The Australian Stock Saddle
and the Saddlers that made them
John Bignell Hill was born in Buckinghamshire in 1828. Twenty years later he found himself on the ‘SS Fairlie’ emigrating to Australia and landing in Sydney on 7 August 1848.
Mr Hill secured a position in a ‘leading house’ of saddlery and continued there until he left Sydney for Brisbane in 1854. In the interim, he married Emma Boyes in 1852 and they had their first son Frederick in Sydney, 1854.
In May 1854, a Mr M Wallace (who owned a Grocery and Saddlery store, North Brisbane) advertised that he had secured the services of a first rate tradesman in the line of all things saddlery, possessing many years experience in one of the leading houses in Sydney. Mr Wallace went on to say that he could, with confidence, recommend this gentleman to undertake, on the shortest notice, any order that the public may be kind enough to favour him with, and which will be met with all punctuality and dispatch. This man was John Hill.
Sixteen months later in September 1855, an advertisement in the Moreton Bay Courier stated that Mr John Hill, late Manager of Mr Wallace’s saddlery business, intends commencing on his own account. Any persons that may favour him with their work, will find it done on strictly moderate terms--for cash. J. H. has no room to comment on his large stock, but parties requiring Colonial SADDLERY, HARNESS, or REPAIRS, the same will be done with despatch, and warranted.
N.B.-Orders received, at present, next door to Mr. Alford's Auction Mart, Albert Street, North Brisbane.
John Hill obviously relocated his shop on an unknown date from Albert Street to Queen Street as he was advertising the sale of a heavy draught horse and harness by February 1856.
Less than two years later the Moreton Bay Courier in July 1857, displayed the following:
NOTICE.
THE undersigned begs to return the public his best thanks for the patronage he has been favoured with since his commencing business, and to state, that in consequence of ill health he is obliged to relinquish the same. He also desires to introduce Mr. ARCHIBALD McINTYRE, as succeeding to his trade, and for whom he solicits the same support which has been extended to him. All Accounts against him are requested to be sent either to Messrs. Heussler & Co., or Mr. R. S. Warry, who are also authorised to receive all debts due to him.
JOHN HILL. SADDLERY & HARNESS MAKING WAREHOUSE. QUEEN-STREET, NORTH BRISBANE.
ARCHIBALD McINTYRE begs to inform his friends and the public generally, that he has taken those premises in Queen-street, formerly occupied by Mr. John Hill, Saddler and Harness Maker, where he intends carrying on the Saddlery and Harness Making business, and trusts by attention and moderate charges to merit a share of their support.
JOHN HILL, Saddler and Harness Maker, Queen-street, Brisbane, begs to inform the public that he has been compelled to retire from business through ill health, and has been succeeded by Mr. Archibald Mclntyre, for whom he solicits a continuance of the patronage so liberally bestowed upon himself. He can with confidence recommend Mr. Mclntyre who has been in his employ for the last eighteen months.
This advertisement above is indicative of the drive and motivation of John Hill. He must have been a brilliant tradesman to be able to bet anyone in making a complete saddle in FOURTEEN HOURS. This advertisement was ran in the Brisbane Courier on 23 August 1877
Mr Hill obviously recovered from his illness, as in 1873, he was stating that he was prepared to wholesale or retail the cheapest saddles in Brisbane.
From 1877 he was being awarded prizes for his saddlery work and had him residing in Kedron Brook.
1877 - APPARATUS AND PROCESSES USED IN THE COMMON ARTS.
The keenest competition in this class will doubtless be for the prize for saddles. J. Hill, of Kedron Brook, has a really fine collection, from the heavy breaking saddle up to the buckskin seated and fancy worked saddle for town use; these are all of good quality and fully sustain the reputation already gained by this maker in and around Brisbane.
1878 - The Exhibition.
HARNESS, AND SADDLERY.
