courier Mail, Friday December 1, 1950

In seventy two years the structural appearance of the home has not changed. The owners and I believe the original owners were Eric Plumridge and Jessie Muriel Plumridge (nee Campbell). Marriage references and electoral roll records show that this would have been their first home after newly married in 1920. Eric Plumridge's full name was John Eric Ewing Plumridge. They were married in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Anne Street and was the union of two very staunch Presbyterian and Scottish families. Jessie Campbell was the eldest daughter of Charles William Campbell of Campbell and Sons Timber Merchants and the grandduaghter of James Campbell the founder of the Campbell timber, brick and building empire. In 1995, Campbell’s Timber and Hardware was absorbed into the BBC Hardware chain and in 2001, that was absorbed into Bunnings.

Eric and Jessie Plumridge 

On the electoral roll of 1921 the newly married Eric and Jessie were living at "Durris-deer" Christian Street, Clayfield. The name thay had given to 101 Christian Street did have a wonderful scottish connection in that Durris Forest is in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Eric is listed as a confectioner. Confectionary was the family business of Plumridge Pty. Ltd. The home of Eric and Jessie Plumridge "Durris-deer" or 101 Christian Street in 1921 would have definitely been a marvellous example of Queensland timber and style.

http://heritage.saintandrews.org.au/john-edward-selves-plumridge/

The following article about Eric and Jessie Plumridge is taken from the St. Andrew's church heritage web site "Lives, Links and Heritage" written by Ian Carnell AM.

Eric and Jessie

In 1920 at Saint Andrew’s Eric and Jessie Muriel Campbell (a daughter of Charles William Campbell and a cousin of Frank and Douglas Campbell – also listed on the Honour Boards) were married by the Rev. Dr Ernest Merrington.

Jessie taught bookkeeping at the Commercial College and kept the books for Plumridge Pty Ltd.  Alex Penhaligon recalls Jessie completing journal and ledger entries ‘by fountain pen, in perfect script, in large leather-bound books with marbled page edges. Mr Hoge, the company auditor, never found an error in my grandmother’s work’.

Beyond his work in the confectionery business (in which Eric was highly regarded by business contacts for his ethical approach), Eric was very involved with Saint Andrew’s Church – serving as a member of the Committee of Management, and later as one of the Elders.  He conducted several fund-raising campaigns for the St Andrew’s Hospital in Brisbane.

Like his parents Eric was a keen participant in yachting.  He also had a lifelong enthusiasm for photography (his first job was in that field) and travel.  He and Jessie lived for many years at 101 Christian Street, Clayfield  – with Jack joining them there after Annie died – and later Eric and Jessie built in Holland Park, next to daughter Jessie Elizabeth Ewing (known as ‘Betty’), who married a returned 2nd AIF Army Corporal and prisoner of war, Roy Penhaligon at Saint Andrew’s in 1945.

Eric passed away in 1982, and Jessie two years later in 1984 - their ashes were placed at Mt Thompson in the niche next to that holding Jack's ashes.

Eric and Jessie Plumridge move to 72 Reuben Street, Holland Park to be closer to their grandchildren and daiughter.

The H Look in Houses, Reuben Street Holland Park

Saturday October 9 1954 The Courier Mail

 "Isdale" 37 Bellevue Street, Clayfield

Charles William Campbell the youngest son of James Campbell timber merchant. lived with 100 metres of his oldest daughter Jessie Plumridge. It was not far to walk to the local Prebyterian Church on the corner of Christian and Bellevue Streets, Clayfield. Charles Walter Campbell or C. W. as he was known as lived opposite the church.

In 1909 W. C. Campbell lived in Bellevue Street. I am confident in saying that the current house at 37 Bellevue did not exist then but the 1919 electoral roll has C. W. at 37 Bellevue Street and also Jessie Muriel listed there as well. Jessie married Eric Plumridge in 1920 and when they built their new home it was literally just around the corner from Charles William and Minnie Campbell her parents. The current house at 37 Bellevue Street may have been built early 1920s as it is a very fine example of an early brick home for that period. 

The following is taken from the online biography of James Campbell. The brother in reference here is John Dunmore Campbell. John Dunmore was baptised by the Rev. John Dunmore Lang and this Campbell carved out his own piece of early Queensland history. Seventeen years younger than the more noted older brother Charles William Campbell may have appeared to have led a more subdued life. Starting out as a traveller in the family company C. W. Campbell made his own contribution to early Brisbane and in partucular Hamilton Town and ward.

His brother Charles William (1871-1949) was born in Brisbane on 28 May 1871 and educated at Brisbane Grammar School. Managing the firm's Albion sawmill, he pioneered the export of Queensland timber to Melbourne by rail. He was an alderman of the Hamilton Municipal Council in 1912-19 and mayor in 1916-17; when Hamilton was absorbed by 'Greater Brisbane', he represented the suburb on the Brisbane City Council in 1926-31. Chairman of the Clayfield Nationalist Political Association, he was president of the Queensland Employers' Federation for fourteen years and was connected also with the Brisbane Timber Merchants' and Timber Export associations, and the Queensland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In his youth he was a well-known boxer and crack rifle-shot. In April 1897 he had married Minnie Hill; they had six children. He died at Clayfield on 3 July 1949 and was cremated. His estate was valued for probate at £33,584 in Queensland and £3181 in New South Wales.

