Charles William Chapman

Obituary

Mr. Charles William Chapman who was widely known for many years in mining and pastoral circles died yesterday, aged 83 years. He was the son of a former Chief Justice of New Zealand, and was one of the foundation pupils of the Melbourne Grammar School. When he left school he entered pastoral life with the late Mr. C. H. Barbour, whose daughter he married. Mr. Chapman bought a station in the Riverina at the time when cattle raising was giving place to woolgrowing. After several successful years in New Zealand he met misfortune with Queensland property. He was attracted to Bendigo by a gold boom about 1878, and became secretary of one of the ore-treating companies, being among the first to use the Newbery-Vautin chlorination process. In preparation for his work in metallurgy Mr. Chapman studied at the Bendigo School of Mines, where he met Sir John Higgins, who was his friend and partner in business for more than 50 years. In partnership with Sir John Higgins he engaged in prospecting ventures as widely separated as the Solomon Islands and North Australia. Leaving Bendigo Mr. Chapman bought the Cascade Brewery at Hobart. As an instance of his versatility it is mentioned that he studied the chemistry of brewing, and for several years was his own brewer. Returning to Melbourne during the silver boom at the end of the last century he entered the firm of Chapman and Wakley, which floated many of the silver-lead companies in Australia. This firm also operated silver-lead refineries at Dry Creek (SA ). Associated again with Sir John Higgins Mr. Chapman later acquired pastoral property in Queensland and New South Wales, selling out in 1910. From that year Mr. Chapman had lived in retirement. He made two trips abroad. He was an enthusiastic field geologist, and was also an authority on Australian timbers. He was one of the founders of the Metropolitan Golf Club in 1901. He leaves four sons -Messrs, Harry, John, William and George Chapman and three married daughters - Mrs. H. Brougham, Mrs. W. Winter-Irving, and Mrs. W. Purves Smith. Mrs Chapman died several months ago.

Source: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/4043622

Updated from MyHeritage Family Trees via brother Frederick Revans Chapman by SmartCopy: Aug 28 2015, 22:44:28 UTC

Updated from MyHeritage Family Trees by SmartCopy: Aug 29 2015, 0:13:20 UTC