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{{short description |Manufacturer of soap, candles etc.}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}}
'''W. H. Burford and Sons''' was a soap and candle-making business founded in [[Adelaide, South Australia|Adelaide]] in 1840 by '''[[#W. H. Burford|William Henville Burford]]''' (1807–1895), an English butcher who arrived in the new colony in 1838. It was one of the earliest soapmakers in Australia, and up to the 1960s when it closed, the oldest.
In 1878 he took his two sons Benjamin and William into partnership as W. H. Burford & Sons.<ref name=archive>{{cite web|url=http://archivescollection.anu.edu.au/index.php/wh-burford-and-sons-ltdhttp://archivescollection.anu.edu.au/index.php/wh-burford-and-sons-ltd|publisher=Australian National University|title=Archives: WH Burford and Sons Ltd|access-date=24 January 2018}}</ref>
Its expansion, (in the latter part of the 19th century and early part of the 20th century, at the hands of son '''[[#William Burford|William Burford]]''') accompanied by a number of takeovers, made it the dominant soap manufacturer in [[South Australia]] and [[Western Australia]]. Its founders were noted public figures in the young city of Adelaide.
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==W. H. Burford and Sons==
 
===Factories===
W. H. Burford's first factory was on the corner of [[Grenfell Street]] and [[East Terrace]], later the site of an Adelaide Electric Supply Company's building, (AESC became the [[Electricity Trust of South Australia|Electricity Trust of S.A.]] – ETSA – in 1946) and in 1989, the [[Tandanya]] aboriginalNational culturalAboriginal centreCultural Institute]].{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}
Initially it was little more than a tin shed staffed by half-a-dozen workers. During one of the recessions that faced the colony, Burford was forced to sell the land then lease it back to keep the business running.<!--prob. 1841; found the name of the guy he was renting from while reading up on protests against his smells but failed to take note of it.-->▼
 
▲Initially it was little more than a tin shed staffedin by half-a-dozen workersvacant field. During one of the recessions that faced the colony, Burford was forced to sell the land then lease it back to keep the business running.<!--prob.{{citation 1841;needed|date=April found the name of the guy he was renting from while reading up on protests against his smells but failed to take note of it.-->2019}}
The second factory, opened in 1900 at [[Sturt Street, Adelaide|Sturt Street]], previously owned by competitor [[Tidmarsh & Co]],<ref name=jubilee/> occupied 4 acres of floor space ( 19,000 sq yards / 16,000m<sup>2</sup> / 1.6 hectares ) and employing over 200 men. Its most salient feature was the brick chimney – 152&nbsp;ft 4in (46.5m) in height and a flue diameter of 4&nbsp;ft (1.2m), and still standing (though no longer used). The boiler room housed four boilers, one of which was 27&nbsp;ft long and 7&nbsp;ft 6in in diameter (8.2m x 2.3m) and the largest to have been built in South Australia. The still-room had six large stills: four for distillation of stearine and two for glycerine. The building was organised so that manufacture started on the top floor and progressed by chutes or conveyors to the second floor for wrapping and packaging, thence to the ground floor, all with a minimum of handling.<ref name=industrial>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54444359 An Immense Industrial Concern] ''South Australian Register'' 9 June 1900 p.4 accessed 5 July 2011</ref> The smell emanating from the Sturt Street factory, despite installation of deep drainage, was the source of much complaint from neighbours.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197784285 |title=The Burford Soap-Factory Case |newspaper=[[Evening Journal (Adelaide)]] |volume=XV, |issue=4338 |location=South Australia |date=6 April 1883 |accessdate=5 May 2017 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>▼
 