James Campbell

While this post is not about James Campbell he is linked to both these houses. James the father of one owner and the grandfather of the other house owner. Below is further reading to provide the background of a young scottish immigrant who created an empire within 50 years of arriving in Brisbane. 

The online biography of James Campbell and Sons 

https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/campbell-james-5490

Centenary Celebrations for James Campbell and Sons

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/101723844

The advertisement below is from Wikimedia Commons

Death of James Campbell

Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), Monday 11 April 1904, page 5

---

Death of MR. JAMES CAMPBELL. -----------

Early This Mornlng.

Mr. James Campbell, founder of the well known firm of J. Campbell and Sons, Limited, died at a very early hour this morning at Camona, Kelvin Grove, at the age of 74, which advanced period he attained on March 6 last. Thus a very old and very highly respected citizen of Brisbane has passed away. 

Mr. Campbell was born at the picturesque town of Auchterarder, in the picturesque Scottish county of Perthshire, on 6th March, I830. His parents intended him for the Presby-terian Church ministry, but he preferred manual labour, and apprenticed himself to a plasterer. After working at his trade or some years he resolved to emigrate to a new country. He thought of America, but by information dissemi-nated by the late Rev. Dr. Lang, his attention was diverted to Australia. By this time he was married, and with Mrs. Canmbell he sailed for Queensland in the ship John Fielding, arriving at Bris-bane in June, 1858. There was but little doing here in the plastering line then, so he worked at other trades or occupations for about a year, after which he started in business for himself. 

The various enter-prises he entered on grew into the great industrial concerns which now form the business of the present limited company bearing his name. This business, as everybody knows, includes sawmilling, brick making, pottery manufacturing, cement making, and the importation of building materials. It goes without saying that he was a shrewd business man ; and if he was not always mild of temper he was invariably generous and so charitable that it is believed that during his time he gave away a fortune or two in aiding his fellow men. A pro-gressive Liberal in politics, he was one of those who assisted to secure the first election of the late Sir Charles Lillev for Fortitude Valley. He was also a leading promoter of the old Liberal Association. Entering municipal life, he was for two years an alderman of the City Council, and he also served on the Ithaca Divisional Board. 

He had six sons and three daughters. The eldest surviving son is Mr. J. D. Camp-beil, M.L.A., managing director of J. Campbell and Sons, Limited. The others are Messrs. J. M., H. E., G. P., and C. W. Campbell, who are directors of the company. One boy died in infancy. Mr. Henry E. Campbell, who is named in the foregoing list, is the manager for Burns, Philp, and Co. in London. The eldest daughter was the first wife of the Hon. R. Philp, another is the wife of Mr. J. Forsyth, M.L.A., and the third is the widow of the late Hon. W. Aplin, M.L.C. Ald. Campbell, the well known member of the City Council and the extensive soap manufacturer, and Mr. J. Campbell, manager of the brickworks at Redbank, are surviving brothers. Mrs. John Munro, of Wooloowin, and Mrs. Thomas Petrie, of North Pine, are sisters. 

The late Mr. Campbell was laid down by an attack of influenza last year. This was lightly considered by this particularly hearty veteran. Unfortunately a series of other complications ensued, and his case has given rise to much interest in medical circles, more especially so as his heart was in a very sound condition. However, he succumbed to his illness about half-past 12 this morning. The funeral is fixed to leave Kelvin Grove at 11 to-morrow morning. This morning the numerous employees intimated to the heads of the departments their desire to join the funeral procession and walk to the cemetery. It has therefore been decided that they shall meet at the Normanby at 11, or soon after, and join the cortege on its arrival at that point from Kelvin Grove. The late Mr. Campbell was a special advocate of physical culture, and his name will long be treasured in athletic circles as one of the originators and chief supporters of the Brisbane Gymnasium.

The Plumridge Confectionary Industry

Plumridge House

Former chocolate factory in Fortitude Valley

https://www.plumridgehouse.com.au/

https://heritage.brisbane.qld.gov.au/heritage-places/2098

The following taken from the Brisbane City Council Heritage Register

188 Barry Parade (formerly known as Susan Street) was built in 1900-1901 and was the first of these brick buildings to be constructed. The confectionery manufacturers Bouchard, Plumridge and Rankin Brothers first appear in the Post Office Directories in 1901 at 41 Susan Street, Fortitude Valley. They had purchased the property (subdivisions 40 & 50 of 87) in 1900. The business was known as Bouchard, Plumridge and Rankin Brothers until 1911 when it was renamed Bouchard and Plumridge and in 1912 it became Plumridge Ltd. In 1921 the adjoining building (on the right-hand side) was constructed. Built by contractor H. Robert for ?7500 the four storey brick building was the second of a set of three to be constructed for the confectionery manufacturers Plumridge Ltd. At this time, the Valley was experiencing substantial growth as the prosperity of the 1920s fuelled both a flurry of construction in the Valley heart and the desire of Brisbane residents for the most modern shopping experience. In addition to the construction of a large number of new, usually masonry buildings, many existing premises were altered or extended in an effort to attract business. In 1936, when the company purchased the building at 166 Barry Parade, this building was leased out to Nestle and Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company and Plumridge Pty Ltd began operating out of the building at 166 Barry Parade.