First prize. John Hill. Kedron Brook. One stock saddle, capped knees, hog skin seat one plain hogskin saddle. Second prize John Hill, Kedron Brook. Collection of saddlery, &c., consisting of side, horse-breakers, solid flap, boys hogskin, boys' fancy and stock saddles. Highly commended: John Hill, Kedron Brook; One side (rough) saddle; one fancy hog-skin saddle, doeskin seat.
[Note. The collection of Saddlery and harness is first-class, and the jurors had great difficulty in awarding prizes.]
1879 - THE EXHIBITION - NOTES OF THE DAY. SADDLERY, Etc
For qualities of excellence in workmanship, saddlery is shown with the foregoing class, and has suffered by the arrangement, there being too little time available for examining the work.
The exhibits are numerous and highly creditable. In making their awards the judges adopted the sensible plan, as we believe, of taking the exhibits of each competitor as a whole. A medal was awarded to R. E. Jarman for a collection of saddlery. A collection by H. T. Michael, of Bald Hills, was highly commended for the sound quality of work done.
John Hill, of Kedron Brook, also exhibits saddlery.
The Brisbane Courier in September 1879, wrote a column on the following:
International Exhibition.
The saddlery exhibits have to stand a crucial test of comparisons. Throughout the building exhibits of saddlery are extremely numerous and good English makers have fine displays, and makers in several of the other colonies have put their best foot foremost. The Queensland exhibits, both of saddles and harness, stand the comparison well. There is a degree of excellence in saddlery which limits makers efforts and cannot be got beyond. This has been attained in the Queensland courts as well as in the others. It is impossible to express a preference, except as a matter of taste, for the limitation of forms and workmanship being peremptory and of material somewhat narrow, makers have had to spread themselves on embellishment, generally speaking. Exception must be made in the instance of a pair of dray collars on the Scotch model, and a set of Scotch harness by Chute, of Brisbane, in which substantial stout work has been successfully aimed at.
But in the matter of saddlery in the fancy work which seizes the attention, John Hill of Kedron Brook, shows an extremely handsome saddle with figured buckskin seat, among a collection of serviceable hunting and stock-riding saddles.
The result of comparisons with the wares of makers in England and the other colonies serves to convince that no Queensland horseman will gain anything by going outside the colony for his saddlery. The "foreign" wares are not superior in workmanship, while the locally-made article will always be best suited to local work and requirements, and the prices labelled are remarkably reasonable.
George Street, Brisbane in 1889. Pic Credit: John Oxley Library, Qld.
Our first glimpse of when John Hill returned to retail saddlery trading in Brisbane city, was a box advertisement stating his return to 63 George Street in June 1880, plus an award that he obtained in the exhibition called ‘Common Industries’ held in Brisbane on 31 July, 1880.
Messrs. Hill and Co., of George-street, Brisbane, first prize for two saddles.
A box advertisement was run in The Queenslander in 1881, demonstrating that John Hill was trading under the name of Hill & Co, Saddlers and Harness Makers, 63 George Street, Brisbane.
Records show that this business continued to flourish until an advertisement was run in The Queenslander in July 1884.
HILL & CO., Saddlers and Harness-Makers, 90 GEORGE-STREET, BRISBANE.
THE above is now under the able management of Mr. Joseph Whittle, an old apprentice of the old-established John Hill, who calls special attention to their Double-plated STOCK SADDLES, made expressly for stock-yard and station use; or any description of Saddle made according to order. Orders for Saddles or Harness received by post, and goods forwarded to all parts of the colony. P.S.—Our aim is to conduct the above in all its branches with credit to ourselves and satisfaction to our patrons, thereby upholding the prestige so long accorded us. Price List on application. We respectfully solicit a further share of your patronage.
Some indignation was demonstrated in the next month in August when Mr Whittle ran an advertisement in the Brisbane Courier challenging Mr Jarman after some harsh words were intimated on the quality of the Exhibition saddlery. It read:
A REPLY TO MR. JARMAN'S CHALLENGE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRISBANE COURIER.
