Weston was born in England in about 1835. His father, Dr. Charles Phillips, was a surgeon, although he also had an interest in engineering as a sideline. Weston Phillips had an older brother, Charles (junior), and a sister, Helen.[1]
The Phillips family migrated to Australia in March 1856. They moved to Dandenong in 1857, where they built a home, named “Briarhurst”, in McCrae Street.[2]
As a young man in his mid-twenties, Weston played a part in the aftermath of the Burke and Wills tragedy, along with his friend, Alfred Howitt. According to one source, when Howitt was prospecting for gold in Gippsland, he read in a newspaper of Burke’s expedition to the north of Australia. Howitt expressed his concerns to his companions about whether the exploration party might get lost, saying “If so, I may have to go and look for him”. Two of his friends, Alexander Aitken and Weston Phillips, immediately volunteered their services, “If you go take us with you”; they were more than ready to help with a rescue attempt, if it came to that. And, as it turned out, that’s exactly what happened.[3]
When the Burke and Wills expedition (1860-1861) did not report back as expected, being long overdue, the Exploration Committee in Melbourne arranged for a rescue party, led by Alfred Howitt, to search for the missing explorers; Weston Phillips was one of the men chosen to be part of the search party. Howitt’s expedition left Melbourne on the 4th of July 1861, determined to find the missing men. They travelled via Swan Hill, Tarcoola, and Menindee; and then finally reached Coopers Creek on the 3rd of September 1861. The tracks of Burke, Wills, and King were followed; on the 15th of September 1861, John King was found, living with an Aboriginal tribe (King was the lone survivor of the missing trio, as Robert O’Hara Burke and William John Wills had died some time previously). After waiting some days for King to recover his strength, Howitt sent Edwin Welch and Weston Phillips back with John King; they reached Swan Hill on the 21st of September 1861, and subsequently arrived in Melbourne on the 25th of the same month. King’s great trial was over, thanks to Howitt and his expedition (including Phillips).[4]
Life moved on for the intrepid Weston Phillips, and he settled down to working for a living as an ordinary member of the community, notwithstanding his heroic past.
Almost 15 years after his involvement with Howitt’s outback expedition, Weston discovered domestic bliss when he wedded his sweetheart. Weston Phillips married Susan Ellis (the widow of Edward Davies Ellis, a Dandenong storekeeper) on the 3rd of May 1876. The marriage ceremony was conducted by the Reverend William Carter, at St. Mathew’s Church in Prahran.[5]
On the 19th of December 1876, Susan gave birth to a premature son. Unfortunately, the newborn baby died the next day, the 20th. Then, on the following day, the 21st, Susan Phillips also died (the death of mothers, due to complications of childbirth, were not uncommon in those days); she was aged 38 at the time.[6]
Weston would have been understandably distraught at the death of his wife and son. It is possible that, as a consequence, he paid less attention to his business than he should have — as, almost three years after their deaths, his chemist shop developed cash flow problems, and he became financially insolvent in August 1879, with the stock of his shop being sold off.[8]
To make his situation worse, his father died on the 10th of August 1879.[9]
Weston was widely engaged with his local community; he was the honorary secretary on the committee of management of the Mechanics’ Institute and Free Library, an officer of a branch of the Free Trade League, an officer of a Masonic lodge, and was also involved in other community activities. After the death of his wife and son, he carried on with his civic commitments for a time, but apparently the heavy burden of the tragic loss of his family eventually became too much for him.[10]
He left his life as a suburban chemist, and turned his hand to droving, and any other odd jobs that cropped up. Whilst it was good and honest work, it was a waste of the skills and talents that Weston possessed. How many people would have known that the drover passing them by on his horse was a renowned explorer, chemist, and intellectually talented individual? The Western Grazier (Wilcannia, NSW) said that “At all times of a somewhat reticent nature, towards the close of his career, when, grief and misfortune had overtaken him through the death of his nearest and dearest, and through money losses, Weston Phillips became absent minded and reserved, and few recognised beneath the rough exterior which met the eye the cultivation and research which lay beneath.”[11]
His end came in a somewhat ignominious manner. According to his companions, John Garland and Frank Sutter, Weston was drunk and decided to ride along with them, but his state of inebriation was so bad that he fell off his horse; then, after being cared for, he remounted his steed, and promptly galloped away from those who were trying to look after him. He hit a mulga tree, and was thrown from his horse; his two helpers found him bleeding from the mouth and ears, along with a bloody wound on his head. A buggy was obtained from a nearby property, and he was taken to the local hospital. However, with the severity of his skull fracture, there was little hope that he could be saved, and he subsequently passed away.[12]
Weston would not be the first person who had turned to alcohol to try to drown one’s sorrows, and to bring some relief from overwhelming grief; but, as is often the case, his escape into the bottom of a bottle had tragic consequences; in this instance, ending his life.
