Early Life of H.H. Tilbrook
- ruwoltjon
- Jun 29
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 10
Courtesy of the S.A. State Library, Harry Tilbrook's seven transcribed Journals and Memoranda are now available, revealing his journalist skills and immensely good memory of all his exploits and friendships.
The Northern Argus had been founded by H.H. Tilbrook (aged 21) in February, 1867; and had been owned by the Tilbrook family until a decade ago.
Henry (Harry) Hammond Tilbrook and his parents came from Wales to Port Adelaide as free settlers in 1854.
Lost in London when a Child. – Temple Bar. – 1854
While staying in London, England, at an aunt’s, with my father and mother, I was lost in the great City of London. That was about the end of August in the year 1854. I was then about six years of age.
A servant girl working for my aunt took three of us – my brothers and my insignificant self – out with her through the streets.
Aunt lived in a ‘Place’, a sort of side-court with a flagged floor, but no roadway. All the houses were many storeys high.
We had just come from the country. My father, Peter Tilbrook, had paid £150 for our passages out to South Australia, and we were on the point of embarking on the wooden sailing ship Albemarle.
FROM LLANGFORDA TO LONDON.
Through the Black Country to London. – My father having decided to leave England for South Australia, we left Llangforda – situated not far from Oswestry – for London. Railways had not long been in existence then.
My father had walked over the Britannia Tubular Railway Bridge, built by Robert Stephenson across the Strait of Menai, between the Island of Anglesey and the main land of North Wales, Carnarvonshire.
That bridge was built in 1850, and we were journeying on one of the railways from Wales to London only four years later – in 1854.
I remember going through what I think was the ‘Black Country’, but of that I am not
sure.
At any rate there were great factory chimneys, with clouds of black smoke hovering over all – making a dismal picture after picturesque Llangforda and Llangedwyn.
Being only six years of age, the journey was an awesome one to me. We went through the Bath Tunnel, which was said to be three miles long. The train took five minutes to pass through it.
Arriving in London, my father paid for our passages in the ship Albemarle, in the meantime lodging in that city with my aunt.
– FROM ENGLAND TO AUSTRALIA. –
– 1854 The Voyage from England. –
We got aboard the good ship Albemarle, and left London Docks in her on the 11th of August, 1854. Although only a small vessel of seven hundred and odd tons, the Albemarle was a fullrigged ship of three masts.
She sailed around to Plymouth Portsmouth to obtain barrels of fresh water. At Portsmouth we saw Nelson’s immortal ship The Victory upon which man-of-war he finished his great and glorious career at the Battle of Trafalgar on October 21st, 1815.
She was a noble sight, with her high decks and tall masts. There was a great crush of shipping at Portsmouth, and I thought the big ships there were going to run us down. Hot words passed between our captain and the captain of a large ship which towered above us. The big dog wanted the little dog to get out of the way; but the little dog wouldn’t!
Pictured: young (Bishop) Augustus Short (1847), and daughter Isabella Short (1860)
Bishop Short came aboard at Portsmouth, for he and his family were also coming out to Australia. He was the first Bishop of Adelaide, and was consecrated at Westminster Abbey in 1847.
He was a short, sturdy man, with a rather irascible temper. He was a good boxer, well understanding the ‘noble art of self-defence.’ In fact, he once, in Australia, gave a bullock-puncher a taste of his fists.
I well remember seeing Mrs Short, Miss Short, and Miss Albinia Short being hauled up from the little rowing boat on to the deck of the ship in a chair which swung high up into the air.
The men climbed up the side steps or gangway.
To read on, go to the page Tilbrooks leave London
Summary Page: H H Tilbrook
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