H H Tilbrook
Henry Hammond Tilbrook became the founding editor at the age of 21, of the Northern Argus in 1869 , the newspaper of the Clare Valley, which was published until 2020.
Henry, known earlier as "Harry" was very adventurous, and an accomplished 'Bush-Man', who rode and tramped all over South Australia and explored the Goldfields of South New Zealand.
Later he repeated his S.A. adventures with his dry plate camera.
He kept voluminous journals, now transcribed at the State Library (see below). He was very candid about the people he met and the adventures he had. He was certainly an experienced journalist.
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Henry Tilbrook was born in Oswestry, Shropshire,
on June 14, 1848,
and lived in Llandudno, Wales, from 1848.
Tilbrook's father (Peter, 1818 - 23 Apr 1913 at about age 95) was a gamekeeper originally from Weston Colville, Cambridge-shire.
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When Tilbrook was six years old, in 1854 the family sailed to South Australia on the Albermarle - See Tilbrooks leave London
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He worked for a 30 months as a typesetter at the Register in Adelaide (1861-3)
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and then worked as a lamb minder for a short time, for Sir Thomas Elder (1864) See H H Tilbrook's Education
Tramped all over the same area (1865). Grocery delivery in Glenelg. -
Worked at Ooraparinna Cattle and Sheep Run, far north of Wilpena (1865) for a few months until drought ruined his prospects.
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Enticed by the gold rush at the time, Tilbrook moved to New Zealand in February 1866 to try to make a living prospecting. See Harry in New Zealand
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After having no luck with gold (in the rain), he moved on to work (1866-1868) for the Grey River Argus in Greymouth (first published 1865) See The Grey River Argus
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Shortly after returning from New Zealand, at age 21, H. H. Tilbrook founded the Northern Argus newspaper in Clare, Northern Argus, first edition, 19 February 1869.
Always careful with his money, he operated a private account with the State Bank of S.A. from the age of 11, one of the bank's longest savers.
Adventures
Harry (Henry) worked for a year at the Arkaba Station where his brother-in-law to be, Alfred Clode, was manager, (Arkaba Station Homestead was built in 1856 by Doctor William James Browne and Doctor John Harris Browne) in the Far North.
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Then, on the Paratoo run he was employed as a lamb minder and
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shared a one-roomed hut with three other men
(Paratoo was part of the successful partnership of Peter Waite and Sir Thomas Elder, before it had big dams, and small paddocks)-
‘It had a doorway, but no door,
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and a window opening, but no window.’
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There was only one bunk so three of them had to curl up on the earth floor at night.
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‘Kangaroo rats ran over our prostrate forms, and perched upon us'
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and they were "eventually" driven out by drought, when he was aged around 17 or 18 years.
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He then went adventuring to New Zealand seeking gold, but having no luck on the goldfields,
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he spent "three years as manager", working in the newspaper office for the Grey River Argus at Greymouth, on the South Island of N.Z.
(The Argus supported the Labor Movement. For many years the legend, “New Zealand’s pioneer Labor daily” appeared on the masthead.)
Above: Henry (Harry) Hammond Tilbrook's (1848-1937) youthful experiences in the north of South Australia 1864-5, with photographs taken in later life.
Bush Life celebrates the youthful diaries of South Australian pioneering photographer Henry Hammond Tilbrook (1848-1937), recording his adventures in South Australia's mid north in 1864 and 1865.
Henry returned to the area 30 years later as an established photographer to photograph his memories.
In 1937, in his eighties, he rewrote his youthful diaries as journals for posterity, and called them Reminiscences and Memoranda:
3-5_Tilbrook_CampingOutExpeditions
6-7_Tilbrook_Memoranda_transcript
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Amateur Photographer
Mr. Henry Tilbrook took a great interest in scientific matters, astronomy, and
photography, and
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as a chess player won the championship of the Clare club on one occasion.
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He also made a large astronomical telescope for observation of the heavens, now in the hands of Justin Tilbrook who lives at Penwortham.
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His collection of photos of all parts of the State taken by himself was very large and interesting, and are held by both S.A. Art Gallery and S.A. State Library.
As newspapers introduced new technologies in their rush for ever higher circulation, Henry became a serious photographer.