Weston Phillips died in Wilcannia (New South Wales) on the 4th of January 1883, at the age of 48.[13]
The work that Weston Phillips did in searching for the imperiled men of the Burke and Wills expedition was one of high moral value, in that he placed his own life in danger in the service of others. In his ordinary life, his work as a pharmacist was also one of helping others; indeed, his obituary in the South Bourke & Mornington Journal (Dandenong, Vic.) spoke of his “extreme kindness of heart”. In addition to his pharmaceutical expertise, he was also an expert on the culture and customs of the Australian Aborigines, and corresponded with various anthropologists, helping them with their work.[14]
Weston Phillips did an enormous amount of work to assist others in his local community, as well as assisting anthropologists from all around Australia. His heroism, and his dedication to the service of others, recommend him as someone whose life and achievements should be honoured and remembered for many years to come.
Articles relating to Weston Phillips:
[Burke and Wills] [25 May 1875]
Deaths [obituaries, 24 January 1883]
Death of an Australian explorer [obituary re Weston Phillips, 30 January 1883]
References:
[1] “Search your family history”, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Victoria (death record: name: Helen PHILLIPS; mother’s name at birth: Mary Ann WESTON; father’s name: Charles PHILLIPS; place of birth: n/a; place of death: Dandenong; Age at death: 79; reg. year: 1927, reg. no.: 5202/1927)
[2] “Reminiscences of the early days of Dandenong”, The Dandenong Journal (Dandenong, Vic.), 31 March 1932, p. 6
“Marriages”, The Illustrated Australian News (Melbourne, Vic.), 15 May 1876, p. 79 [“Weston, second son of Charles Phillips”]
[3] Donald Macdonald, “Notes for boys”, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 5 June 1928, p. 12 (see sub-section “The explorers”)
Robert Travers, “Alfred Howitt: Forgotten explorer”, Walkabout (Melbourne, Vic.), August 1966, pp. 34-37 (see pp. 35-36)
See also: a) W. E. H. Stanner, “Howitt, Alfred William (1830–1908)”, Australian Dictionary of Biography
b) “Alfred William Howitt”, Wikipedia
[4] “The Victorian Contingent Party, 1861”, Burke & Wills Web
“The Victorian Exploring Party, 1862”, Burke & Wills Web
“The explorer King”, Bell’s Life in Victoria and Sporting Chronicle (Melbourne, Vic.), 30 November 1861, p. 2
“Men of the Age: William Howitt”, The Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW), 24 August 1872, p. 233 (9th page of that issue)
[5] “Marriage”, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 5 May 1876, p. 1 [“Susan, widow of the late E. D Ellis, of Dandenong”]
“Marriages”, The Leader (Melbourne, Vic.), 6 May 1876, p. 15
“Marriages”, The Telegraph and St Kilda, Prahran, and South Yarra Guardian (Prahran, Vic.), 6 May 1876, p. 2
“Marriages”, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic.), 6 May 1876, p. 17 (Town Edition)
“Marriages”, The Illustrated Australian News (Melbourne, Vic.), 15 May 1876, p. 79 (15th page of that issue)
“Search your family history”, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Victoria (marriage record: name: PHILLIPS, Weston, to ELLIS, Susan; reg. year 1876; reg. no. 1382/1876)
“Law and Judicial Notices”, The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), 18 January 1877, p. 1 (column 4) [probate notice re “Edward Davies Ellis, late of Dandenong, in the Colony of Victoria, Storekeeper”]
[6] “Births” and “Deaths”, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 23 December 1876, p. 1
“Births” and “Deaths”, The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic.), 30 December 1876, p. 858 (26th page of that issue)
“Births” and “Deaths”, The Leader (Melbourne, Vic.), 30 December 1876, p. 25
“Births” and “Deaths”, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic.), 30 December 1876, p. 18 (Town Edition)
“Law and Judicial Notices”, The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), 18 January 1877, p. 1 (column 4) [probate notice re “Susan Phillips, late of Dandenong”]
“Births” and “Deaths”, The Illustrated Australian News (Melbourne, Vic.), 24 January 1877, pp. 14, 15
[7] “Deaths”, The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), 23 December 1876, p. 4
“Search your family history”, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Victoria
(birth record: family name: PHILLIPS; Given name(s): Unnamed Male; mother’s name at birth: Susan PASCOE; father’s name: Weston PHILLIPS; place of birth: DA ND [Dandenong]; reg. year: 1876, reg. no.: 22336/1876)
(death record: family name: PHILLIPS; Given name(s): Unnamed Male; mother’s name at birth: Susan PASCOE; father’s name: Weston PHILLIPS; place of birth: place of birth: DAND [Dandenong]; place of death: n/a; Age at death: 1 Days; reg. year: 1876, reg. no.: 11595/1876)
(death record: family name: PHILLIPS; Given name(s): Susan; mother’s name at birth: POLLARD; father’s name: PASCOE Peter; place of birth: ENGL [England]; place of death: n/a; Spouse at death: PHILLIPS Westone [sic: Weston]; Age at death: 38; reg. year: 1876, reg. no.: 11596/1876)
[8] “New insolvents”, The Herald (Melbourne, Vic.), 8 August 1879, p. 3 [“Weston Phillips, of Dandenong, chemist. Causes of Insolvency: Inability to collect debts and realise assets.”]
