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A pioneer shipbuilder [obituary for Henry Beattie, senior, 2 July 1911]

12 August 2022 · Leave a Comment

[Editor: This obituary was published in Truth (Sydney, NSW), 2 July 1911.]

A pioneer shipbuilder.

Mr. Henry Beattie, sen., who died at his home, ‘Balmoral,’ Beattie-street, Balmain, on the 24th ult., was an historic personage in the waterside suburb.

He came from Burnt Island, Scotland, and was 83 years of age. In 1854 (Jan. 6) he landed with his wife in Sydney, under engagement as a shipbuilder to the organisation afterwards known as the A.S.N. Company.

After laying down the first slip on what is now Darling Island — though no island is visible — Mr. Beattie continued in the company’s employment for 10 years, and afterwards with Mr. T. Ferguson, of Mort’s Dock, entered upon the first attempts in Australia to build iron ships. Amongst the steamers turned out were the Tinonee and the Leichhardt.

After that he started in business alongside the old Pyrmont Bridge, and at his yard he was mainly engaged in repair work. Thirty-five years ago he went to Peacock’s Point, where he again entered upon shipbuilding and boatbuilding. Assisted by his sons, he practically carried on this business until the day of his death.

Mr. Beattie had been seven years a widower. He leaves a family of 11 sons and daughters.



Source:
Truth (Sydney, NSW), 2 July 1911, p. 11

Editor’s notes:
The “Deaths” section in the The Daily Telegraph of 26 June 1911 has a death notice for Henry Beattie, as follows:

BEATTIE. — June 24, 1911, at “Balmoral House,” 38 Waterview-st., Balmain, Henry Henderson Beattie, aged 83 years.

See: The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW), 26 June 1911, p. 6

A.S.N. Company = the Australasian Steam Navigation Company, an Australian shipping company which operated from 1839 to 1887
See: “Australasian Steam Navigation Company”, Wikipedia

Darling Island = a former island, which was later joined to the mainland, located in Sydney Harbour (New South Wales)

Mort’s Dock = a former dry dock, slipway, and shipyard, which was located in Balmain (Sydney, New South Wales)
See: “Mort’s Dock”, Wikipedia

sen. = an abbreviation of “senior”

slip = a sloping area in a shipyard (ending at a river, sea shore, or water channel), which is used to build or repair, and launch ships (also known as a “slipway”)

ult. = abbreviation of “ultimo”; pertaining to, or occurring in, the month preceding the present month (from the Latin “ultimo mense”, meaning “in the last month”)

[Editor: The original text has been separated into paragraphs.]

Filed Under: articles Tagged With: 500x500, obituaries, SourceTrove, year1911

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