Baddeley Family:
Of the many pioneering families who settled in Pambula after the arrival of Europeans, few made a greater contribution to the district than the Baddeleys.
Born in 1810 in Kent, England, to Charles and Ann, Charles Henry Baddeley arrived in Port Jackson in 1836 on board the Asia. He was 26 at the time. At some point after his arrival, he took up a position as superintendent on John Liscombe’s farming property at Bathurst. By 1840, he had left Liscombe, who wrote in October that year “I regret I have not before this given you the testimonials which I promised…during the time you had had the superintendence of my farming establishment and stock I was perfectly satisfied with your management…” By that time, he had taken up with James William who wrote “As you are now about to leave thus for Sidney [sic]…you will please purchase for me a herd of cattle of mixed or otherwise under about £4/10 per head…the whole amount in value to £1,000 ready money upon delivery…”
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In 1846, Charles Henry married Clara Burcher, the nuptials taking place at Cooma’s St. Paul’s Church of England, and by the following year, the
Above: Charles Henry Baddeley.
Image courtesy of a private collection. All rights reserved.
couple were managing Francis Mowatt’s Bolero station near Adaminaby in the Maneroo district. It was there in 1847 that their first born, a daughter named Annie Jessie, was born. The same year, Charles Henry is mentioned in John Lambie’s itineraries as the superintendent of Bollero [sic], Francis Mowatt being the licensee and 19 people residing on the property.
It is apparent from a January 1848 letter that Charles Henry had resigned his position at Bolero by that time, presumably taking his departure soon after, and by 1849 the family were living in Goulburn where their son Charles Arthur was born. They remained there at least until 1850, daughter Caroline’s birth being recorded there.
Another son, Albert Henry, was born at Bredbo in 1852 and in 1854 when their daughter Clara Hebe was born, they were in Sydney. By 1855, the family had returned to the Monaro, taking up residence at Bullenamang, before moving to Bombala by 1857 when daughter Emily Augusta was born. Three more children, Esther Eliza, Rose and Lucy Jane were also born there. Rose passed away in 1860, the same year that she was born while in 1865, Albert Henry died from scarlet fever, aged just 13 years. Both are buried in Bombala.
In November 1865, following Albert’s death, a local newspaper reported that Charles Henry had purchased the Post Office Stores at Pambula ‘…late the property of Mr. Robt. Beck, where he intends to open an extensive tannery.” The article continued that “Mr. Baddeley is a gentleman well-known on Monaro as an enterprising and energetic business man and will prove a beneficial acquisition to Panbula, which only wants a few more men of his stamp to revive its drooping prosperity.” The following year, it was confirmed that the Post Office Stores were “…about to be opened again. Mr. Baddeley, the proprietor, leaves Bombala to take up his residence in Panbula next week. I believe it is his
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Sale agreement between Charles Henry and William Baddeley.
Courtesy of a private collection. All rights reserved.
intention to carry on an extensive leather manufactory.”
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Soon after the family’s arrival from Bombala, Charles Henry established a tannery enterprise with his brother William named C. H. Baddeley and Co. The pair carried on until 1875, when the partnership was dissolved, with Charles Henry carrying on in his own right. Located in Monaro Street, Pambula, it continued to operate until 1904.
In addition to the tannery business, it is apparent from local court records and Charles Henry also pursued farming and in 1872 he was appointed as Pambula’s Postmaster, giving his occupation as tanner. The following year, Arthur Lloyd, son of John Lloyd of the Grange, asked in a letter “Is Mr. Baddeley still the Head Man in Panbula Postmaster, J.P., farmer, etc.”
The family continued to live in the original Post Office Stores premises at the bottom of Monaro Street, but located on such low lying, swampy land, flooding was to frequently plague the building. In 1873, it was reported that the town was “…visited by the heaviest floods he has known for 28 years. On the Tuesday the flat was like an open sea. The reserve is one mass of timber and sand. The water rose three feet in Mr. Baddeley’s house…” In response to this situation, Charles Henry erected a new residence further up the hill in Monaro Street. Occupied by five generations of the family, it continues to stand today.
The Baddeley family home, built in about 1881 and still standing in 2019.
Image © Angela George. All rights reserved.
By 1868, Charles Henry had been appointed to the Pambula Bench of Magistrates, and in January that year, he was also appointed to the position of Coroner for the district.
Soon after arriving in the township, Charles Henry became involved with the Pambula School Board and by the 1870s, was serving as its honourary secretary. After severe flooding in 1870 rendered the original school and residence on the Flat unsafe, Charles Henry made a room available in his tannery for temporary classes, rented a cottage for the teacher’s accommodation and successfully lobbied the Department for permission to relocate the school from its flood prone original site to higher ground opposite the court house and police station.
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He also negotiated purchase of land for construction of the teacher’s residence, reporting in 1876 that the transfer had been successfully completed and when the only other person in the district able to draw up the building plans declined to do so at the given price, Charles Henry prepared them himself. Over a period of three years between 1884 and 1887, he also provided a building for the nearby Lochiel School.
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In an 1880 letter to the Department of Public Instruction, Charles Henry reported that he had “…upwards of 20 years connection with the public school board…” in both Pambula and Bombala.
Whilst in Bombala, Charles Henry had been instrumental in the establishment of the Mountain Lodge in 1861. He was designated the first Worshipful Master and after moving to Pambula, was integral in efforts to establish the organisation locally. When a petition was raised for its establishment, there was a request that it be named “Lodge Baddeley” in recognition of his efforts as a founding member. Members of the family remained active in organisation over three generations.