▲The second factory, opened in 1900 at [[Sturt Street, Adelaide|Sturt Street]], previously owned by competitor [[Tidmarsh & Co]],<ref name=jubilee>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26764881 Messrs W. H. Burford & Co's (sic) Jubilee] ''The Advertiser'' 4 November 1890 p.6 accessed 8 July 2011</ref> occupied 4 acres of floor space ( 19,000 sq yards / 16,000m<sup>2</sup> / 1.6 hectares ) and employingemployed over 200 men. Its most salient feature was the brick chimney – 152&nbsp;ft 4in (46.5m) in height and a flue diameter of 4&nbsp;ft (1.2m), and still standing (though no longer used). The boiler room housed four boilers, one of which was 27&nbsp;ft long and 7&nbsp;ft 6in in diameter (8.2m x 2.3m) and the largest to have been built in South Australia. The still-room had six large stills: four for distillation of stearine and two for glycerine. The building was organised so that manufacture started on the top floor and progressed by chutes or conveyors to the second floor for wrapping and packaging, thence to the ground floor, all with a minimum of handling.<ref name=industrial>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54444359 An Immense Industrial Concern] ''South Australian Register'' 9 June 1900 p.4 accessed 5 July 2011</ref> The smell emanating from the Sturt Street factory, despite installation of deep drainage, was the source of much complaint from neighbours.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197784285 |title=The Burford Soap-Factory Case |newspaper=[[Evening Journal (Adelaide)]] |volume=XV, |issue=4338 |location=South Australia |date=6 April 1883 |accessdateaccess-date=5 May 2017 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
In 1887 Burfords took over Apollo Soap Ltd of Adam Street, [[Hindmarsh, South Australia|Hindmarsh]]. The factory, which continued to be called the "Apollo Works", was the site of work mostly peripheral to the core business of soap and candle making, such as rendering down of animal fats and grinding of corn, bone, starch and blacking. These premises were destroyed by fire on 25 December 1907.▼
 
▲In 1887 Burfords took over Apollo Soap Ltd of Adam Street, [[Hindmarsh, South Australia|Hindmarsh]]. The factory, which continued to be called the "Apollo Works", was the site of work mostly peripheral to the core business of soap and candle making, such as rendering down of animal fats and grinding of corn, bone, starch and blacking, and the manufacture of wooden packing crates. In 1888 they took over [[Frearson's Printing Works]], whose factory was also on Adam Street.<ref name=archive/> These premises were destroyed by fire on 25 December 1907.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article208978845 |title=The Apollo Works |newspaper=[[The Express and Telegraph]] |volume=XLV |issue=13,286 |location=South Australia |date=26 December 1907 |access-date=26 April 2019 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
In 1888 they took over [[Frearson's Printing Works]], whose factory was also on Adam Street.<ref name=archive/>
 
AfterIn February 1919 the Sturt Street premises were destroyed by fire.<ref name=tremendous>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5627256 |title=A Tremendous Fire |newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)]] |volume=LXI |issue=18,816 |location=South Australia |date=3 February 1919 |access-date=26 April 2019 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Rather than rebuild in the city, a new factory was then set up in [[Dry Creek, South Australia|Dry Creek]] near the [[Dry Creek railway station|railway station]] where there had once been a smelter.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37521180 A Fine New Factory] ''The Advertiser'' 16 June 1920 p.9 accessed 8 July 2011</ref> Manufacture resumed in 1922. Much was made at the time of a model suburb to serve employees of the soap works and the nearby abattoirs. "Burford Garden Suburb" as it was named, was designed by W. J. Earle, the town planner behind Cadbury's model town at [[Claremont, Tasmania]].<ref name=new>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63645055 An Old-Established Business] ''The Register'' 31 May 1922 p.8 accessed 4 July 2011</ref> The Dry Creek lots were snapped up immediately they were offered for sale.<ref name=gardens>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63775003 Burford Gardens – Wonderful Public Enthusiasm] ''The Mail'' 14 April 1923 p.1 accessed 8 July 2011</ref> The greater part of the Sturt Street property was sold around the same time.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63777305 Factories, Garages, Foundries and Workshops] ''The Mail'' 28 April 1923 p.1 accessed 8 July 2011</ref> "Burford Gardens" as the name of a suburb has since vanished, though its streets remain: Flame Avenue, Gum Avenue, Wattle Avenue, Grevillea Avenue and Bushwood Avenue, all in what is now known as [[Dry Creek, South Australia|Dry Creek]].<ref name=gardens/>
 
In Western Australia, the [[Victoria Park, Western Australia|Victoria Park]] factory opened in 1897. After taking over the Swan Soap and Candle Company Ltd., the [[North Fremantle, Western Australia|Rocky Bay]] factory opened in 1899,<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32459248 Popular Laundry Soaps] ''The West Australian'' 8 June 1933 p.7 accessed 8 July 2011</ref> and [[Kalgoorlie, Western Australia|Kalgoorlie]] factories opened later.
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===Public nuisance===
When Burford's soapworks and Peacock's tannery were founded on Grenfell Street, there were no residences nearby; nothing but virgin bushland. But as the population grew nearby (and to some extent attracted by the businesses), the number of complaints about smells grew until, in 1866, a case was brought against Burford in the Supreme Court. The jury appeared to be convinced by the argument that the complainants had chosen to build knowing what trades were carried on there so had no right to complain, and found for the defendant.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41027645 Supreme Court] ''South Australian Register'' 8 September 1866 p.3 accessed 7 July 2011</ref>
 
