HISTORY OF THE HALL FAMILY.
DESCENDENTS OF THOMAS and ELIZABETH HALL.
Thomas Hall lived in Liverpool, England and arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the "Navarino" in November, 1849 with his wife
Elizabeth and son Peter. Thomas and Elizabeth both lived and farmed at
"Halldale" near Riverton, S.Aust. till their deaths in 1893 and 1867 respectively.
Peter Hall was born at 12 Trafalger St. Liverpool, the youngest son on 5th.August 1841. He was working as a storekeeper at Moonta Mine Moonta, S.Aust. when married Hellen Mary Gaskell on 21st.December 1864 at the Congregational
Chapel, Kadina, S.Aust. A witness to the marriage as indicated on wedding certificate
was a Robert Wilson Hall, a farmer of Riverton, S.A. and it is possible that he was a brother or stepbrother of Peter. It is probable that
both Peter and Robert came out to Australia together.
Helen's parent's were John Gaskell and Martha Scholes who came from Manchester, U.K. and the family arrived in South Australia in January, 1847. John left S.A. and went to the Bendigo and Ballarat gold rush. He made a reasonable fortune and took up farming but a
succession of droughts caused this venture to fail and they returned to Kadina where John became a schoolteacher and later became
a Stipendary Magistrate. John passed away on 17th. January 1890 and is
buried in Kadina cementery.
Peter became a painter and decorator and with his family moved to Adelaide where he fell off a ladder onto his tailbone which finally
caused him to die with cancer of the rectum at the early age of 45 years. His youngest child Peter Rioden Hall was only 15 months
old at this time. Peter and Helen had 11 children and our grandfather Frank Hall was the 2nd. child born. Peter Rioden Hall, the
last child born, enlisted in the A.I.F. and was in the Medical Corp. and served at "GALLIPOLI" aboard the S.S.Seong Choon which served as
a landing ship for the troops and then as a hospital ship to take the
wounded from the trenches. Helen lived in Adelaide till 1900 when she moved to Fremantle to be with some of her children. She
stayed there for 6 years before leaving and moving to Lidcombe in Sydney,
N.S.W. where she lived till her death on 11th. September 1925.Peter Rioden Hall's account of this period of time whilst
the landing at "GALLIPOLLI" was in progress is documented in a letter
that the wrote at that time which describes the trials and anquisk caused during this bloody encounter of our Australian History. Peter never
married and died in Perth,W.A. on 18th. December 1963.Frank Hall was born at Walleroo,S.A. on 30th. April 1867 and
also became a painter and decorator like his father Peter. He married
Minnie Davies (born 13th. February 1870, Fulham/London,U.K.) on 22nd. May 1900 at St. Luke's Church of England, Whitmore Square,
Adelaide.They moved to Fremantle aboard the S.S.Bunninyong in March1901. Herbert Davies Hall was born at sea off the West Australian
coast near Albany during this voyage on 4th. March 1901. Following the birth of their second child Frederick Davies Hall on 24th.December 1905 the family moved to Sydney in 1906. Several of the
children of Peter and Helen remained and lived in Perth till their death many years
later. The family lived in Dulwich Hill for sometime and both Herbert and
Frederick attended the Public School at Dulwich Hill. They moved to Lidcombe and lived in Dudley St. till Herbert married Myra Florence
Langley on 22nd. March 1924. Frank and Minnie Hall moved to Woolwich where Frank was working at Mort's Dock. Following his retirement
they moved to a home in Cavill St. Harbord. Frank passed away on 7th.April 1934. Minnie continued to live at Harbord for many years before
moving to live with her son Fred who was boarding with Eric and Rene Spedding at Wentworthville. Minnie passed away at Wentworthville on
4th. July 1957. Following the death of Eric Spedding, Fred and Rene married an lived at Narrabeen till Fred's death on 29th. September1976.Herbert Davies Hall completed his Q.C. whilst he was a pupil
at Dulwich Hill Public School in 1915. He further obtained a
Certificate of Proficiency at the Commercial Evening Continuation School at Petersham in May 1917. He was awarded a Scholarship
to attend the Parramatta High School in March 1915. At this time the
family were residing at 15 Fischer's Reserve, Dulwich Hill, (Petersham). Herbert commenced work with Sargood Gardiners inYork St. City and continued with this firm till he resigned in 1958.