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Below: Henry Tilbrook made a combined hammerless gun and rifle with remote control corded device, with which he could trip the shutter on his tripod-mounted camera.
He often mentions this device in his writings and he is seen here using his fingers to wind up the reel of thread which was connected to his camera so that he could be included in the photographs.
His wife Marianne appears in the left-hand photograph below, and possibly his son and daughter.
Henry Tilbrook embarked on many photographic expeditions around South Australia.
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He experimented with various photographic apparatuses in order to capture a variety of scenic views and portraits.
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In 2001, his work was featured at the Art Gallery of South Australia, in the exhibition
‘The Photography of H.H. Tilbrook:
South Australia at the Turn of the Century’. for which an exhibition catalogue was produced (illustrated below).
"Photography of H.H. Tilbrook:
South Australia at the turn of the century"
Exhibited from 2001-07-20 until 2001-11-04
Art Gallery of South Australia Adelaide, SA, AU
The exhibition included:
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not only his photographs, but also
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his stereographs, photo albums
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and his camera and of course (now in Clare),
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the fascinating diaries that he rewrote in his old age, transcribing a copy for each of his two children.
Now available transcribed on the State Library website:
1_1-2_Tilbrook_Reminiscences
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1_3-5_Tilbrook_CampingOutExpeditions
1_6-7_Tilbrook_Memoranda_transcript
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Available at the Art Gallery S.A. website:
Photographic excursions he mentions in his writings and included here:
1894 - The Flinders Ranges
1898 - To Mount Gambier and district
1899 - To the top of Mount Bryan, north of Burra.
1900 - Back to the South East
1905 - Mount Gambier and Portland, Victoria.
Above: The Northern Argus Office, Clare circa 1880
The Northern Argus
Henry Tilbrook was still a young man when he returned to South Australia and in 1869, aged 21. ("Later in Life", according to Wikipedia) He was only 21 years old at the time, but had had much experience to guide him.[2]
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The Northern Argus was founded on February 19, 1869, by Henry Hammond Tilbrook and his brother-in-law, Alfred Clode. (See Family below)
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with the first edition rolling off the press on February 16, 1869.
Alfred Tilbrook, brother of Henry, joined the paper as a partner in July, 1870,
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and either a month later
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or after two years, Alfred Clode, his brother-in-law,
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went to Japan; where he reportedly worked as an interpreter for the Emperor, and where he started an English paper, and later migrated to America.
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At that time local JP, Mr William Kelly, joined the paper as associate editor, a position he held for 10 years.
Mr Kelly was also prominent in local government and held the position of Mayor 14 times.
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In the early days, the publishing of a newspaper
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gave a town incredible status and meant that it had “arrived.”
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It also meant generally the community was confident and growing, with a vibrant future.
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Below: Northern Argus offices at Clare SA.
Early Retirement
The business remained as such for nineteen years until 1889, when Mr. Henry retired, aged only 41, giving his share to his son Mr. R.H. Tilbrook. He then moved to St. Peters, where he died aged 89.
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The Tilbrook family also published two other papers – the Port Broughton Echo (1887-1888) and the Blyth Agriculturist (1908-1969).
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When Henry retired to East Adelaide in 1889, he became the official photographer to the SA Government and South Australian Railways.
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In 1913 Mr. Alfred died, and the surviving proprietor, Mr. R.H. Tilbrook, then took over all responsibilities.
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The two brothers Tilbrook (Henry and Alfred) married two sisters (Marianne and Ada Clode) and they lived side by side in homes in William Street West Clare.
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Four Tilbrooks were editors of The Northern Argus – Reg, Eric, Denis and Ian.
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The Northern Argus stayed in the Tilbrook family until 1996 when Tudor Tilbrook sold the paper to Fairfax Media in January, 1996 to be run by Rural Press.
It continued to provide daily news for the people of Clare and the surrounding region until the pandemic crisis of 2020, when it was closed.
As of 2015, its historic archives are kept by the Clare History Group.[3]
After Henry left the paper, his son, Reginald, took over the reins.
Reginald's son, Eric, then served until about 1955. Eric’s two sons, Denis and Ian, were also prominent newspapermen.
