Hello Denise, I'mnot sure about sawmils , but... At 21:41 01-09-05 +1000, Denise wrote: >A few months ago I asked about Saw mills/ers in the area around Trentham. > >I am wondering if anyone has any knowledge of the firm of McLean Bros & >Rigg who among other things operated a lumber business in Western >Australia and had other operations around the world. McLean Brothers & Rigg were a very early firm, by 1888 the managing directors were William and Oliver McLean,. In the very early days they were importers of ironware. In 1888 they advertised (with four business sites around Melbourne) as "Importers of ironware, metal merchants, wholesale and retail ironmongers, iron & wire merchants" Another McLean Brothers (no Rigg) operated as tanners and leather merchants, Lonsdale St Melb, with tanneries at Northcote and Longford in Gippsland. No mention of Trentham. Of course they used bark in the tanning process. I'll check earlier directories to see if they list Trentham in their advertisements at an earlier date, if you want I think such a large firm would be listed in one of the late 1880s encyclopaedias I'll check if you need it? >My subject was C. Dockendorff and he worked for this firm in WA. He is >also known to have lived in Trentham sometime during the 1880s until his >death 1887. There is a Christopher Dockendorff listed in 1888 at 27 Thomas St Prahran. Is this is your man? If so I'll check the Melbourne directories backwards for you, if you want. Regards, Ada >Hoping someone knows if McLean Bros & Rigg had a mill in the area. >regards >Denise > > >==== AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS Mailing List ==== >Practice good internet genealogy - always be polite plus say 'thank you' > > > > >-- >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. >Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.18/88 - Release Date: 01-09-05 regards, Ada Ackerly, Melbourne, Australia formerly Ackerly DocuSearch -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.18/88 - Release Date: 01-09-05

Hi Ada, Many thanks for replying. Chris' obit tells me that he worked for McLean Bro & Rigg in (jarrah) the firm's large sawmilling business in W.Australia. I'm trying to pinpoint the timeframe, but it would have been I am sure in late 70s or 1880s. WE know Chris, an old sawmiller himself, was in Trentham sometime prior to his death in1887 - I guess the Directory information may have been collected during the year of his death to be included in 1888 - and yes he lived in Prahran at time of death although not at that address - perhaps 1888 was his son. I know he was on a ship to Melbourne in 1879 from W.A., so his working time over there is likely to have been around that time, and perhaps a few years either side. The information I have indicates he was in Trenthan not long before his death and it is only now that I have found out about McLean & Briggs in W.A. and that sawmilling business, so wonder if he "transferred" to one owned by McL and Briggs. ##. I'll check earlier directories to see if they list Trentham in > their advertisements at an earlier date, if you want. ##I think such a large firm would be listed in one of the late 1880s > encyclopaedias I'll check if you need it? ## If so I'll check the Melbourne directories backwards > for you, if you want. Fantastic Ada, that would be a great help, we may find something that indicates when he moved to Prahran and hopefully something on Trentham. Much appreciated, as usual your knowledge is fantastic. regards Denise