Herbert and Myra Florence Langley were married at the Langley's residence "Stockwell" 100 Waters Rd. Auburn. Three son's were born to
Bert and Myra, Rueben died at childbirth, Gordon Langley and Frank Langley, twins born on 12th July 1926 at "Stockwell", 100 Waters Rd.
Auburn. During W.W.II. Herbert served in the R.A.A.F. in the administrative area and was posted overseas in the later part of the
war. Saw service on Goodenough Island and at Tarakan. Following the death of Myra Hall on 25th. February 1958, Herbert was remarried at
Mona Vale to Phyllis Sherwood on 31st. December 1959. In 1929 the Hall family moved to Harbord from Lidcombe into a new full brick home
which had been built at 98 Harbord Rd. Harbord. Both Gordon and Frank lived there till they were married. After his marriage to
Phyl. the family home was sold and Herbert lived at Mona Vale with Phyllis and her father who was still living.(31 Waterview St.) A small grocery store
was bought but did not prove to be a success and was finally sold. Herbert retired and lived at Mona Vale till he passed away in a
Nursing home at Mona Vale on 29th. May 1986. Myra Florence Hall (Langley) was the 7th. child born to William and
Maria Langley at Lidcombe on 26th, October 1892. Both Herbert and Myra were members of the Church Young Fellowship Group and this is where
they first met. Herbert was residing at Dudley St. Lidcombe during this period. Myra had a very close relationship with her family and
played tennis in her early life. In her later years she suffered from illness and passed away in her sleep on 25th. February 1958 at 98
Harbord Rd. Harbord. Both sons were brought up in a strict and religious
atmosphere. They attended Harbord Primary School and then progressed to Manly
Boys High School. Gordon sat for and passed a Pre-apprenticeship examination and completed his last year in high school at the Crow's
Nest Technical School as part of the Pre-apprenticeship course. After school Gordon started work at Bradley Bros. in Wentworth Ave.
City, and then applied for an apprenticeship with the Railway Dept. which he commenced in January 1942 at the Eveleigh Workshops. During
the last year of his apprenticeship he was selected to work in the drawing office at Eveleigh and finally at the Chief Mechanical
Engineer's office at York St. Wynyard from where he resigned to take up a position with Electrolytic Zinc Co. Rosebery, Tasmania in
1951 as a detail draftsman. During this time he married Shirley Hyett, youngest daughter of Thomas James and Eva Lily Hyett of 13
Park Ave. Neutral Bay on 8th. January 1949 at C.of E. Cremorne. Marilyn Sandra was born on 18th. January 1950 at the
Mater Misercordia Hospital, Crow's Nest. With his wife Shirley, and Marilyn, they went to live in Rosebery
and lived there for 5 1/2 years. Four other children were born during this period, James Herbert (12-06-1951) at Mater Miscercordia
Hospital, Crow's Nest, Vicky (15-09-1952) and Rhonda (20-09-1952) twin girls born at Zeehan hospital in unusual circumstances. There
was 5 1/2 days between the birth of the twin girls and this created considerable interest at the time. Zeehan hospital being in a fairly
isolated area of the state did not have the facilities of the more modern hospitals and the resident Doctor (Dr. Parkinson) did a
remarkable job under the circumstances to save the both the mother and the second twin Rhonda. "The Twins were Identical". Brian Russell
was born at Rosebery Hospital on 29th, October 1955. The travelling arrangements during this period were also not the
best as Rosebery township was completely isolated from other townships as there were no roads connecting it to other towns.