Charles Arthur joined his father in the tannery business, and by 1867 was managing the enterprise. He continued the involvement with the local school board, and in 1878, was responsible, together with John Martin and teacher J. H. Wellings for undertaking a full inventory of equipment. Following in his father’s footsteps, he was also instrumental in pushing for relocation of the institution to a third site once it became clear by 1897 that expansion on the then current site was impossible. By 1907, he had been appointed President of the local school board.
Like his father before him, Charles Arthur was appointed to the local Bench of Magistrates, taking up the position in October 1882. In 1895, he was gazetted Coroner of the Eden Police District, and was appointed to the local Licensing Bench in 1890. Eight years later he took over as deputy licensing magistrate for the district of Eden, and in 1900, became a member of the Eden District land board. In 1902 he was also appointed a receiver of scalps by the Pastures and Stock Protection Board.
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A member of the Christ Anglican Church committee in Pambula by 1868, Charles Arthur purchased a block of land adjoining the Presbytery in 1917 and donated it to the Church of England body. By the 1880s, Charles Arthur was Honorary Secretary and
Above: Charles Arthur Baddeley.
Courtesy of a private collection. All rights reserved.
Treasurer to the trustees of the Pambula General Cemetery. A was also an ardent supporter of, and often committee member for, the local School of Arts, and was very involved in plans to relocate the facility from the original site to the spot it still occupies today.
When Pambula’s district hospital was first proposed in 1898, Charles Arthur attended the first public meeting and was subsequently appointed to the provisional committee. After establishment of what was then known as the Eden-Pambula District Hospital, he was elected the institution’s inaugural Chairman, remaining in the position until 1904. Even after that time, he continued to serve on the committee and after the community purchased the hospital building from Dr. Morgan, Charles Arthur was appointed trustee of the property.
An enthusiastic sportsman, Charles Arthur supported an array of local organisations. In 1893, he was appointed trustee of land included in the Pambula Recreation Ground (now part of Panboola). A keen cricketer, he was a member of the district team that played the English eleven at Kameruka in 1886, and for 60 years reputedly never missed either a local match or a test in Sydney. For many years he served on the committee of the Pambula Cricket Club, was appointed a selector in 1896 and from 1925, also held the position of club patron.
So renowned was Charles Arthur for his backing for local sport that when the Pambula Football Club was formed in 1896, the meeting resolved to ask him to become inaugural President of the body, after which he also occupied the position of Vice President of the club. Charles Arthur was a foundation member of the Pambula River Aquatic Club, occupying various positions including auditor and vice president and remained active in the organisation until it was wound up in 1914.
When local government was introduced in 1906, Charles Arthur stood as a candidate for B Riding and the following year, after his election, became the first President of the then Imlay Shire Council. He went on to serve several terms as a councillor.
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Above: Charles Arthur Baddeley's second wife,
Alice Maud Bennett, with their son Ben.
Courtesy of a private collection. All rights reserved.
He also maintained a long and productive relationship with the Pambula Progress Association that spanned more than three decades, during which he performed a number of roles, including that of Chairman.
Although much of the Baddeleys’ contribution has been largely forgotten over the years, without this pioneering family, Pambula would have been lacking in many of the organisations and facilities that continue to flourish even today. The naming of Baddeley Car Park some years ago was a slight recognition of their valuable support.
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© Angela George. All rights reserved.
Above: Members of the Baddeley family.
Courtesy of a private collection. All rights reserved.
References & bibliography:
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Baddeley, Ben, pers. comm.
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Baddeley, C. H. and Baddeley, W., Public notice, witnessed by S. Woods, Sergeant of Police, Panbula, Baddeley Family Records, private ownership
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Bega Gazette and Eden District or Southern Coast Advertiser
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Bega Standard
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Bench of Magistrates, Pambula Bench Book, private ownership.
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Candelo and Eden Union
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Cornell, John Bernard, Most Obedient Servants on the Monaro and Far South Coast, J. B. Cornell, 1994.
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Dowling, Terry, pers. comm.
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Dunn's Almanac
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Eden Magnet
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George, A. C. ("Bubby") (comp.) History of Pambula - Old Records, Early Days, unpublished notebook.
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George, Allan, pers. comm.
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George, Angela, From Bark Hut to Brick Veneer – 150 years of Public Education at Pambula, Pambula Public School, 1999.
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Goulburn Herald
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Lambie, John, Itineraries
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Liscombe, John, John Liscombe to Charles Henry Baddeley, correspondence, 3 October 1840, in Baddeley Family Records, private ownership
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Lloyd, Arthur, Arthur Lloyd to John Martin, correspondence, 30 December 1873, private ownership
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McGee, Allan, Allan McGee to Charles Henry Baddeley, correspondence, 11 January 1848, Baddeley Family Records, private ownership
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Moore's Almanac and NSW Country Directory
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NSW Births, Deaths and Marriage records
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NSW Government Gazette
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NSW Land Titles Office records
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Pambula Post Office files, [Box 501], National Archives of Australia, 3258109, C3629/2.
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Pambula River Aquatic Club minute book, private ownership
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Pambula School, AONSW 5/17264.3,
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Pambula Voice
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Raymond, Pat, pers. comm.
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Receipt, 22 April 1875, Baddeley Family Records, private ownership
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Sands Sydney and NSW Directories
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Southern Star
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Sydney Mail
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Sydney Morning Herald
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Under Secretary, Colonial Secretary’s Office to Charles Henry Baddeley, correspondence, 3 September 1858, private ownership
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Webster, Danny, Police and Early Settlers of the Pambula-Merimbula and Eden Districts of NSW, 1788 to 1901, Merimbula - Imlay Historical Society, 1988.
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Whelan, Betty, pers. comm.
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William, James, James William to Charles Henry Baddeley, correspondence, 5 September 1840, in Baddeley Family Records, private ownership