Historical information

Charles Perry was born in Cornwall in 1832 and came to Victoria when he was 25. He and John Hunter established a fuse factory in Wattle Street. Perry designed and patented a safety fuse that he was then able to put into production in 1875. In 1889 the business was sold to Bickford Smith and Co., English fuse manufacturers, who continued to manufacture fuses until 1912. Perry was active in community affairs and served as a councillor for the Sutton Ward in 1902. He died in 1912 and the funeral was conducted from his home "St Leonards" in Don Street.

Physical description

10563.6 "St. Leonards" in Don Street, Bendigo. Former home of Charles Perry, Safety Fuse inventor.
B&W photocopy of the original B&W photo.