The only means of transport available was the Railmotor service
(Emu Bay Railway) from Burnie on the North West coast which commuted daily to Zeehan on the West coast and return to Burnie the same day. For
anyone to get to hospital in Zeehan it was necessary to be transported by rail ambulance from Rosebery.
The family left Rosebery to live in Penguin on the North West coast in April 1956. The connecting links in the roads were still not
completed at this time and were not in service till 1957 when the road from Burnie was finally completed.
Gordon commenced work at Australian Titan Products in April 1956 as a design draftsman and continued there till 1970 having attained the positions of Construction Engineer during the building of the No.2 Process Building and Plant Extensions and finally as a Plant Engineer. During this period Shirley worked at Woolworth's in Ulverstone as Head girl and then as Manageress of Pease's Shoe store.
In 1969 fibreglass material's were commencing to be introduced to Australian industries as a chemical resistance material. Through contacts with engineers from Ceilcote P/l, a position was offered with them as a Technical Services Engineer in their Devonport plant and this was accepted and Gordon commenced work with Ceilcote in January 1970. This resulted in a considerable amount of travelling throughout Tasmania and other states of Australia. The company expanded to both Victoria, New South Wales in 1972 and following the resignation of the N.S.W. manager in 1974, it was decided to open up a full Sales Office in Sydney and Gordon was transferred with position of State Manager, N.S.W. Part of the family moved back to Sydney after being in Tasmania for 24 years. The eldest daughter was married on 19th. April 1969 at Penguin, Tas. to John Holthouse and a grandson David William was born on 12th. July 1972 at Burnie Hospital. A second child Ian was born on 11th. May 1974 at Burnie Hospital.
Rhonda, one of the twins, married Victor Smith on 4th. March 1972, also at Penguin, Tas. A granddaughter Sue Ann was born on 17th. February 1973 at the Burnie Hospital. Grant was born on 7th. June 1976 and Dean was born on 2nd. March 1979, both at the Burnie Hospital. Following the return to Sydney in early February 1974, it was necessary to return to Tasmania in March for the weddings of James Herbert to Carol Skipworth on the 9th. March 1974 at Ulverstone, and then again on the 13th. April 1974 for the wedding of the other twin Vicky to Tony Eastley of Burnie at Penguin, Tas.
Matthew was born to James and Carol on 9th. June 1975 at Ulverstone Hospital. Vicky and Tony had two daughters, Narelle born on 7th. September 1976 and Carmen born on 12th. January 1979, both born at Burnie Hospital.
Initially we lived at Warren Ave, Gray's Point till a suitable residence was found and we moved into 13 Mercedes Place, Kareela in December 1974. Brian lived with us till his marriage to Dianna Dryvers at Moruya on 7th. January 1978. A daughter was born on 18th. March 1987, Morgan Apriel, at Sutherland Hospital. Whilst located in Sydney with Ceilcote as N.S.W. Manager and Construction Manager considerable travelling was necessary both around Australia and overseas. A large contract was accepted in Singapore, this required frequent visits. A Sales Office was finally opened in Singapore in 1976/77. We also contracted to line several large chemical storage tanks at "Qurrayah" Saudi Arabia in 1978 and this was visited before the contract commenced.
In December, 1983 a Technical Seminar was held at Ceilcote's head office in Berea, Ohio, U.S.A. and I was able to attend. It was
fortunate that it was possible during the eight week trip to travel around the world from east to west via Hawaii, San Francisco, New York, Cleveland, Florida, Chicago, Philadelphia, London, Bahrain and
Singapore. During a week in London several visit to St. Catherine's Registry Office enable several certificate's relating to both the
Hall and Langley families to be obtained. Jim and Carol were divorced on 31st. August 1981 and Jim married to Helen Margeret White on 16th. April 1982 at Diamond Creek, Melbourne.
