Rosewood History

Walter Edwin THOMAS and Johanna Agnes FARRELL

Name: Walter Edwin THOMAS
Occupation: Proprietor of the Rosewood Aerated Water and Cordial Factory
Birth: 13th January 1878, Ipswich, Queensland
Death: 1st September 1939, Brisbane Hospital, Queensland aged 61 years
Burial: 2nd September 1939, Ipswich Cemetery ( Service at St Mary’s Church)
Religion: Roman Catholic
Father: Edwin Cowles THOMAS (1857-1886)
Mother: Margaret Jane MAWHINNEY (1859-1926)

Spouse:  Johanna Agnes FARRELL
Birth: 24th January 1874 Rosewood, Queensland
Death: 1st May 1952, Rosewood, Queensland aged 78 years
Burial: 2nd May 1952, Ipswich Cemetery (Service at St. Brigid’s Church)
Religion: Roman Catholic
Father: John FARRELL (1836-1918)
Mother: Margaret MCKEW (1843-1925)
Marriage: 27th December, 1899 Brisbane District, Queensland

Children:
Mary Josephine “Molly” THOMAS (1900-1970) = Gerald NOLAN
Walter Edwin “Teddy” THOMAS (1902-1988)  Took over his father’s business.
Margaret Evelyn THOMAS (1904-1955) = Thomas QUIRK

None of us have control of our lives when we are small children. Walter’s father immigrated from Ebbw Vale, Pontypool, Monmouthshire, Wales and his mother’s parents were from Armagh, Northern Ireland. Walter was born five weeks after they married.

They had a troubled relationship. His father left the family when he was a baby and didn’t come back. He died aged 29 when Walter was eight years old. Walter had four siblings, the youngest being born seven months after his father died. The Loyal Rose of Queensland Lodge gave his mother £47 for funeral and living expenses. £3 was given to each child. The family was left in poor circumstances.

Walter, being the eldest, went out to work at a young age. His mother remarried in 1894 to widower William George Livermore (aka George), who was the proprietor of an aerated water and cordial factory in East Street, Ipswich. George employed Walter in his factory. 

Around 1901 George Livermore moved his business to Booval and Walter started his own business in George’s old premises. Unfortunately it was an unsuccessful venture. By the end of 1903 Walter had debts of £1,149/5/10 and the business went into liquidation. Barnes & Pitman took over the premises under the name “Ipswich Aerated Water Co”. Walter went back to work for George Livermore at his Booval factory until 1906 when they parted ways.

Walter’s wife Johanna kept the “Railway Boarding House” on the corner of Bell and Union Streets, Ipswich, which was also their home. It was formerly the Argyle Hotel. Thirteen months into her 8 year lease, a fire destroyed the premises on the 6th July 1909. Johannha’s sister’s Maud and Nellie Farrell were staying there at the time. After the fire the family moved to Harrisville.  (See the write up on the fire here.) The Commonwealth Hotel was built on this site, opening in October 1910.

Walter liked to have a drink and it got him into some trouble in October 1911. He was staying at a boarding house in Brisbane and was accused of stealing a rolled-gold watch and silver chain from another boarder, and pawning it for 24 shillings. He spent a month in prison and had to pay back the 24 shillings. (See the write up here.)  This incident appears to have been a “one off” for Walter and it presented him with of those milestone moments in life when a crossroad is reached and a decision had to be made about which way to go.

In 1914 Walter moved his family to Rosewood. He took on the position of manager at George Livermore’s Rosewood branch of his cordial manufacturing business. Seven years later he took over the business and it became “W. E. Thomas Aerated Water Manufacturer”. His cordial and soft drinks became a part of the culture of the community for the next 50 years.

Running along the railway line near his home proved too tempting for Walter’s young son Teddy and some other boys in May 1916. Teddy fell and severely gashed his leg. He was attended to by Dr. Wallace, who inserted nine stitches in the wound.

Walter Thomas became involved in many aspects of his new community and gave unsparingly of his services to the life of the township. He came to be known as a progressive citizen. He was keenly interested in the establishment of the cotton industry in the district. Walter was a member of the A. and H. Association and acted as Secretary of the Show Society for many years, and was connected in an official capacity to the Rosewood Jockey Club. He took an active interest in all sporting bodies and had been a noted athlete in his youth in the sport of Pedestrianism (competitive walking). Walter was a member of Tattersall’s Club in Brisbane.

