Blanche Maria Hatton WILLIAMS / KOCH
Born 1865 in Penrith, Victoria, Australia [32]
Daughter of Thomas WILLIAMS and Mary Jane HATTON [32] [54]
Married Danish born Sophus Edward KOCH on 29 September 1883 in Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia [346]
For about four years following their marriage they lived in Upper Cape, Queensland where her husband was a Grazier [346]
They then lived together in Southern Cross, Queensland where her husband managed and was part owner in a gold mine [346]
Their first child, Max Sophus, was born in Queensland in 1885 and died in 1887 a few months short of his third birthday [73]
When the mine failed, after about a year and a half, her husband left her and their daughter in Southern Cross [346]
She worked as a School Teacher and supplemented her income by taking in boarders for 18 months [346]
When her husband returned they shifted to her mother's hotel in Mooroopna, Victoria in May 1890 [346]
Her husband left in search of work in July 1890 before returning in about November and taking their elder daughter with him [346]
Although he said he was going to send their daughter to Denmark, she was left in the care of a woman in Dookie, Victoria [346]
About two years later her husband wrote to her, asking if she would take their daughter back and he would pay for her care [346]
She took their daughter back but received no financial assistance and was unable to locate her husband's whereabouts [346]
In 1900 she was living on Station Street in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton [346]
Still unable to locate her husband, she filed for divorce on the grounds of desertion in Melbourne on 1 November 1900 [346]
Enquiries with the Danish embassy, Danish Club, police, former employers and acquaintances failed to locate her husband [346]
The court granted her divorce, along with the custody of their two daughters [346]
She took up residence in Three Springs, Western Australia in 1909 [4: 10-Dec-1932]
She was among the first non-indigenous women to live in the Three Springs district [4: 10-Dec-1932]
Her daughter Dagmar was the Teacher of the Three Springs State School in in 1909 [6] [31]
Postmistress in Three Springs in 1910 [6] [9: 20-May-1910]
Proprietress of the Coffee Palace in Three Springs 1910-1911 and 1914-1932 [6] [9]
She established the Three Springs Coffee Palace, which had opened by May 1910 [9: 27-May-1910]
For a time continued as local Postmistress and conducted postal business from an office in front of her Coffee Palace [9]
In 1910 meetings of the Kadathinni Farmers & Progress Association were held at her Coffee Palace [9: 22-Jul-1910] [31: 24-Oct-1910]
The Three Springs Football Club was formed at a meeting held at her Coffee Palace on Saturday 18 June 1910 [9: 1-Jul-1910]
Her Coffee Palace was taken over by John C. WALKER in November 1911 [9: 24-Nov-1911, 24-May-1912, 26-Jun-1914]
WALKER sold the Coffee Palace to Mrs Marian MCKAY in May 1912, however by June 1914 she was again running the palace [9]
The sign of her Coffee Palace was blown down in a storm during February 1915 [10: 5-Mar-1915]
Within the same premises as her Coffee Palace she also accommodated for boarders and travellers [9: 27-May-1910]
As time passed her business became less of a restaurant and more of a boarding house [44]
Her boarding establishment was "well and favourably known" and "a home which gave much comfort and cheer" [4: 10-Dec-1932]
Local store manager Charles MCKAY pulled her clear of a railway collision in Three Springs on Monday 16 May 1910 [9: 20-May-1910]
The Perth to Geraldton train arrived half an hour late in darkness and collided with two railway trucks sitting on the railway line [9]
She had been standing at the rear of one of the trucks, and was moved just as it was hit and hurled forward along the tracks [9]
In September 1912 it was reported that she had opened a ladies millinery and haberdashery store in Three Springs [9: 6-Sep-1912]
Catered for the luncheon at the Farmers and Settlers Conference held in Three Springs on Friday 20 July 1917 [10: 3-Aug-1917]
The floor of her Coffee Palace was submerged by floodwaters in mid August 1917, when floods isolated TS for ten days [10: 24-Aug-1917]
Catered for the luncheon at the Three Springs Race Club's Race Meeting in Three Springs on Thursday 6 March 1919 [9: 14-Mar-1919]
Assisted the Three Springs Saint Patrick's Day Committee with donations of 10/6 in 1919 and 1920, and also of meat in 1920 [124]
Attended May BERRIGAN's 21st Birthday held at the Agricultural Hall in Three Springs on Friday 12 September 1919 [9: 19-Sep-1919]
Local farmer Gilford HAINES and Mary A. L. HENNELL were married at her home in Three Springs on 3 March 1920 [P389]
Advertised her Coffee Palace in The Midlands Advertiser newspaper "Travellers can rely on Good Meals and Clean Beds" [9: 5-Mar-1920]
Beginning with its inaugural edition on 7 August 1926 she also advertised her Coffee Palace in The Irwin Index newspaper [4]
Travelled from Three Springs to Perth in January 1928 to recuperate after a severe illness [4: 14-Jan-1928]
Due to ill health she advertised her boarding house in Three Springs for sale or lease in February 1929 [4: 16-Feb-1929]
She was tendered a Farewell Evening at the Agricultural Hall in Three Springs on Saturday evening 3 December 1932 [4: 10-Dec-1932]
150 people attended her farewell, at which seven speakers gave testimony to the part she had played in the district's progress [4]
During the speeches Edward HUNT, on behalf of her friends in the district, presented her with a beautiful handbag [4]
Her many good friends said that their "memory of her would be imperishable and worth more than silver and gold" [4]
After thanking all of those present from the bottom of her heart, the evening concluded with the singing of Auld Lang Syne [4]
After 23 years residence she left Three Springs in December 1932 and shifted to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia [4: 10-Dec-1932]
Upon leaving Three Springs her Coffee Palace and boarding house were run by her daughter Mrs Clare Black 1933-1940 [6]
Resided with her elder daughter Dagmar in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in 1933 and 1934 [4: 5-May-1934]
Mother of Max Sophus, Dagmar Maxina, and Clare [54] [73]
Died 28 April 1934 in the Sydney subrub of Ashfield; buried at Rockwood Cemetery in Sydney [32] [39: 27-Apr-1935] [448: 30-Apr-1934]
From The Irwin Index newspaper, Saturday 5 May 1934:
Obituary - The Late Mr B. Koch - Passing of Three Springs Pioneer
"At a Sydney hospital on Saturday last there passed peacefully away Mrs Blanche Koch, one of the oldest pioneers of the Three Springs district, the deceased lady having reached the age of 72 years. It will doubtless be remembered that nearly two hundred people, representative of all parts of the district, tendered the late Mr Koch a valedictory social in the Three Springs Hall in the latter part of last year, a full report of which appeared in these columns at the time. For many years the deceased lady conducted a boarding establishment at Three Springs, and it is said of her by some of the old settlers of the district that she played a prominent part in the pioneering and development of the district by the many kindnesses and warm and motherly friendliness shown to all with whom she came in contact in the days when settlers had to face many difficulties. When the news of her demise was received on Saturday last many a heart suffered a pang of regret in the Three Springs district, for to them it meant the passing of a very dear and valued friend. Relatives at Three Springs who mourn her loss are Mr and Mrs R. Black (son-in-law and daughter), and grandchildren, Jean, Bob, George and Herbert. Mrs B. C. Dyer (Jardee), and Miss Blanche Rae (Sydney), were also granddaughters. Another daughter (Mrs Rae) resides in Sydneym, and it was to Mrs Rae's home that the late Mrs Koch proceeded after her departure from Three Springs last year."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Blanche Maria Hatton Williams / Koch' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 15 September 2025 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/blanche-maria-koch [reference list] |
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