The Council had other plans. In 1919 it offered Burfords £12,000 as an incentive to move out of the city altogether. The offer was turned down, so the Council amended the Health Act to prohibit such industries,<ref name=acc>http{{cite web|url=https://www.adelaidecitycouncilcityofadelaide.com.au/adccwrassets/publications/reports_plansdocuments/city_of_adelaide_thematic_history.pdf|title=City of Adelaide - a Thematic History |author=McDougall & Vines |date=August 2006 |publisher=Adelaide City Council |access-date=26 April 2019}}</ref> then the fire engulfed the factory<ref name=tremendous/> and the Dry Creek facility moved a big step towards reality.
 
===Fires===
In 1885 a fire which started in a timber yard in Grenfell Street and East Terrace spread to Burford's factory, which was destroyed. This led to the establishment of a factory in Sturt Street.<ref name=obit>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63716968 Mr. W. Burford – a Large-Hearted Citizen] ''The Register'' 7 March 1925 p.13 accessed 4 July 2011</ref><!-- a better ref than [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article46189016 Death of Mr. W. Burford] -->
 
On 25 December 1907, the factory on Adam Street, Hindmarsh, "The Apollo Works" was destroyed in one of the greatest fires in Adelaide's history, along with neighbouring skin dealers Wilcox and Co. in RiverTorrens Street (thennow Torrensnamed River Street). The nearby factory of [[G. H. Michell & Sons]] and David Reid's tannery suffered lesser damage.<ref>Parsons, Ronald ''Hindmarsh Town'' Corporation of the Town of Hindmarsh, South Australia, 1974 {{ISBN|0-9598793-0-7}}</ref>
 
In 1919 the works bounded by [[Sturt Street, Adelaide|Sturt]], [[Gilbert Street, Adelaide|Gilbert]], Norman and Russell Streets in the [[Adelaide city centre|city]] were destroyed by fire<ref name=tremendous/> and a new factory was then set up in Dry Creek; the office area was rebuilt and the rest sold.
 
===Competitors===
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===Merger and Acquisition===
In 1924, [[Lever and Kitchen]] and W. H. Burford & Sons formed Australian Producers Partnership Pty Ltd. Burford ordinary shares were held by Lever and Kitchen; around 1962 after a few more takeovers the parent company was renamed Unilever.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://museumvictoria.com.au/collections/themes/2191/lever-kitchen-pty-ltd-personal-care-product-manufacturers-sydney-new-south-wales|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102060128/http://museumvictoria.com.au/collections/themes/2191/lever-kitchen-pty-ltd-personal-care-product-manufacturers-sydney-new-south-wales|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 November 2012|title=Lever & Kitchen Pty Ltd, Personal Care Product Manufacturers, Sydney, New South Wales|publisher=}}</ref> The Burford's factory was still running profitably in the mid-50s, and the factory at Dry Creek was still listed as such in 1962; the office at 83 Sturt Street still bore the Burford's name, alongside that of its nominal owner J. Kitchen & Sons Ltd, Rexona Pty. Ltd. and Lever Brothers Pty. Ltd.<ref name=sandm/>
 
<!-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->
 
==W. H. Burford==
[[File:W.H.Burford-1890-B7109.jpg|thumb|William Henville Burford – Soap Manufacturer. ca.1890]]
<!-- http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/07250/B7109.htm – William Henville Burford – Soap Manufacturer. ca.1890 -->
'''William Henville Burford''' (24 January 1807 – 23 October 1895) was an apprenticed butcher with some experience as a tallow merchant and chandler in Cannon Street, [[St George in the East (parish)|St George's East]], in the [[East End of London]]. In 1838 he emigrated to [[South Australia]] for his health's sake with his wife and three daughters on the ''[[Pestonjee Bomanjee]]'', arriving at [[Glenelg, South Australia|Glenelg]] on 11 October.<ref>http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/fh/passengerlists/1838PestonjeeBomanjee.htm</ref> Initially he found work as a painter and glazier, and soon had one of the larger businesses in the Colony.<ref name=jubilee>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26764881 Messrs W. H. Burford & Co's (sic) Jubilee] ''The Advertiser'' 4 November 1890 p.6 accessed 8 July 2011</ref> In 1840, when a recession had made those trades unprofitable, he was able to start a soap and candle factory in 134 (154?) [[Grenfell Street]].<ref name=obit/><!--also sold sheet zinc, lead http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27441567 --> The business failed several times, but revived with the opening of the [[Burra, South Australia|Burra]] copper mine in 1848, then the [[Moonta, South Australia|Moonta]] and [[Wallaroo, South Australia|Wallaroo]] mines around 1863.<ref name=adb/>
 
