Oswald Stimson SOWERBY
Born 27 June 1897 in Yatina South Australia [55]
Son of Horace James SOWERBY and Elizabeth Ann SMITH [55]
Farmer in Encounter Bay, South Australia in 1915 [94]
Enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 8 July 1915 [94]
Embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia for active service abroad on the H.M.A.T. A38 Ulysses on 27 October 1915 [94]
Gunner 1447 in the Australian Imperial Force's 6th Field Artillery Brigade during the First World War [94]
Embarked on his return to Australia on 27 April 1919 [94]
Married Mary Graham DONALDSON on 20 September 1922 in Adelaide, South Australia[55]
Resided in Strathalbyn prior to leaving South Australia [5: 2-Oct-1936]
In 1928 purchased an agency business in Three Springs, Western Australia from "Tom" Thomas J. BERRIGAN [4: 28-Jul-1928]
General Commission Agent in Three Springs 1928-1937 [4] [5] [19]
In 1929 he was the local agent in Three Springs for H. V. McKay Pty Ltd (Sunshine machinery), [4: 1-Jun-1929, 26-Oct-1929]
Dalgety & Co (stock agents, wheat buyers, farm requirements), Commercial Union Insurance Co (fire, motor, liability), [4]
Australian Lumber Co Ltd (building materials), A.M.P. Society (life insurance) and for Icyball Refrigerators [4]
His business premises in Three Springs were telephone number Three Springs-21 [60]
Conducted a trade exhibit of his business at the Three Springs Agricultural Society's Annual Show on 30 September 1929 [4: 5-Oct-1929]
In August 1933 he took over from Tom BERRIGAN the agency in Carnamah for H. V. McKay-Massey Harris Pty Ltd [5: 25-Aug-1933]
With the purchase of the agency he was the retailer for Sunshine machinery in both Carnamah and Three Springs [5: 25-Aug-1933]
He only held the agency for the Sunshine section, which included agricultural machinery and spare parts [5: 8-Sep-1933]
Another agent, Stan HIDDEN, held the Massey-Harris section of the H. V. Mckay-Massey Harris Pty Ltd agency [5: 15-Sep-1933]
Around August 1933 he opened a branch of his agency business at 1 Macpherson Street, Carnamah [5: 25-Aug-1933]
He presumably leased his business premises at 1 Macpherson Street from its owners, Elder Smith & Co [3]
Operated a branch of his agency business at 1 Macpherson Street, Carnamah from 1933 to 1937 [5: 25-Aug-1933] [60]
Through his agency he sold a complete range of farm machinery and comprehensive stock of spare parts [5: 25-Aug-1933]
His premises at 1 Macpherson Street, Carnamah were telephone number Carnamah-7 from 1934 to 1937 [60]
His branch in Carnamah was run by Reginald L. BOLLAND until mid February 1936 and then by T. Reginald SIZER [5: 21-Feb-1936]
He kept a comprehensive stock of spare parts for Sunshine machinery at the premises for his agency business in Three Springs [5]
The State Inspector for H. V. McKay-Massey Harris (Sunshine section) as the third best stocked agency in the State [5: 13-Oct-1933]
In January 1934 H. V. McKay-Massey Harris amalgamated their Sunshine and Massey-Harris agencies into one [5: 26-Jan-1934]
Following the amalgamation he was the Carnamah agent for H. V. McKay-Massey Harris (both Sunshine and Massey-Harris) [5]
Distributor in Carnamah and Three Springs for the Winterbottom Motor Company Ltd and Dodge Trucks in 1935 [0: image 03240]
By 1937 he was the Three Springs agent for the Neptune Oil Company [5: 22-Jan-1937]
In January 1937 he applied for a share in the Three Springs Road Board's business in regard to oils and fuels [5: 22-Jan-1937]
Agent in Carnamah for wheat buyers Great Southern Roller Flour Mills Limited in 1938 [13]
Also an agent for the timber, joinery and hardware merchants Australian Lumber Company in Carnamah in 1938 [13]
Regularly advertised his agency business in The North Midland Times newspaper[5: 3-Nov-1933, 3 & 24-May-1935, 14-Jun-1935, 5 & 19-Jul-1935]
Attended the wedding of Alexander J. F. BROWN and Clara V. BERRIGAN at the Carnamah Hall on 28 August 1928 [4: 8-Sep-1928]
Attended a large meeting in Three Springs to form a North Midlands Chamber of Commerce on 18 November 1932 [4: 26-Nov-1932]
Foundation Secretary & Treasurer of the Three Springs-Arrino sub-branch of the Returned Soldiers League in 1932 [5: 12-Aug-1932]
Committee Member of the Three Springs-Arrino sub-branch of the Returned Soldiers League in 1937 [5: 19-Feb-1937]
Attended the Commemoration Dinner held at the Commercial Hotel in Three Springs on Friday 26 August 1932 [5: 9-Sep-1932]
The dinner was to commemorate Three Springs having the highest average yield for wheat in the State for the 1931-32 season [5]
He was one of 77 ex-servicemen who attended the Sailors & Soldiers Reunion Dinner in Carnamah on 22 October 1932 [86: 29-Oct-1932]
He and his wife attended the dance at the Three Springs Hall after the R.S.L. Sports Day on 5 November 1932 [5: 18-Nov-1932]