Breighton John was born on 1st. February 1983 in Melbourne. Helen had two sons from her previous marriage and both Michael and Adam were
adopted by Jim early in his marriage to Helen. Marilyn was divorced from John Holthouse in 1986 and married
Michael Newton on 3rd.November 1990 at Burnie, Tas. In September 1984 the Sydney office of Ceilcote was closed and
Gordon was transferred back to Devonport. Both Gordon and Shirley moved to Ulverstone to live. Brian and Dianna moved into the home at
13 Mercedes Place. Transfield's of Sydney bought out the Ceilcote company in January 1985 and Gordon was once again transferred to
Sydney and moved back to Kareela in March 1985. Gordon continued to work for Transfield at their Seven Hill plant and their Port Kembla
plant till he retired in July 1987.
The house at Kareela was sold and a home at No. 3 Teal Place, Sussex Inlet was bought and both Gordon and Shirley moved to live there in July 1987. After living there for 9 years it was decided to return to Tasmania to live as the 3 daughters had for a number of years been asking both Mum and Dad to return. Finally in April of 1996 Gordon and Shirley Hall bought a home at 55 Trevor St. Ulverstone and moved in on 27th. April 1996.
FRANK LANGLEY HALL. 1926 -- 1989
Following schooling Frank started work as an apprentice printer with a firm in Barhurst St. City and shortly after transferred to Associated Newspapers in Phillip St. He worked till he joined the R.A.A.F. in 1944. He returned to "The Sun" after the end of the war. He resigned from "The Sun" and commenced work with George Patterson's the printers of "The Bulletin" and after many years left to join the Government Advertising Service at North Sydney. He became involved in the "T.V." industry with the G.A.S. and through his connections with George Patterson's he was offered a lucrative position in Perth, W.A. He accepted and made the move to W.A. in 1984.
Frank married Ruth Osborne of Balgowlah at Manly on 22nd. January 1949. Three children were born:- Wayne Langley born on 04-01-1950, Peter Gibson born on 15-07-1951, and Phillipa Ruth born on 20-07-1958. All were born at the Manly District Hospital. Frank and Ruth were divorced in 1968 and Frank remarried Margeret Gwendolyn Dale on 11-05-1968. Two children were born of this issue, Christopher John on 05-04-1972 at Manly Hospital, Jacqueline Louise on 09-04-1974 at Nepean District Hospital, Penrith. Several unfortunate incidents occurred during Frank's lifetime. Firstly his break up of marriage from Ruth, and secondly the lost of his second wife Margeret in a car accident at West Wyalong. Margeret and the children , Christopher and Jacqueline were enroute to Perth via car to take up residence there with Frank, following his acceptance of a position in Perth. Margeret was killed when the car collided with a tree, the children survived the accident. Frank raised the children by himself in Perth which was fairly traumatic as Christopher was barely 12 years and Jacqueline was only 10 years old. Frank eventually resigned from the firm he had joined to go to Perth and commenced his own Media Advertising Co. It is probable that the illness which finally caused Frank's early death was brought on by the stress and strain of the last few years of his life.
Both Christopher and Jacqueline were orphaned by Frank's passing and this created a major problem. Fortunately Frank's eldest child of his first marriage had kept in constant touch with his father and following the realisation of Frank's imminent health condition, arrangements were made for Frank and the children to return to N.S.W. post haste. Wayne and Gail accepted the responsibility of guardians for the children and they now reside at Kempsey following Frank's death on 12-01-1989 at Kempsey.
Frank was a very keen gemstone collector and with his wife Margaret and children went fossicking for gemstones whenever it was possible. He was involved with the Lapidary Clubs in N.S.W. and was President of several clubs before becoming the State President of N.S.W.. He was honoured by the N.S.W. Lapidary Clubs by being made the first Life Member in N.S.W. He also was the Federal President of the Australian Federation of Lapidary and Allied Craft Association during 1979-80.