Burford was an alderman of the [[City of Adelaide|Adelaide Town Council]] for 1840 and 1841. During his second term he earned the nickname of "ninepenny dips" for his proposal to more than double the council rates to that figure (and "dip" being a form of candle), and was reviled for proposing other stringencies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49200208|title=HINDMARSH WARD—THE VACANT SEAT OF ALDERMAN. - South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) - 15 Aug 1854|publisher=}}</ref> He was not elected the following year and was vindicated when the Council collapsed, bankrupt.
 
Burford was elected to the [[South Australian House of Assembly]] for the seat of [[Electoral district of City of Adelaide|City of Adelaide]] in 1857.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49769548 The Parliament] ''South Australian Register'' 6 May 1857 p.4 accessed 7 July 2011</ref> He was prominent in debates and a strong supporter of [[Robert Torrens]]' Real Property Act, but resigned in 1859.
 
Burford was a devout churchgoer, worshipping with the Independent Baptists, then Scotch Baptists and finally the Unley Church of Christ.<ref name=adb/>
 
===Family of W. H. Burford===
He married three times:
 
*Elizabeth Messent (c. 1814 – 14 July 1858)<!--adb got DOD wrong--> in May 1833<ref name=adb>[http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/burford-william-henville-1851 Burford, William Henville] Taylor, Herbert R. ''Australian Dictionary of Biography online'' accessed 8 July 2011</ref><!-- Married 1833–1858 = 25 years. Liz aged 19 and Bill aged 26 at wedding -->
:Children:
::Elizabeth "Edith" Burford (c.1832 – 28 January 1900)<ref>http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54419634
</ref>
:::m. Charles Bowen (c. 1834 – 5 September 1870) on 10 April 1857; their eldest son F. A. "Arthur" Bowen became manager of Burford & Sons.
:::m. Rev. [[R. K. Finlayson]] (27 April 1839 – 27 March 1917) on 19 August 1884 (his first wife, also Elizabeth, died 1880<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43143996 Family Notices] ''South Australian Register'' 16 October 1880 Supplement p.2 accessed 21 July 2011</ref>)
::Ann Burford second daughter (c.1837 – 1 April 1852)
::Sarah Burford (died 1838 on voyage)
::Gertrude Burford (c. 1841 – 18 August 1914) married Robert Eddy 10 September 1885
::Benjamin Burford (c. 1843 – 18 May 1905) married Mary Jane Ware (died 24 July 1930) on 24 May 1866. He died, aged 65, from a self-inflicted gunshot after suffering head pains and deafness for seven years.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33020722 Death of Mr. Benjamin Burford] ''Kalgoorlie Western Argus'' Tuesday 23 May 1905 p.30 Accessed 22 August 2011</ref> He had only five years previously built a large house "[[Attunga, Toorak Gardens|Attunga]]" on 4.5 acres (1.8ha) at 120 [[Kensington Road, Adelaide|Kensington Road]], in what was then [[Rose Park, South Australia|Rose Park]].<ref>In 1944, Otto von Reiben donated the 4.5 acre property "Attunga" to the [[City of Burnside]] for a hospital now named the [[Burnside War Memorial Hospital]], in what is now known as [[Toorak Gardens, South Australia|Toorak Gardens]] – Darren Young and Chris Marks, [http://www.burnside.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Burnside_E-book.pdf ''Landmarks of Burnside''], Celebrating our city – 150 years, City of Burnside, August 2007, page 51</ref>
::'''William Burford''' (11 December 1845 – 6 March 1925) who oversaw the greatest development of the company
 
