John Henry Champness (1853 - 1924)

Born 9 Apr 1853 in Noarlunga, Colony of South Australia

Died 25 Aug 1924 at age 71 in North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

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Biography

John Champness was born in the Colony of South Australia (1836-1900)

John Henry CHAMPNESS was born on 9 April 1853 in Noarlunga, Colony of South Australia^[1]. His parents were John CHAMPNESS and Catherine HARRIS.

Blanche Annetter Seppard MOLINEUX and John Henry CHAMPNESS were married on 7 March 1876 at the Holy Trinity Church, Riverton, Colony of South Australia^[2].

Marriage Notice 10 Mar 1876^[3]

CHAMPNESS—MOLINEUX. — On the 7th March, at Trinity Church, Riverton, by the Rev. J. Houghton, John Henry Champness, Noarlunga, to Blanche Annette, youngest daughter of Edward Molineux, of Gilbert Vale Farm, near Riverton.

Their children included:

Albert Ernest CHAMPNESS 1877-1968

Sydney Molineux CHAMPNESS 1879-1958

Leslie CHAMPNESS 1881-1944

Stanley Roy CHAMPNESS 1883-1947

Myrtle CHAMPNESS 1886-1971

Percy Leonard CHAMPNESS 1888-1967

May Annette CHAMPNESS 1891-1984

Wife, Blanche passed away on 22 September 1911 in Kent Town, South Australia, Australia.

Widow, Elizabeth Ann LOWE (nee FERRIS) and widower, John Henry CHAMPNESS were married on 3 December 1918 at the Methodist Church, Pirie St, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia^[4]

He passed away on 25 August 1924 in North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia^[5] and was buried at the Payneham Cemetery^[6].

Death Notice 26 Aug 1924^[7]

CHAMPNESS.— On the 25th August. at North Adelaide, John Henry, beloved husband of Elizabeth Ann Champness, of Brighton, aged 71 years. Passed within the veil.

Obituary^[8]

DEATH OF MR. J.H. CHAMPNESS

Strenuous and Varied Career

Deep and widespread regret will be aroused by the announcement of the death in a private hospital on Monday morning at the age of 71 yearr of Mr. J.H. Champness, latterly of Brighton, and well known in South Australia and Victoria. By a pathetic coincidence the day of his death synchronised with the issue of his Life Story," written by Dr. W. G. Torr, of Brighton, an interesting account of the career of the pioneer. John Henry Champness was born at Noarlunga on April 9, 1853. The name of Champness, otherwise. Champeneys. Champounois, is of French or Norman origin. Among many notabilities of the name recorded in his tory was Anne Champness, who was burnt at Canterbury as an heretic in 1556.

Struggle for Life.

In 'The Life Story of John Henry Champness' it is stated that the father of the subject of the work came from Epping Town, England. Mrs. Champness was also an old colonist. Mr. J. H. Champness attended an infant school at Noarlunga with, his aunt, Marian Harris, who was married to the late Mr. Albert Molineux, the founder and at one time secretary of the Agricultural Bureaus in South. Australia. In 1858 the boy was taken by his mother to the Castlemaine diggings, Victoria, whence they moved to Daylesford. He had to earn his living, and at Castlemaine, although only seven years of age, was employed in. an architect's. office. Later, at Eaglehawk Gully, on the goldfields, he earned 5/ a week in a circulating library. The next home was in Bendigo, where the mother and son lived in a slab cottage with a bark roof. The boy conceived the idea of supplying the diggers with magazines, so, he worked up a round on the diggings, often making a profit of £2 or £3 a week. He was then nine years of age, and his spendings were two shillings a week, one for a cup of early morning coffee on his round, and the other for a place in the gallery of the Theatre Royal once a week. After a time he gained a position in a draper's shop at 10/ a week, and 12 months later returned to Adelaide by the steamer Aldinga. On arrival in Adelaide young Champness was given a job (at 7/ or 8/ a week) by Mr. Liptrott, an auctioneer, in King William street. A shilling of this sum had to suffice for lunches, another shilling went into the Savings Bank, and in spare time the lad continued with his studies as far as he was able. The family lived in Gouger street, and at night the son used to make trawling nets for his uncle, Mr. Molineux: for which he was given 4d. a night. The close work caused eye strain, and he went to Noarlunga for a year.

