Historical information
William Bravery Andrew was a native of Surrey, England. He came out to Australia in 1842 and lived in Brighton, Victoria for 14 years. He revisited England for a year, departing July 1856 and returning to Victoria in July 1857.
William moved to Eltham around 1859 where he met and married a widow, Ellen Harper (nee Clarke) in 1867 whose husband John, a carpenter, had died in Melbourne the previous November leaving her with four surviving children: Edith Harper (1856 Eltham), Newell Harper (1858 Eltham), Ida Ellen Harper (1862 Eltham) and Lilian Harper (1862 Eltham). Ellen and John had suffered the loss of two children: John (1860-1864 Eltham) and Percy (1865-1866).
William and Ellen had three more children of their own: Mabel Andrew (1868 Eltham), William Bravery Andrew (1870 Eltham) and Ernest James Andrew (1873 Eltham)
By 1867 William was the registered newsagent for Eltham with a produce store, W.B Andrew Corn Store, on "Policeman's Hill", at the corner of Maria Street (now Main Road) and Franklin Street. He also took a lively interest in the public affairs of the town and district, and with his wife Ellen, continued to run the store for some fifty years.
Ellen pre-deceased William on February 9, 1906, after a long and painful illness of some 11 years. William died October 8, 1907 and is buried with Ellen in Eltham Cemetery. Their youngest son, Ernest James took over running the business and became a prominent member of the community and Eltham Shire Councillor for 30 years. The grave of Ernest James and his wife Ellen rests beside William and Ellen.
Sacred
to
The memory of
Ellen
Wife of
William Bravery Andrew
Died 9th Feb. 1906
Aged 77 years
Also the above
W.B. Andrew
Died 8th Oct. 1907
Aged 85.
Physical description
Born Digital