1915 Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce. (Lobbied for a State High School in Rosewood)
1918 President of the Tennis Club
1921 Acting Secretary of the Pony and Galloway Club
1923 Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce.
1923 Secretary of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association.
1925 President of the Chamber of Commerce.
1925 Committee Member of the Rifle Club.
1926 President and Secretary of the Pastimes Club.
1926 Vice President of the Hibernian Society (President H.A.C.B.S. 1928)
1927 Elected as a Councillor on the Rosewood Shire Council.
1928 Treasurer of School of Arts
1931 On the Committee of the Rosewood Cricket Club.
1932 President of the Athletic Club
1934 Secretary of Ipswich Amateur Turf Club until he died. Walter was appointed from 35 applications for the position. He was described as “a genial, efficient and courteous official”.

A boxing tournament, held in the Farmers’ Hall on Thursday night, organised by Mr. W. E. Thomas, attracted a good attendance. Exhibition spars were given by Arndt and Berlin and Fleming v. Hickey. In the juvenile events R. Bruce v. S. Kingston was declared a draw, and N. Bruce won over C. Roberts. Roache defeated Rots, and Ringlestein defeated Kennedy. [Brisbane Courier 17 December 1924]

 In May 1931, the Rosewood Council granted six months leave of absence to Councillor Thomas as he was going abroad on important business. Walter was a beneficiary in a very large estate in Wales. He made the trip at the request of Messrs. J. Sykes and Co., solicitors, of Newport, Wales, who had been looking after his interests for some considerable time. He left by the Esperance Bay on May 2nd. William and Euphemia Rhuno boarded the ship with him that day. They were off on a world tour themselves. Walter returned to Australia on the Strathnever in January 1932.

MR. W. E. THOMAS FAREWELLED – A pleasant time was spent at St. Brigid’s Presbytery last night, when members of the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Committee and well wishers assembled to bid “bon voyage” to Mr. W. E. Thomas who leaves next Saturday for England and Wales. Cards &c. were enjoyed.

Supper was served in the dining room, after which Rev. Father O’Rourke, President of the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Committee, referred to Mr. Thomas’ active association with the committee and to his interest and help in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the parish. Father O’Rourke paid a tribute to the sterling character of the guest of the evening, and in asking his acceptance of a smoking outfit, extended best wishes for a pleasant and successful trip abroad, and a safe return home. Eulogistic reference and good wishes were also expressed by Messers. John Potts, E. T. Kelleher. G. Dale, W. Bickle, E. O’Sullivan, H. G. Wright, P. Madden, and J. Hogan.

Mr. Thomas, whose health was drunk with musical honours, returned thanks for their gift and good wishes and expressed pleasure at having the goodwill of the Rosewood people. He had lived here for a good number of years, and even if successful in his mission abroad, he would continue to live in Rosewood when he returned. He intended to visit Ireland, and hoped that on his return to Rosewood he would be able to reciprocate the hospitality extended to him that evening.

At the instance of Mr. John Potts the health of the Rev. Chairman was drunk with musical honours. Those also present were Messrs. A. Potts. M. Quirk, J. O’Brien, T. Quirk, W. J. Keane, W. Johnson, M. Farrell, S. Trewick, T. Bennett, and J. Sloane. [Queensland Times, 1 May 1931, page 6]

Walter died in 1939. Walter’s and Johanna’s son “Teddy” continued to run the business.

OBITUARY – VALE WALTER THOMAS – There was no more popular racing official in Queensland than Mr. Walter E. Thomas secretary of the Ipswich Amateur Turf Club, whose death occurred in a Brisbane private hospital on Friday. Mr. Thomas took over the secretarial reins of the suburban club following the death of Ipswich’s grand old racing man Mr. W. H. Bemi, and, through his efficiency and courtesy, he saw it flourish into one of the most progressive racing institutions outside the capital.

For years Mr. Thomas was secretary to the Rosewood Show Society, and took an active part in the civic life of both Rosewood and Ipswich. He was a champion professional runner in his youth and a fine all-round sportsman. [Sunday Mail, 3 September 1939, page 24]

FUNERAL NOTICE – THOMAS – Relatives and Friends of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Nolan, Mr. and Mrs. T. Quirk and Families, and Mr. W. E. Thomas are invited to attend the Funeral of their beloved Mother, Mother-in-law, and Grandmother, Johanna Agnes Thomas, of John Street, Rosewood, Widow of the late Walter Edwin Thomas, to leave St. Brigid’s Church Rosewood, at 3 o’clock This (Friday) Afternoon, for the Ipswich Cemetery. O. BOTTCHER & SON, Funeral Directors, Ipswich. [Queensland Times,  2 May 1952 page 8]

© Jane Schy, 2024