Rosewood History

SADDLERS

The first six horses arrived in Australia in 1788 with the First Fleet. With more ships came more breeds of horses, and over time the population of strong, reliable horses (Walers) suited to the Australian conditions dramatically grew. They were the main form of transport for the new population to explore, carry goods and communicate in the early days, right up until they were slowly displaced in the early 20th Century by motor cars.

That being said, Saddlers were in great demand. They were skilled tradesmen who could apply their craft with multiple materials and styles. Saddlers were qualified to make, repair and maintain leatherwork including saddles, bridles, collars, sets of harness and other items like straps, sureingles and belts. Some of those necessary skills included being good at working with their hands, having creativity and a flair for design and construction and having a good knowledge of the anatomy of a horse. Good eyesight and an eye for detail was imperative, along with having the patience to work slowly and for long periods on a single task. Finally, saddlers needed to be skilled in the use of a variety of tools. If a saddler had all of these attributes, he could live comfortably.

Saddlers relied on a variety of hand tools for crafting and repairing saddles.

Some of the tools used by saddlers:

Awls: Used for use in multiple repair types, for piercing leather and creating holes for stitching.
Punches: Used to create holes or shapes in the leather, often for specific purposes like attaching straps or creating decorative elements.
Stitchers: Used to sew the leather together, often with waxed thread, which was a fundamental part of creating and repairing saddles and saddlery.
Dies: Used to create precise shapes and patterns in the leather, ensuring consistency in the finished product.
Pliers: For holding and shaping leather, especially when tacking or stitching
Burnishers: Round and flat, used to smooth and polish the edges of the leather, giving them a finished look.
Knives: Used for cutting and shaping and trimming leather.
Draw Gauge: A tool used for measuring the thickness of leather.
Hammers: Used for shaping and hammering leather, as well as for driving in nails or tacks.
Measuring Tools: Rulers, calipers, and other tools for accurately measuring and marking the leather.
Shaping Tools: Tools for shaping and molding the leather into the desired form, such as carving tools and edge tools.
Specialized Tools: Saddlers also used specialized tools for specific tasks, such as tack hammers for attaching saddle hardware and tools for working with metal buckles and fittings.

Saddlers in Rosewood

The list will be updated as more information is discovered.

Charles Wallace 1880-December 1883
Charles came to Rosewood in early 1880. He exhibited at the Rosewood shows and was highly praised for his saddles, harnesses etc. He seemed to be chasing people to pay their debts the whole time he was in town. He went to Esk and ran a saddlery in the old Glenrock Hotel until the end of 1894 after which he went to try his fortune at Coolgardie.

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Denis Kelleher 1887-1902
In September 1887 John William Evans avertised a saddler’s shop for rent. Denis opened up his business there. Born at Newmarket, County Cork, Ireland, he came to Queensland in 1855. In 1876, at the age of 21, he married Miss Eliza McCusker at St Mary’s church Ipswich in 1880. She died in 1923. Denis was a saddler in various places in Queensland for 64 years. He was described as a quiet and kind man and a devout Catholic. For the last 40 years he carried on his trade at Marburg. He died in 1942 aged 87 years.

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William Joseph Quinn 1888-1891
Born in the city of Limerick, Ireland, in 1842, William Quinn, at the age of 20 years, decided to seek his fortune in far-off Australia. He first settled in Maitland, New South Wales, but he soon came over to Queensland and settled in Ipswich. In the seventies he was a member of No. 2 company, Queensland Volunteer Rifle Brigade. William established a saddlery shop in Brisbane Street, Ipswich and a branch business in Rosewood until 1891. The shop was situated next door to Evan’s Chemist shop on the south side. William had a probem with alcohol and found himself in trouble on several occasions as a result. He was before the court for using bad language and being disorderly and he used to annoy the railway staff when he was coming from and going home to Ipswich. Once he narrowly escaped being run over by a train at Walloon in April 1889. If Mr. Holdsworth, the station-master, had not returned to the station to get his newspaper just after 6p.m. one night he would not have found William lying across the track with his head on one rail and his legs on the other and the up goods train was due in five minutes.

In June 1889 Joseph Evans, chemist in Rosewood, announced he was extending his business and building a new premises on the site William Quinn had lately occupied. Quinn was still working there in late October. Failing health compelled him to retire from active work in 1901 aged 68 years. He married Miss Ellen Denahy in 1867 in Ipswich and had a family of eight-three sons and five daughters.

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Louis Rupert Harcla 1888-1893

His shop was situated opposite Elder’s blacksmith shop in John Street. He advertised that he was a Saddler and Barber-gives an easy shave for threepence.