Sir, In this morning's issue of the Courier is a letter headed "Saddlery at the Exhibition." Being the exhibitor for the company trading as Hill and Co at the late Exhibition, I cannot let Mr Jarman's accusations pass without having a word in the matter. He (Mr Jarman) says "Should any of the exhibitors in the present Exhibition be so far misled by the reports complained of as to imagine his saddle or harness superior, or even equal, to mine I am prepared to back either my exhibits, or the men who made them, for any reasonable amount, but they must be judged by disinterested and practical men." Now, sir, my exhibits were two gentlemen's hogskin saddles, one half Somerset saddle, one stock saddle, all of which I got first prize for, and I am confident that my saddles were equal to Mr Jarman's, and with approved judges I am prepared to make the same sort of saddles, at a date to be fixed for any reasonable sum. Man and money at 90 George Street. I am, sir &c .JOSEPH WHITTLE, Manager for Hill and Co. 25th August.1884
In 1887, long after John retired, he was invited to attend an inquiry into matters connected with the working of the Colonial Stores (the gaol saddlery workshop). The commission journeyed to St. Helena, and took Mr. Hassell's evidence on the way down. On the recommendation of Commissioner Seymour, Mr. Hill, saddler, was engaged as an expert to judge the saddlery at St. Helena, and accompanied the commission.
John Hill, an expert in saddlery, stated that he had been in the trade for over forty years; he thought the saddlery now manufactured at St. Helena was of good quality considering the circumstances, and is good as could be expected from men without a better instructor; the saddles he had seen on the island were a decided improvement on what he had seen outside ; one pack-saddle he had seen outside would cripple any horse; the material was good, but the workmanship was faulty; the trees used in the saddles he had seen on the island were good enough for the saddles required; the material used for stuffing best saddles was white flock, and far more common doe hair; curled hair could not be used in saddles, as stated by Inspector Douglas; the panels in the saddles he had seen would not fit, nor were they made properly, and the saddles themselves were not serviceable; he would suggest that a practical man should be appointed to instruct the men in saddlery if the Government intended carrying on the work; he did not consider that a man with limited experience in saddlery was the proper person to take charge of the shops.
The recommendations offered by John Hill were presented in February 1888. His evidence was very clear. The material is bought at lowest prices, labour in abundance is at hand, but the workshop is under the superintendence of a man who has been bought up as a shoemaker, and who is therefore not competent to instruct and teach the making of saddlery. He recommend that a thoroughly competent saddler be engaged without delay as instructor at St Helena, when he would have no doubt that all complaints as to make or finish will cease.
The last mention of Hill & Co., Saddlers was a small advertisement looking for a boy for blacksmithing in November 1889. The date of the closure of the shop was not to be found.
There was no further mention of Mr John Hill. He died 16 Oct 1893, aged 65.
Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Hill - Photograph taken in 1899
According to the Syd Hill & Sons website archives John's four sons, Frederick, Herbert, Stephen and Harry were all tradesmen and worked for their father.
Frederick born in 1854 in Sydney (so just prior to the family moving to Queensland) excelled and was soon presented with medals and awards at the universal exposition of 1889 in Paris for his craftsmanship in saddlery. Research finds him in the Post Office Directory and Country Guide dated 1885 that Frederick J Hill, Saddler was living in Gove Street, Albion.
In December 1898, a tragedy, that no parent ever wants to live through, occurred. Their son Alfred Stephen Hill was murdered while riding his pony on a visit to his Aunt’s. According to the press his murderer was never brought to justice, though they did have a suspect, and the search for the perpetrator nearly drove Fred Hill to bankruptcy.
While this family tragedy carried on, Fred had to work and he became responsible for equipping 15 soldiers each fortnight with their total outfit required for the Boer War in 1900.
