The Australian Stock Saddle
and the Saddlers that made them
John Jones, prominent saddler in colonial Sydney
1833 - 1848
Oil Painting reproduced with the permission of
Newington College, Sydney
JOHN JONES 1780 - 1848
Born in 1780, John Jones emigrated from Stanmore in Middlesex, a south-eastern county of England. He commenced his saddlery business in Sydney in October 1833 at age 53, and records show he had arrived in Australia earlier that year in March, with his wife and daughter on the barque Caroline from London.
The first saddlery advertisement was found in October stating that he “is moving from rented premises into newly built premises on George Street and thanks his customers for their liberal support and asking for their continued support.”
It goes on that “J. J., (John Jones) fully aware, that whilst studying to form his Saddle in all respects easy and comfortable to the rider, his attention to the ease and comfort of the animal is not less required, and being his own Saddler practically, he is enabled to state, with considerable satisfaction, that out of the almost unexampled number he has had the pleasure of making, not one complaint of a misfit has transpired.” An addendum read as follows:
“N. B. Gentlemen's Horses measured to order, and best Hunting Saddles made entirely with English materials.
Stockmen's ditto or Bush Saddles made with the best Colonial leather and English tree, at very moderate charges.”
[The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser Thur 24 Oct 1833 Page 3]
Astoundingly in 1833, we have the first mention of a colonial built saddle in Australia, which differentiates from the English Gentlemen’s saddle by being specifically called a “Stockmen’s or Bush Saddle” made with the best Colonial leather on an English tree. Unfortunately no illustrations accompanied the advertisement but it does suggest a saddle with knee and thigh pads (probably stuffed rolls) suitable for the Australian conditions required by the locals.
The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 24 Oct 1833
The prosperous saddler, John Jones, purchased 20 acres (8 hectares) of land in 1835 along Stanmore Road. He named his estate Stanmore after his birthplace in England. The land had been part of an original grant to Edward Laing and was known as Laing's Clear. Today, much of Jones' Stanmore estate is preserved in an open state as the site of Newington College in Stanmore Road. It is also believed that Jones Bay, Sydney was named after him.
Mr Jones must have been a successful entrepreneur, as only three years after his previous relocation: “he purposes moving his establishment to those new and commodious Premises which he has built on the Brickfield-Hill, nearly opposite the Talbot Inn, George-street, where he intends continuing, to carry on the above business in all its branches both WHOLESALE and RETAIL and he trusts, by a strictly punctual attention in the execution of all orders confided to him, to merit a continuance of that almost unprecedented patronage he has hitherto received. George-street, opposite the Market” stated a further advertisement in 1836. [The Sydney Herald]
A couple of years later, in a short five year period, he formed a partnership in the saddlery in 1839 with a gentleman called George Hawke, naming the new business Jones & Co., managed a planned business/pleasure trip back to his homeland in 1840, and dissolved the partnership in 1841. Advertisements pertaining to these events are placed below.
He then continued on as a sole trader in 1841 until some time up to 1842. Unfortunately there was no mention of how many saddle and harness makers he employed during his trading years. However in 1841 we have an advertisement stating that a Mr C J Tonkin (late foreman of Jones & Co.) was stepping out on his own, which proves that Jones must have had a few men under him to warrant a foreman in his shop.
Obviously two years later, John Jones was seemingly still having trouble finalising the partnership with outstanding debts, as per the above advertisement in 1843.
There are no records as to when he may have closed his premises. John Jones aged 68, died at his Stanmore home, apparently suffering from a long illness in 1848, and was buried at Rookwood Cemetery. Jones was survived by his second wife, Catherine. She was entitled to live in their house until her death in 1873, then the church took over the estate.
In all likelihood, Mr John Jones can go down in Australian history, as being the first saddler to advertise making Stockmen’s Saddles, with Colonial leather, in 1833 in the colony of New South Wales.
The above two adverts were published in 1848