Rising in Business

At 12 years of age the late Mr. Champness went to work for Mr. Peter McRostie, grocer, Rundle street, where he remained nine years. He was deputed to call on certain regular customers for orders once a week, but he also visited other places, and soon had a clientele who gave him orders up to £200 a week. In consequence his wages were raised, until he received £3 5/, the highest salary in the establishment. In 1874 he had a senous illness, and afterwards started a business buying hay and stock at Noarlunga, and founded a storekeeping business, that extended through the southern coastal district and returned a large profit. In 1875 Mr. Champness married Blanche Molineux, and the couple lived very happily until 1911, when Mrs. Champness died. In 1918 Mr. Champness married Mrs. William Lowe, whom he had known since she was a girl, and who is now living. In 1881 Mr. Champness's health again failed, and, having sold his business, purchased the Yarrock and Tatiara stations, in the Wimmera district, and entered into pastoral and agricultural work.

The' Mallee Country

The invention of the stumpjump plough enabled the settler to clear 1,200 acres, the first mallee cultivation done in Victoria. In those days mallee land could be bought for about 5/ to 20/ a square mile. Now much of it is worth from £7 to £10 an, acre as freehold. When Mr. Champness sold Yarrock he had more than 11,000 acres freehold. In 1891 it rained for five months, almost continuously. Mr. Champness sowed broadcast on the silt, and reaped 40 to. 50 bushels to the acre. Then came the drought. Three thousand sheep on the stations and a large number of horses and cattle were lost. The bottom dropped out of the stock market, and wheat was sold at Kaniva for 1/3 to 1/6 a bushel. Banks failed, and many of the settlers left the district in despair. Mr. Champness, among others, remained, and was eventually rewarded. When the Adelaide to Melbourne Railway line was completed Mr. Champness supplied hay for the contractors' horses. He was probably the first to adopt the method of share farming in Victoria, and for more than 20 years he had an average of 20 men working for him on that system, supplying equipment in many cases, at a low interest.

Later Years

About 1905 Mr. and Mrs. Champness returned to. Adelaide, and lived at Kent Town until 1911. Mr. Champness was still interested in land, and bought many thousands of acres in the Rirer Murray district, which he afterwards sold. In 1906 he went to Ceylon, and in 1908 took a trip to England. Returning, he lodged for some time at the Semaphore, and while living there bought the famous old Brighton inn, on the Brighton road, with 20 rooms and about six acres of land, thinking that he might one day live there. In 1923 he built a home in Cambridge terrace, Brighton, where he was living at the time of his death. The late Mr. Champness, who was of a devout and upright, character, was connected throughout his life with church work, and instances of his generosity abound. He was exceedingly fond of children. During his residence at Brighton he was known for his kindly habit of distributing packets of butter scotch and. other confectionery among those with whom he came into contact. He was modest and simple, and respected and liked by those who knew him. He was connected up to the time of his death with various charitable institutions. The sons are Messrs. Albert E, Sydney M., Leslie. Stanley R., and Percy L. Champness, and the danghters are Mrs. Langberg. of Conmurra Station, and Mrs. John Hill, of Kaniva (Vic).

Sources

1. ↑ Genealogy South Australia: Birth. CHAMPNESS, John Henry; 09-Apr-1853; M; John CHAMPNESS; Catherine HARRIS; Noarlunga; Adelaide; 4/136. https://www.genealogysa.org.au/
2. ↑ Genealogy South Australia: Marriage. CHAMPNESS, John Henry; MOLINEUX, Blanche Annetter Seppard; 07-Mar-1876; John CHAMPNESS; Edward MOLINEUX; Gilbert; 106/691. https://www.genealogysa.org.au/
3. ↑ Family Notices (1876, March 10). The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), p. 4. Retrieved December 11, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31966291
4. ↑ Genealogy South Australia: Marriage. CHAMPNESS, John Henry; LOWE, Elizabeth Ann; 03-Dec-1918; John CHAMPNESS; Richard FERRIS; Adelaide; 277/544. https://www.genealogysa.org.au/
5. ↑ Genealogy South Australia: Death. CHAMPNESS, John Henry; 25-Aug-1924; Age 71; M; Adelaide; 472/327. https://www.genealogysa.org.au/
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/248726470/john-henry-champness: accessed 11 December 2023), memorial page for John Henry Champness (9 Apr 1853–25 Aug 1924), Find a Grave Memorial ID 248726470, citing Payneham Cemetery, Payneham South, City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters, South Australia, Australia; Maintained by Shaz in Adelaide (contributor 49579799).
7. ↑ Family Notices (1924, August 26). The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), p. 8. Retrieved December 11, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59013958
8. ↑ DEATH OF MR. J. H. CHAMPNESS. (1924, August 26). The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), p. 12. Retrieved December 11, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59014017