In January 1901, the continuation of supplying these saddles came about with Hill and four other peers of master saddlers, impressing upon the Premier of Queensland that it was a far better option to make the saddles for the Fifth Contingent here in Queensland, than the proposed import of cavalry saddles from Canada. There had been conjecture that the Queensland saddlers could not make a satisfactory military saddle suitable for the troops, however it had been pointed out the former saddles made had been copied from a model saddle supplied, and this saddle had been inferior all round, including the shape of the tree.
Fred Hill had a small thriving business in Nundah where we have a famous photo of him outside the shop pre 1898, with his young son Syd on the left, (there is some conjecture that the boy on the left could have also been Arty Girdler), Alfred (already a saddler at 15 years) leaning against the post and Fred on the right. (See Gallery Early Saddler’s Shops) It is unclear as to when he actually commenced trade at this address.
In 1904, Fred ran an advertisement in the Brisbane Courier stating that he has relinquished his Hamilton branch of his business and in future, would only conduct the Nundah establishment, where all work will be under his personal supervision. Then, the Telegraph in June 1908 ran an ad for Fred asking for a boy to work at the shop. However, in September 1908, he advertised that the Saddler’s shop, yard and stables were available for let.
It is unfortunate to realise that Fred Hill and his family spent so much time and money on bringing their son’s killer to justice, that Fred had to forego his business and commence work as a journeyman, according to the old hands at Butler Bros., Brisbane. Fred died in 1933, aged 79.
Queenslander 02 June 1900
Overview of Windsor, Brisbane in the 1890s.
Pic Credit: Windsor Historical Society
Herbert, John Bignell Hill’s second son, was born in 1856 in Queen Street, Brisbane. Herbert had known Queen Street when it was a bridle track, and when the town water supply was drawn from a lagoon, which is the site of the present Town-Hall. The building of the first jail, in Brisbane was well remembered by Mr. Hill.
Windsor Shire was declared in 1887 and the stone Shire Chambers constructed just a few doors to the north of where Hill would build his new saddlery. In 1890, Herbert Hill purchased 36 perches of land on Lutwyche Road (then known as Bowen Bridge Road) between Harris and Thorne Streets in the growing suburb of Windsor.
Herbert Hill was a long term saddler and resident of Windsor, playing a significant part in the formation of the local volunteer fire brigade of which he was superintendent for many years. A new two storey, rendered brick shop/dwelling was built circa 1901 for Herbert Hill. It operated as a saddlery on the busy thoroughfare of Lutwyche Road until the 1910s. After 1910, the building at 312 Lutwyche Road was used for various other commercial ventures including a store and refreshment rooms. In 1927, Hill sold the property to Benjamin Fish, a carpenter, and his wife, Anne. Herbert Hill passed away in 1933 in his home in nearby Rosemount Street. He had been living in retirement for more than 20 years before his death.
Next we have Stephen Hill, born in 1862. As per his brothers, Stephen was taught by his father John Bignell Hill.
The earliest advert was found in early 1888, stating the only place to get Hill's Saddles is at the Wickham Street address. However this next advertisement was in The Queenslander dated 23 February 1889 and read:
Notice. THE only place to get HILL'S SADDLES is at S . HILL'S, Wickham Street, Valley, late of Kedron Brook. We are in no way connected with Hill & Co., carried on by R. Stone.
So that gives an indication that Hill & Co., while under the management of Mr Whittle, was sold at sometime to a Mr. R. Stone between the years 1884 and 1889. This timeframe would indicate the last of any retail saddlery involvement of John Hill in Brisbane city.