“New insolvents”, The Advocate (Melbourne, Vic.), 9 August 1879, p. 9 [“Weston Phillips, of Dandenong, chemist”]
“Law notices (this day)”, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 18 August 1879, p. 5 [“Insolvent court … Weston Phillips”]
“Preliminary advertisement”, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 20 August 1879, p. 2 (column 6, in the “Tenders” section) [“In the Insolvent Estate of Weston Phillips of Dandenong, Chemist”]
“News and notes”, South Bourke & Mornington Journal (Dandenong, Vic.), 26 January 1911, p. 2 [his chemist shop was situated in Lonsdale street, Dandenong]
[9] “Reminiscences of the early days of Dandenong”, The Dandenong Journal (Dandenong, Vic.), 31 March 1932, p. 6
[10] “Dandenong”, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic.), 18 December 1875, p. 5 [“Mechanics’ Institute and Free Library … a committee, consisting of Messrs. H. Powis, S. Smithson, Weston Phillips, and M. Macpherson”]
“Dandenong”, The South Bourke & Mornington Journal (Richmond, Vic.), 31 January 1877, p. 3 (Morning Edition) [“The Dandenong branch of the Free Trade League elected their officers … Weston Phillips Esq.”]
“Free-Trade League”, >”, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic.), 3 February 1877, p. 7
“Laying memorial stone of public buildings at Dandenong”, South Bourke & Mornington Journal (Richmond, Vic.), 10 September 1879, p. 3 [“This memorial stone was laid with Masonic honors by … Weston Phillips, J.W.”]
“Railway communication with Dandenong”, South Bourke & Mornington Journal (Richmond, Vic.), 16 July 1879, p. 3 [involved with a public meeting regarding railway services between Dandenong and Melbourne]
“Local news”, The South Bourke & Mornington Journal (Richmond, Vic.), 16 November 1881, p. 2 [Weston Phillips resigned from being a trustee of the Mechanics’ Institute, Dandenong]
G.F.R., “Reminiscences of the early days of Dandenong: No. 16”, The Dandenong Journal (Dandenong, Vic.), 23 June 1932, p. 7 [“The Mechanics’ Institute … The committee comprised … Weston Phillips (hon. sec).”]
G.F.R., “Reminiscences of the early days of Dandenong: No. 23”, The Dandenong Journal (Dandenong, Vic.), 11 August 1932, p. 7 [lobbying, in 1877, for a new building for the Post and Telegraph Office, with Weston Phillips on the Post and Telegraph Office Committee]
[11] “[General news items]”, The Express & Telegraph (Adelaide, SA), 17 January 1883, p. 3, column 5 [reprint of an article from the Western Grazier]
“[General news items]”, The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), 17 January 1883, p. 5, column 2 [reprint of an article from the Western Grazier]
“The Week”, The South Australian Weekly Chronicle (Adelaide, SA), 20 January 1883, p. 11 [reprint of an article from the Western Grazier]
“Death of an Australian explorer”, Newcastle Morning Herald & Miners’ Advocate (Newcastle, NSW), 30 January 1883, p. 4 [reprint of an article from the Western Grazier; in this article, it is referred to as the Wilcannia Grazier]
“The Western grazier” (catalogue entry), National Library of Australia [The Western Grazier was published in Wilcannia, NSW]
[12] “Death of an Australian explorer”, Newcastle Morning Herald & Miners’ Advocate (Newcastle, NSW), 30 January 1883, p. 4
[13] “Deaths”, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 23 January 1883, p. 1 [death notice for Weston Phillips, incorrectly giving his age as 28]
“Deaths”, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 24 January 1883, p. 1 [death notice for Weston Phillips, giving his correct age as 48]
“Deaths”, The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic.), 27 January 1883, p. 11 of the “Australasian Supplement”
“Deaths”, The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic.), 3 February 1883, p. 11 of the “Australasian Supplement”
“Deaths”, The Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil (Melbourne, Vic.), 14 February 1883, p. 34 (18th page of that issue)
“Births, Deaths and Marriages search”, NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages (death record: Phillips, Weston; reg. no. 11916/1883; father’s given name/s: n/a; mother’s given name/s: n/a; district: Wilcannia)
[14] “Deaths”, South Bourke & Mornington Journal (Dandenong, Vic.), 24 January 1883, p. 2
“Death of an Australian explorer”, Newcastle Morning Herald & Miners’ Advocate (Newcastle, NSW), 30 January 1883, p. 4 [reprint of an article from the Western Grazier; in this article, it is referred to as the Wilcannia Grazier]
Updated 13 January 2024
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