Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - GRAYDON COLLECTION: FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS
Charles Wallace Gordon Graydon the First came out to Victoria on the S.S. Almora, the same ship on which Eliza Richardson and her family arrived on New Years Day 1875. Evidently C.W.G.G.1st. must have retained fond memories of a young fourteen-year-old girl named Elizabeth Richardson who travelled from Scotland with her mother and family (her father had arrived earlier) because three years later at Kyneton they were married. It was December 26th 1860, and Elizabeth was just seventeen. As the bridegroom’s age is written as 24 years on the wedding certificate, he certainly must have been more than eighteen when he sailed on the "Almora" in 1856. The newly married couple went to live at Taradale, Victoria, and they made a good life for themselves in that town which had then a thriving gold mine. They lived in a large two-storied house in Survey Paddock, and it was there that four daughters - Susan Emily (1861-1906), Elizabeth Constance (1863-1945), Amelia Amy (1865 -1952, Ada Mary Maude (1867-1901), and one son Newenham Edward Eustace (1869-1945) named after his Irish Grandfather, were born.
On his wedding certificate C.W.G. Graydon, is described as a foreman. His father-in-law, Robert Richardson was employed as a time-keeper on the Melbourne to Bendigo Railway works, and he and his family lived first in Prahran, then Kyneton, and then Taradale. Perhaps Charles Graydon worked on the railway with him. In Taradale however, he worked for a gold mining company in a surveying capacity. C.W.G.G.1st was to become Shire President of the Shire of Metcalfe. That particular year the Graydon Family entertained the visiting English cricket Eleven at their home in Taradale. He was certainly regarded as an important man in the district when he was requested by a great number of the residents to nominate for the Legislative Assembly election.
About 1876 the Graydons left Taradale, and went to live at Sandhurst, now Bendigo, at Barkly Place East. The Richardsons had also left Taradale to go into the grocery business in the same town. Charles Wallace Gordon Graydon the First became a legal manager of mines, and a well-known and popular resident. Sad to say he became ill with a lung infection, and on June 4th. 1885 he died, and was buried at Sandhurst, now Bendigo Cemetery, Back Creek Rd.
Eliza Richardson's brother was Mr. James Richardson, the well-known grocer, of Pall Mall and Golden-square, who died at his residence, "Balgownie," Short street, on Thursday 22 Jan 1914. James Richardson was a native of Scotland. He was born at Glasgow in1849 and was only eight years of age when his parents sailed for Australia in the ship Balmoral. The family arrived in Melbourne in 1857 and went to Taradale, where Mr. Richardson, senr., acted as inspector of works during the construction of the Taradale Viaduct. James Richardson, who had commenced his educationin Glasgow, attended school at Taradale until the family removed to Bendigo at the time the railway was being built from Bendigo to Echuca.
The contractors for this work engaged Mr Richardson, senr., as their timekeeper. When he left school James Richardson applied himself to learn the grocery business, and he gained a thorough knowledge of it with different employers at Bendigo, Taradale, and Daylesford. In 1872 he opened a grocery store on his own account in High-Street, Bendigo, but within a few months he had the great misfortune to be burnt out. The fire originated in an adjoining building early one morning and both places were burnt to the ground. In spite of his loss, Mr. Richardson was not discouraged, for he soon made another start. His trade improved and he extended his business, opening the Eclipse Cash Store at Golden Square.
A little later another branch was opened at the Oddfellows' Hall, and subsequently this business was transferred to the Eureka Cash Store, in Pall Mall, which was the head depot. In addition to the retail trade, Mr. Richardson had, for many years carried on an extensive wholesale business with the Northern District, and had made a specialty of fodder seeds. James was a man of probity and sincerity in business, and as a citizen he was highly esteemed and respected. He was a prominent member of the Bendigo Caledonian Society in the earlier days of his citizenship. He was a staunch member of St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, and was a member of the board of management. In the Easter Fair procession, Mr Richardson's display was always a prominent and attractive one. Mr. Richardson was a member of the Masonic Order, and was a life member of the Bendigo Art Gallery and the old Mechanics Institute. He was married at Daylesford in 1871. Mr James Richardson was interred in the Presbyterian section of the Bendigo Cemetery.A selection of Graydon and Richardson family photographs taken by Bendigo photograpers. all photos unnamed.photograph, person, graydon and richardson families.
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.