Member of the Three Springs Golf Club 1932-1937 [4: 7-May-1932] [5: 10-Apr-1936, 9-Apr-1937]
He was Secretary in 1932, Vice Captain in 1933 and 1934 and a Committee Member in 1936 and 1937 [5: 13-Apr-1934] [120: 5-Oct-1933]
Attended the Official Opening of the Carnamah Golf Course at Centenary Park in Carnamah on Sunday 23 July 1933 [5: 28-Jul-1933]
Travelled to Perth in early October 1933 to attend the Perth Royal Show [5: 13-Oct-1933]
One of the three trustees of the property belonging to the Three Springs Road Board District Bush Fire Brigade [5: 10-Nov-1933]
Member of the committee that organised the Three Springs Bush Fire Brigade's Fundraising Ball on 20 November 1933 [5: 10-Nov-1933]
Committee Member of the Three Springs Agricultural Society 1934-1936 and Treasurer in 1937 [5: 13-Apr-1934, 1-May-1936, 25-Mar-1937]
Attended the funeral of Mrs Christina B. D. FORRESTER of Carnamah at the Winchester Cemetery on 31 August 1934 [4: 8-Sep-1934]
Played for the victorious R.S.L. team who defeated "The Rest" at cricket in Three Springs on Sunday 2 December 1934 [5: 7-Dec-1934]
Member of the Three Springs Cricket Club in 1934-35, 1935-36 and 1936-37 [5: 25-Jan-1935, 21-Feb-1936, 6-Nov-1936]
Spoke at the Valedictory Evening to Jack HODKKISS and the BICKELL family in Three Springs on 21 January 1935 [5: 25-Jan-1935]
On 24 August 1935 held a demonstration of the Sunduke scarifier on Evander W. FRANKLIN's farm in Three Springs [5: 2-Aug-1935]
Held another demonstration of the scarifier on Percival L. MILLARD's farm in Three Springs on 22 February 1936 [5: 21-Feb-1936]
He and his wife motored from Three Springs to Perth on Sunday 22 September 1935[5: 27-Sep-1935]
He was among the ex-servicemen at the R.S.L. Reunion Dinner in Three Springs on Saturday evening 19 October 1935 [5: 25-Oct-1935]
Attended the meeting of Three Springs ratepayers held on Saturday 11 January 1936 to discuss the local water crisis [5: 17-Jan-1936]
He seconded the motion that two bores, which had been surveyed by an expert, by established to relieve the water shortage [5]
He also made mention that although it would cost £1000 it was justified, and that prosperity would thank them [5]
Attended the funeral of Carnamah agent William B. SHERIDAN at the Winchester Cemetery on 27 January 1936 [5: 31-Jan-1936]
Following a visit to South Australia arrived back in Western Australia by boat on Tuesday 31 March 1936 [5]
After a few days in Perth returned to Three Springs by car on Sunday 5 March 1936 [5: 10-Apr-1936]
Purchased a new Dodge sedan car through his own agency for the Winterbottom Motor Company in April 1936 [5: 24-Apr-1936]
During April 1936 he and four others travelled to Perth one evening as passengers in Alexander R. G. BARR's car [5: 24-Apr-1936]
Received a slight cut on the neck and had his hat cut when an owl smashed through the windscreen just before Moora t 8 p.m. [5]
Member of the North Midlands Registered Stud Stockbreeders Association in 1936[5: 22-May-1936]
Organised a demonstration of the Massey Harris 25-40 tractor on James K. HEBITON's farm on 22 August 1936 [5: 31-Jul-1936, 4-Sep-1936]
Pallbearer at the funeral of TS farmer Albert Irwin Broad at the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth on 6 September 1938 [4: 10-Sep-1938]
Won the Married Men's Race at the Reunion of South Australians at Centenary Park in Carnamah on 26 September 1936 [5: 2-Oct-1936]
In January 1937 he advertised that he had eleven quarter acre blocks in the Three Springs townsite for sale [5]
All eleven blocks were together and in the one street and no reasonable offers would be rejected [5: 8-Jan-1937]
Later resided in the Perth suburb of Nedlands [2]
Died 1 December 1979; buried Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth WA (General, Lawn 2, 12) [2]
From The North Midland Times newspaper, Friday 25 August 1933:
Agency Changes Hands
"Mr. O. S. Sowerby, well-known agent of Three Springs has taken over the Carnamah agency of H. V. McKay-Massey Harris Pty., Ltd., formerly held by Mr. T. J. Berrigan. Mr. Sowerby, who has been established in Three Springs for six years, is opening a branch at Carnamah in Macpherson Street, opposite Cowderoy's, and there will be a competent man in charge. In out advertising columns Mr. Sowerby announces that he can offer a complete range of farm machinery and an efficient spare part service, and he hoped that by constant attention he will obtain the patronage of farmers in this district."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Oswald Stimson Sowerby' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 25 April 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/oswald-stimson-sowerby [reference list] |
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