A colourful character indeed! Here is some of his life. There is much more to be found I’m sure.
Louis was born in Cholet in Western France in 1856 as Louis Rupert Ouvrard. He led a life of petty crime from age 17 culminating in being condemned to 8 years hard labor in New Caledonia in 1879. He escaped en route with several other prisoners and made his way to the coast of Queensland, landing at Mackay. Eventually he came to Ipswich and in 1880 he was sentenced to 7 years for breaking and entering and using an alias. Louis was sent to St Helena prison in Moreton Bay where he learnt saddlery. He was released early in 1886.

Louis married Emily Fischer in 1887 at Mt Walker using the surname Harcla and Loius started business in Rosewood as a Saddler. They had 6 children.

Louis put the shop up for sale in November 1890 and left to start a business in Killarney. Seven months later, in July 1891, he returned to Rosewood giving the reason that the climate did not agree with him-self or his family. He set up business in a new position, next to the Rising Sun Hotel. In October he was the victim of a contemptible joke. A new signboard he had made was lying on his verandah when some person spoiled it by daubing it over with black paint. On the same night a valuable dog of his had his tail amputated.

Sometime before the turn of the century Loius took his family and went to Pretoria, South Africa, returning to Sydney in March 1900 on the Aberdeen with a wife 3 children and 2 infants arriving in Sydney. They went to Hawkesbury district before returning to Queensland in June. In September 1904 Loius went back to Natal, South Africa on his own. He returned in 1906 and was arrested for desertion in April. He immediately left again.

Perhaps Emily thought he was gone for good because there are two marriage registrations. In 1906 Emily Fisher married August Meier and in 1909 there is a record of Emily Harcla marrying Johann Frederich August Meier. They had two children.

Loius returned and Emily was charged with bigamy Ipswich 1911. There was a warrant out for his arrest in 1917 in Victoria.

Louis died in London in 1922.

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Johann George Weingartner January 1891-July 1897
Johann arrived at Brisbane on the ship Helene with his parents and brother Christian. They came from Württemberg, Germany in 1857 where George was born in 1841. Johann opened shop in premises in John Street belonging to Butt Bros. He came to Rosewood from Englesburg. He had been in business as a saddler and harness maker at Mr. H. Welge’s Fassifern Hotel since February 1888.

In August 1893 he opened a saddler’s shop at Marburg for a short time, but returned to Rosewood.

George died 26the October 1897. His estate went to his brother Christian, who was also a saddler.

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Frederick William Lionel Spencer 1894
Lionel was the son of Mr. Arthur Lambert Spencer, former head master of the Tallegalla State School. He had been living at Rocklea with his father before he came to Rosewood with the object of starting business as a saddler. He rented a shop from Mr Hamill, which adjoined Hamill’s, for a brief time. Frederick appeared to be quite well after until about midday on Sunday 12th August. At that time he became unwell. His condition was considered by no means serious and he appeared to be fairly well on Sunday night. Mr and Mrs Hamill did all they good to take care of him. The following morning he was taken to the railway station so he could go to the Ipswich Hospital for medical assistance by the half past eleven train, but he died while at the station in the arms of Mr. Hamill. It was determined that he died from congestion of the lungs, liver, and spleen, and enlargement of the left portion of the heart, and it is believed that Lionel must have been suffering for some time, although he never complained. He was buried at the Tallegalla Cemetery.

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Friedrich Hermann Carl Zornig 1897-1903

Frederick married Elizabeth Kate Wyatte in 1893. In 1899 was working for Samuel Phelps but started in business for himself. He was insolvent by January 1903.

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Christian Michael Weingartner 1897-1903
Christian was born about 1851 in Württemberg, Germany. He married Marie Hoepner in 1894. He set up business in Rosewood in 1897. Christian had a problem with alcohol and prohibition orders were issued against him in 1897 and 1898. Mr. Schafer from Walloon bought the property from Christian Weingartner in January 1899 and fitted it up as a bakery. Christian left for Ma Ma Creek. He died in 1923 at Dunwich Benevolent Asylum, Redland City, Queensland.

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Thomas Dickson 1898-1903
Near Victoria Hall, John Street, Rosewood

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Samuel Phelps 1899-1921

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Albert Baumann 1901

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Arthur Charles Johnson August 1901- February 1902
At the Rosewood Show in Sep 1901 Arthur, a recent arrival in Rosewood, was the only exhibitor in the section for saddlery. The judge spoke very highly of the saddles and harness, stating that the workmanship reflected every credit upon the exhibitor. Arthur also had a fruit and vege stall at the sports for Success of Rosewood Lodge PAFSOA in November that year.