In 1895 Stephen Hill was the resident saddler in the town of Hopetoun, near Kilcoy, however it has not been found as to when he commenced and retired from the Kilcoy saddlery business. An excerpt of a story on Hopetoun had a small entry on a gentleman's observation of Stephen Hill as a saddler. There was no year to be found as to when Morison bought out Hill, but Morison was placing in saddle competitions in 1912 (the only entry found on that man). It read: "Hopetoun - Saddlers consist of Mr. J. Morison, who succeeded to the business of Steve Hill, the oldest saddler in the district, and who has earned a name for splendid work, winning a number of first prizes wherever he has shown, including at Esk, 1st. for stock saddle, 1st. for gents saddle, 1st. for side saddle, and 1st. For collection of bridles. He was again successful with his very fine exhibit of saddlery, etc., at the Ipswich Show, winning in every class in which he competed. His gentleman's saddle, lady's saddle, and stock saddle were considered, by competent judges, to be of the very best, both for material and workmanship. I saw some of this saddlery, as well as general work being done for customers, and for quality in work and neatness of finish it would be hard to equal."
His obituary below dated August 1933 gives some further information on his life.
The death occurred in Brisbane on 10th August, of Mr. Stephen Hill, a well-known resident of the Mapleton district. The late Mr. Hill, who was 71 years of age, was born at Kedron, Brisbane. For many years he conducted a saddlery business at Kilcoy. He later acquired a dairying property at Glenfern on the Kilcoy line, and followed the dairying industry for seven years. In 1918 he disposed of this property, and after residing for some months in Brisbane, decided to return to the country, purchasing, in 1919, a citrus property on the outskirts of the Mapleton township from Mr. W. M. Collins, and which he retained until his death. The late Mr. Hill was possessed of a very kindly disposition, and was highly esteemed by all. For many years he was an active worker for the Progress Association, and an energetic member of the State school committee. He is survived by his widow, and five children, Mr. William Stephen Hill (Flaxton), Mrs. A. C. Weedon (Toombul), Mrs. J. L. Galbraith (Banyo). Sydney Henry Hill and Frederick John Hill, both of Mapleton.
Mr H.B. Hill, Saddler after his steep, shingle roofed shop and residence was shifted from Currie Street Nambour to Lamington Terrace Nambour [somewhere up past the Catholic Church it says] occupied the ground floor of Mitchells' Building. Mitchells' Building was just South of the Commercial Hotel in Currie Street and was destroyed by Nambour's biggest fire on 5th January 1924. Pic Credit: Sunshine Coast Library
Finally the last son, Henry (Harry) Hill born in 1873. As with his brothers, Harry learnt the trade from his father John Bignell Hill. Harry moved in 1897 and operated his own saddle store in the main street of Nambour until his death in 1954 aged 81.
Harry suffered a set back in May, 1914 when a fire in the early hours of the morning destroyed a large amount of buildings, including his own saddlery store. Fortunately, it was reported that most buildings were insured, however it was reported that practically all his saddlery stock was saved. An advertisement in October stated that he was "again to the front", and ready to trade as normal.
He was successful and won many prizes at the local shows. In 1923 the Nambour Chronicle reported, Mr. Harry Hill, saddler, Nambour, had a fine display of saddlery, harness and leather goods generally; all his goods hand sewn. His exhibit was well arranged.
His obituary was recorded in the Nambour Chronicle dated 08 October 1954, with the heading:
Conducted First Saddlery Business Mr. Henry Hill Passes
Opening the first saddlery business in Nambour over 51 years ago, and which, for over 10 years was the only business of its kind, Mr Henry Hill (known to many of the earlier residents as 'Honest Harry' passed away in Brisbane on Monday evening last, at the age of 81 years.
Seven years ago, the late Mr. Hill suffered a stroke and had been a semi-invalid for some time afterwards, until towards the end he lost his speech. He conducted livery Stables, and gave great service with his drag and several horses in conveyance of freights and passengers to various parts of the district; and, in addition, a commission agency business. He was survived by his wife and two sons.
Harry Hill's saddlery shop in Nambour.
Pic credit: Sunshine Coast Library
The Hill dynasty continued, under the guidance of Fred Hill’s youngest son Syd, followed by his sons and their children; and the firm is still trading today.