*Mary Ann<!--not Anne--> Messent (c. 1815 – 22 September 1879), (sister of first wife Elizabeth Messent), on 31 October 1861<!-- 1861–1879 = 18 years. Mary aged 46 and Bill aged 54 at wedding -->
<!-- These are William's children, not W. H.'s children
:Children:
::F. R. Burford (c. 1869 – 14 August 1928) chemist in charge of toilet soap manufacture
more biographical details hard to find. With Holdfast Sailing 1886–1924 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57885339 Sailed with W.H.Burford c. 1890 in Zephyr, then with W Burford in Empress, Holdfast Sailing Club (who was H.E./H.E.C. Burford?), gold mining, (high/platform/springboard) diving, member Chamber of Manufactures 1901, lived 7 Giles Ave Glenelg http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49805436
<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57054020 Obituary] ''The Register'' 17 August 1928 p,13 accessed 10 July 2011</ref>
::Hubert H. R Burford (1872 – 8 November 1907) m. Annie, was manager of the factory in [[Western Australia]].
last two children not mentioned in WH's will!! – That would be because they weren't his children! -->
*Frances Sarah Ann Hawkes, née Symonds, the widow of [[James Symonds Hawkes|John H. M. Hawkes]] (c. 1827 – 14 October 1858) in 1880.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article87820785 |title=Obituary |newspaper=[[The Chronicle (Adelaide)|The Chronicle]] |location=Adelaide |date=22 February 1902 |accessdate=3 October 2013 |page=33 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
 
==William Burford==
[[File:William Burford-1893-B50608.jpg|thumb|William Henry Burford 1893]]
<!-- http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/50750/B50608.htm – William Henry Burford 1893 -->
[[File:William Burford-1892-B56297.jpg|thumb|1892 portrait in oil of William Burford by his son, artist Frederick Rumsey Burford (1870–1928)]]
<!-- http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/56500/B56297.htm – Portrait of William Burford – A portrait in oil by F.R. Burford. By comparison with a known work by the same artist in 1893, the portrait appears to be of the artist's father, William Burford (1845-1925). DATE 1892 -->
 
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:He was a generous supporter of the [[British and Foreign Bible Society]].<ref name=obit/>
 
Mrs Burford was a prominent member of the Wattle Blossom League (later [[Wattle Day#Wattle Day League, 1909|Wattle Day League]]) and held an annual function at "Monomeith", the Burfords' summer residence at [[Ashton, South Australia|Ashton]].<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63410783 Concerning People] ''The Register'' Friday 13 May 1921 p.8 accessed 8 July 2011</ref><!-- Aaaah. How the rich lived ... -->
 
===Recreation===
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William married Mary Richardson (c. 1845 – 12 May 1921) on 11 November 1867. She died at their home "[[Birralee, Glenelg|Birralee]]", in [[Glenelg, South Australia|Glenelg]]. Their 53 year marriage produced eleven children,<ref>[http://www.mypioneerancestors.com.au/getperson.php?personID=I8671&tree=TheTree William Burford family tree], www.mypioneerancestors.com.au</ref> of whom five sons and four daughters survived childhood. All five sons went into the family business:
*William Henville Burford II (1 November 1868 – 27 May 1947) married Alice Louise Carr on 17 September 1891
*Two daughters Nell Burford and Violet Lillian Burford
*Frederick Rumsey Burford (10 or 30 April 1870 – 14 August 1928 at Glenelg) married Elizabeth Genevieve Kellery
*Hubert Henry Richardson Burford (22 Mar 1872 – 8 Nov 1907 in Sydney, two weeks after wedding) married Annie Morish on 23 October 1907<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5105790 Marriages Burford-Morish], ''The Advertiser'', 12 November 1907, p.4</ref>
*Lillian May Burford – b: 2 March 1874. m: Thomas Eyres 13 October 1899<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54845838 Marriages], ''South Australian Register'', 21 October 1899, p.6</ref>
*Evaline Sarah Burford (10 February 1876 – 6 Apr 1961, Fullarton) married Horace Cansfield Park<ref>Horace Cansfield Park AAMC AIEF of "Bryndale", West BridgefordBridgford, Nottingham, England – [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59384762 Engagements], ''The Mail'', 13 May 1916, p.4</ref> on 11 November 1919. Evaline lived in Birralee, Belair in the 1930s
*Emily Finlayson "Emmie" Burford (10 Jun 1878 – 23 Oct 1953) never married – lived at Birralee, Belair in the 1920s and 1930s.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35184463 Party at Birralee, Belair], "Social Notes" conducted by Idra, ''The Advertiser'', Friday 9 December 1932, pg 16</ref>
<!--*Twins (Percy and Daisy) b: 21 May 1880 failed to survive-->
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{{DEFAULTSORT:W. H. Burford and Sons}}
[[Category:Companies based in Adelaide|Burford]]
[[Category:Defunct manufacturing companies of Australia|Burford]]▼
[[Category:W. H. Burford & Sons| ]]
▲[[Category:Defunct manufacturing companies of Australia|Burford]]
[[Category:Manufacturing plants in Australia]]
[[Category:1840Australian establishmentscompanies established in Australia1840]]
[[Category:Unilever companies]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1840]]
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