Queensland Times 18th February 1902 – I am informed that Mr. A. C. Johnson, who came from out West and opened business here as a saddler, &c., is leaving for the other side of Toowoomba.

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Daniel Crane 1901, 1902

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James Edwin Collett 1901- 1943
Saddler in John Street. Lived in Railway Street

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Edward Hemsworth 1901, 1902
Edward lived in Thorn Street Ipswich and worked for James Collett.

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Charles Williams 1902-1937
Charles Williams “The Saddler” 44 John Street, Rosewood

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Wilhelm Schoenfeldt 1903- Feb.1914 Saddler and Upholsterer in John Street
William was born about 1869 and was a saddler in Queen Street, Marburg 1899-1902 (3rd house from Edmond Street) before coming to Rosewood. William was found dead in his bed on Thursday morning 12th February 1914. He was a bachelor, and lived in his shop premises. He had not been well for some time and did not work the day before and was seen sleeping at 5.30 p.m. that day. He was not seen out and about that next morning, so one of his neighbours tried to open the door, and, as it was locked, he reported the matter to the police. Constable Taege gained access via the back door and found William to be deceased. A post mortem was held by Dr. Wallace, who said death was due to natural causes, valvular disease of the heart. He had resided in the district for nearly 20 years, and was generally respected. William was buried in the Tallegalla Cemetery. The names of his parents were not known at the time or recorded on his death certificate.

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E. K. Zornig 1906

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William E. Collett 1907, 1908

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Andrew Charles Strenzel 1912
Andrew was born in 1888, the son of Charles Ludwig Strenzel and Anne Glode. He married Kari Katherine Sweningsen and died in 1973.

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Charles Moore 1913

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William Henry Stevens 1916-1918

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Gerald Vance Evans 1917-1922
Gerald was the son of Joseph William Evans and Mary Vance. He was one of Charles Williams’s apprentices. When the Marburg Rural School opened in 1920 Gerald was appointed as instructor of leather work. He started his classes in the refreshment booth at the Marburg showgrounds. In June 1921 Gerald Vance Evans, probationer, was appointed assistant teacher of leather work at Boonah and Marburg rural schools. He left for Boonah in May 1926. He travelled between Boonah and Marburg and eventually became a school teacher at Goondiwindi.

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Robert Hando July 1923-1925
Robert and Martha Hando née Manning came to Rosewood from Chinchilla. Robert was born 1868 at Sandy Creek, Inglewood, Victoria. Robert learned the trade of Saddlery. He married Martha in 1891 and they had six children. They farmed at Boort, a pretty town on a hill along one edge of Little Lake Boort, north of Inglewood. After moving from Victoria about 1908, they settled and farmed at “Miranda,” their home in the Burncluith district near Chinchilla, Queensland. In 1923 they came to Rosewood and Robert started a buiness as a saddler. They moved back to Chinchilla when they left Rosewood. Because of his knowledge of leather work, Robert was a judge for the Industrial section at the Toowomba Show and he had a champion fox terrier which he entered in the Chinchilla shows. Martha died on Christmas Day at Chinchilla in 1938 and Robert died in June 1946 in Toowoomba.

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S. Kildentoft 1924-1933

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R. Kildentoft 1924

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Charles Otto Kildentoft 1924-1947
Charles was a saddler in John Street, Rosewood in a shop beside McGeary’s butcher shop. Tup Edgeworth worked there at one stage.

Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 – 1954), Monday 2 June 1947, page 8
Farmers and Cattlemen: Molloy’s Saddlers wish to notify the public that they have taken over the business of Chas. Kildentoft, of Rosewood. Bring all your repairs to the expert tradesman. E. J. Molloy. Wulkuraka.

After he left Rosewood, Charles and Dorothea went back to Thorn St Windsor, from whence they had come.

Charles was born in 1875 and was the son of Friedrich Kildentoft and Anna Catherine Setzkorn. He married married Dorothea May French and died in 1954.

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William Arthur Bruntnel Capern 1928-1943
William was the 5th son of Rev. C. A. Capern and Edith Lilian Gillow. He died 6th September 1965.

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Capern & Baills Storekeepers & Saddlers 1936
In March 1936, Charles Williams, storekeeper and saddler, of John-street, Rosewood disposed of his business to Messrs. Capern and Baills. The new firm took over on Monday 30th.

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Eric Arthur Edgeworth “Tuppy” Late 1940’s
Eric was was born in Oakey in 1916. He had a business in Rosewood as a Boot Repairer and Shoe Salesman before he enlisted in 57-60 Australian Infantry Battalion in 1942 After he returned in 1945, he worked for Charles Kildentoft. He married Ivy Kate Batzloff in 1950 and they lived in Albert Street.