Undated photograph, showing shops located at 145 Nelson Place. Number 145 was constructed during 1872-72 and was the premises of the first CBA branch in Williamstown and also as the baker's shop of Henry Douch. nelson place, shops, 145 nelson place, henry douch

Undated photograph, showing shops located at 141-143 Nelson Place. As noted in Hobsons Bay Heritage Study Amended 2017 - Volume 3 (HO217), "Henry Douch, baker, who operated his baker's shop from a site further north (No. 145), built this five and eight room, stone and brick shop and residence pair in c1873, after the sale of the old Customs House Reserve in 1872. For a time the Commercial Bank of Australia leased No. 141, until it occupied Douch's Nos. 145-47 Nelson Place. Henry Hurst, grocer, occupied No. 143. Henry Douch was a figure of some stature in Williamstown. He operated a bakery and confectionery business from 141 Nelson between 1869 and 1877, was a member of the Williamstown borough and town council for twenty years and occupied the mayoral chair twice (1870 and 1885). He was also a Justice of the Peace and retired as a major from the volunteer forces. Some of his and the next owner's (David Doughton) tenant's included George Ransome, a grocer; Charles Curtis, another baker; and Thomas Henry Ramsay, a dairy produce merchant (No. 141) as was George Phillips who preceded him.nelson place, shops, 141-143 nelson place