Family
The Peter Tilbrook children were
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George Tilbrook, (25 Feb 1846 - 22 Aug 1882 at age 36)
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Alfred Tilbrook, (7 Apr 1847 - 10 Jul 1913 at age 66)
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Henry Hammond Tilbrook, (14 Jun 1848 - 9 Sep 1937 at age 89)
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Betsy (Tilbrook) Smith, (5 Jun 1850 - 1 Oct 1936)
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Mary (Tilbrook) Tilbrook, (8 Dec 1851 - 20 Dec 1929 at age 78)
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Josephine (Tilbrook) Williamson, (18 Feb 1853 - 14 Jul 1943)
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Emily Tilbrook (29 Nov 1854 - 27 Apr 1855) and
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Godfrey Alexander Genery Tilbrook (18 Sep 1860 - 2 Jul 1932 at age 71)
Henry Hammond (Harry) Tilbrook was married on New Year's Day, 1870, at Christ Church, North Adelaide, to Miss Marianne Clode, daughter of the late Richard and Charlotte Clode, who had come from Windsor (England) five years before to settle in North Adelaide.
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Marianne Clode was born on 5 June 1848 in Windsor, Berkshire, England, the daughter of Richard George Clode (1815 - 18 Jun 1892) and Charlotte Noke (1816 - 27 Sep 1889),
and the sister of...
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Charlotte (Clode) Dawson, (1836 - 23 Jan 1915 at about age 79)
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Henry Clode, (1838 - 6 Jun 1920 at about age 82)
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Isabella Anne (Clode) Brinkworth, (1841 - 25 Mar 1891 at about age 50)
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Charles Clode, (1842 - 17 Jul 1911 at about age 69)
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Thomas Clode, (1844 - 8 Sep 1919 at about age 75)
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Alfred John Clode (Born 1846) worked on the Argus in Clare, went to Japan, emigrated to USA 1883,
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married 7 Jan 1870 to Marion, third daughter of Mr. Wm. Martyn, late of Devonshire, (four children, Ada, Reuben, Charley, Edna)
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died 5 Jan 1934, Bellingham, Whatcom, Washington USA
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Marianne Clode, who married H.H. Tilbrook (born 5 June 1848 - 15 Dec 1906, Clare)
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Ada (Clode) Tilbrook. (16 Jul 1850 - 22 Dec 1935 at age 85)
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His wife Marianne died on 15 December 1906 at Clare, South Australia
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Henry Hammond Tilbrook died on 9 September 1937 at St Peters St. East Adelaide.[2]
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His remains were brought to Clare on Saturday 18 Sept 1937 and interred in the Clare cemetery.
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The Rev. H. J. C. Hughes (Anglican), of Unley, conducted the burial service.
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Henry Tilbrook had a brother Godfrey who lived in Molong in New South Wales between 1911 and 1932:
Godfrey Alexander Genery Tilbrook (1860 - 1932), photographer,
Born 18 Sep 1860 in North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Died 2 Jul 1932 at age 71 in Orange Hospital, NSW, Australia
Their children are: —
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Mr. R. H. Tilbrook, of Clare, who held the mayoralty in 1907-8-9. and had six sons and two daughters. including Alan Tilbrook. (see below)
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and Mrs. Florence (Siss) S. Lloyd, of Spring Farm, Clare (Lloyd homestead).
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Bertram Hammond (Tillbrook) Tilbrook (8 Mar 1876 - 3 May 1876)
Born and died in Clare, South Australia, Australia.
His brother Alfred was survived by a large family:
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Mrs. J. Stockdale (Laura),
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Mrs. C. A. Harder (Melbourne),
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Mrs. S. Moody (Maitland),
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Mr. L. N. Tilbrook (Mayor of Kapunda and proprietor of the 'Kapunda Herald'),
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Mr. Albert George Tilbrook (Sydney),
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Miss Eva Tilbrook (Clare),
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and Miss M. F. Tilbrook (Clare),
and a large number of grand-children.
Henry had 10 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
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The late Mr. Alan H. Tilbrook, who died at Clare on December 21, 1932, was the fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Tilbrook, and had attained the age of 33 years, being born at Clare. He later took up a garden property near Clare, also acting as agent for Messrs. Coles' Bros.
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He was a councillor for Armagh Ward in the Clare District Council for some years and was a councillor at the time of his demise.
