Thomas Burge Derham

During the 19th century, Thomas Burge Derham was a significant businessman and property owner in Braybrook. He was a butcher, dealer, horse trader, publican of the Braybrook Hotel and a Shire Councillor and President. He also owned significant land titles on both side of the Salter Water River.

 

He was born, Thomas Burge Derham, on the 29th December 1825, in North Curry, Somerset, England. His parents were John Derham and Mary Derham Nee Burge.

 

In England, Thomas was married three times, Margaret Derham Nee Bulpin, Elizabeth Derham Nee Wilks & Matilda Derham Nee Bryant. His second wife died in childbirth.

 

Thomas arrived in Victoria in 1857 with his third wife Matilda, two sons from his previous two marriage, Charles (b29/9/1847 d13/1/1920) and George Thomas (b28/7/1852 d13/12/1937) and daughter Elizabeth Johnson (b7/6/1857 d1937), whom Matilda gave birth to at sea.

 

Once in Melbourne, it didn’t take long for Thomas to set up a butcher shop in Lonsdale St. He had previously owned a butcher shop in Bristol, England. By 1858, he had another daughter Emily Burge (26/10/1858 d23/7/1944), who was born in a tent at 242 Elizabeth St, Melbourne.

 

After the birth of Emily, Thomas and his family moved to Albion. Their homestead was located along Ballarat Rd where the Bunnings store is now located.

 

Once settled in Albion, it didn’t take Thomas long to engaged with the community. He joined the Albion Common School Committee where his children went to school.

 

Once settled in the District, Thomas and Matilda had another nine children, Eleanor (Elinor) Mary Burge (b27/10/1859 d29/12/1868), Thomas Burge (b9/3/1862 d30/7/1925), John Burge (b10/8/1863 d18/1/1932), Ada Maud Burge (b Abt 1864 d1865), Maude Matilda (b15/6/1866 d16/2/1944), Ella Burge (b13/5/1868 d1932), Olive Matilda Burge (b24/3/1870 d10/7/1953), William James Burge (b15/1/1872 d23/2/1920) & Mabel Bowen (b11/7/1874 d1922). All the children’s births were recorded in Albion or Maidstone.

 

Thomas purchased the weatherboard Braybrook Hotel in 1865. He then rebuilt the hotel in bluestone which was acquired from the local quarry.

 

Thomas had many other businesses include a slaughterhouse in Maidstone, cattle, sheep and horse-trading businesses. He became a large property owner in the district. Some of this property he later sold to H.V. McKay.

 

Thomas was very active in the local affairs of the district and was elected to the Braybrook Shire Council when the municipality was proclaimed a Shire on the 27th April 1871. He served on Council for 24 years including one as the Shire President (1882-1883).

 

Thomas' son, John Burge, who lived in Braybrook Junction and Sunshine, followed the path of his father, and became the Shire of Braybrook President for two terms (1909-1910 & 1918-1919). John worked as a dairyman and had an interest in property development. His wife Mary Jane Barnett was one of the founders of the Wesleyan Church at Braybrook. Their bluse stone house was located at Devonshire Rd, Sunshine.

 

Thomas' daughter, Olive Matilda Burge, went on to marry Alfred Walter Barrett, one of the district’s early House, Land & Estate Agents.

 

In 1920, Thomas' son, William James Burge went down with the ship “Gracchus” on a trip to Madras India with horses, remounts for British Army.

 

Thomas' wife Matilda was also an active contributor to the local community, church and school. She also helped to run the Hotel.

 

Thomas died on the 6th November 1906, registered Maidstone, Age 63. He is buried in the Footscray Cemetery with his wife and their daughter, Olive Matilda Burge Barnett.

 

1888 No Topographical Location Braybrook, Derham, Thomas Burge - Braybrook Hotel

1892 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, Braybrook Hotel - Derham, Thomas Burge

​

1893 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, Braybrook Hotel - Derham, Thomas Burge

​

1895 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, Braybrook Hotel - Derham, Thomas Burge

​

1896 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, Braybrook Hotel - Derham, Thomas Burge

​

1897 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, Braybrook Hotel - Derham, Thomas Burge

​

1898 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, South Side Braybrook Hotel - Derham, Thomas Burge

​

1899 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, South Side Braybrook Hotel - Derham, Thomas Burge

​

1900 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, South Side Braybrook Hotel - Derham, Thomas Burge

​

1901 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, South Side Braybrook Hotel - Derham, Thomas Burge

​

1903 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, South Side Braybrook Hotel - Derham, Thomas Burge

​

1904 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, South Side Braybrook Hotel - Derham, Thomas Burge

​

1905 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, South Side Braybrook Hotel - Derham, Thomas Burge

​

1906 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, South Side Braybrook Hotel - Derham, Thomas Burge

​

1907 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, South Side Braybrook Hotel - Derham, Thomas Burge

 

Ref: Sunshine Advocate

Ref: Harvester Town, The Making of Sunshine 1890 – 1925, Olwen Ford

Ref: Snapshots of Sunshine and District

Ref: S&DHS Newsletters Series 5, No 3, September 2007 and Series 5, No 10, June 2009

Ref: Sands & McDougall Directories

Ref: Victoria Birth, Deaths & Marriages

Photos: S&DHS

Photos: Joan Nathan Nee Derham