Bean Brothers

Bean Brothers was a company based in Adelaide, South Australia involved in tanning, leathergoods and shipping ventures in the latter half of the 19th century. Bean Brothers Ltd was set up by the principals to consolidate their assets and develop as wool and produce brokers. They also founded the Adelaide and Port Darwin Sugar Company to develop a sugar plantation in the Northern Territory of Australia. Both ventures failed amid acrimony, recrimination and lawsuits.

The firm of Bean Brothers were leather, wool and produce brokers. In 1882 its principals floated a company Bean Brothers Limited to take over their assets.

Leather goods

Robert Laundy Ingham and George Bean Snr. established the Thebarton Tannery in competition with William Peacock. In 1839 the partnership was dissolved and Bean Snr. took over the business.[1] In 1840 Bean Snr. opened a shop in Hindley Street previously held by a Mr Crabb,[2] and a year later moved to premises vacated by the firm of Grieve & Campbell on Rundle Street.[3] He was declared insolvent in 1859. A creditor, ex-employee Carl Schoening, charged that Mr Bean withheld cash transactions from the accounts books. Other books which might have supported his claims were not to be found. At this time all three sons were in his employ.

He passed the tannery on to son William H. Bean in 1860.[4] and moved to Sandhurst, Victoria (now named Bendigo), where he was jailed for bankruptcy.[5][6] In 1861 G. T. Bean, W. H. Bean and Arthur Bean opened as Bean Brothers in larger premises at 108 Hindley Street, retaining the tannery and grindery at Torrensville.[7] "On 20th January 1865 William Henry Bean, George Thomas Bean and Arthur Bean, of Torrenside, Tanners, were granted Title to 15 acres, part of Section 46 embracing the whole of the area later covered by Fauldings’ premises in Reid Street..."[8] The adjacent Beans Road (now part of Dew Street) may have been named for them. They commenced making shoe and boot uppers, and by the end of 1865 had 14 workers so engaged in King William Street, in part of the building owned by J. Clarkson & Co.[9]

They moved offices to King William Street early 1867 with Arthur handling the retail trade at No. 25 and G. T. Bean at the wholesale business at No. 27,[10] while W. H Bean handled the import of leathergoods, hides and tanning materials. Arthur bought the retail business in April 1867 and the wholesale side in September 1867.[11] On 26 November there was a major fire in the retail shop, determined at an inquest by the Supreme Court as almost certainly arson. Certain inconsistencies of evidence made G. T. Bean the prime suspect, but nothing could be proved.[12] Sometime before 15 September 1868 Arthur sold the business to H. G. Crocker & Co.[13] which was taken over before 4 June 1869 by F. Fischer. This company was affected by another fire, in December 1870, this time originating in the adjoining Adelaide Photographic Company's premises.[14]

Shipping

While Bean Brothers were running the tannery and leathergoods shop and factory, they were purchasing much of their hides and leather and other materials through agents, then seeing the commercial opportunities in exporting wattle-bark to tanneries in Great Britain, concentrated on that business. At first they were sending consignments as regular cargo but by 1869 they were chartering ships to export the bark from Yankalilla via Normanville, South Australia for London.[15] and by 1870 were exporting all the wattle-bark they could obtain. In one year they shipped 8,000 tons of bark, at prices ranging from £10 to £13 a ton.[16]

In 1871 they purchased and refitted the 560 ton Joshua Bates and appointed Captain Thomas Bicknell to ship bark to London with a back-cargo of timber.[17] Before it could make its first voyage, the ship was set fire by a disgruntled crewman, E. W. Holloway.[18]

Other ships owned or managed by Bean Brothers were the steamer Kura, the Brigantines Nightingale and Mary Bannatyne, the brig African Maid, and schooners St. Kilda (three-masted), Prosperity, Stephen, Lady Darling, and Io.[19]

From 1877 they produced a monthly circular containing information as here on demand and prices for wool, skins and bark.

Sugar in the Northern Territory

In 1881 G. T. Bean floated a company Adelaide and Port Darwin Sugar Company to establish sugar plantations in the Northern Territory. In 1882 he set up a trial sugar plantation on Cox's Peninsula (later Cox Peninsula) across Darwin Harbour from Port Darwin, and organised the hire of 2,000 Singapore Chinese labourers to work the field at £1 per week.[20] Investors included Benjamin Cohen De Lissa of Queensland (and after whom the Cox Peninsula suburb and town Delissaville (now Belyuen ) and the nearby Delissaville airstrip were named), G. T Bean, W. H. Bean, Arthur Bean, Luther Scammell, George Scarfe and F. W. Stokes. Housing was erected, many cane tubers were supplied by the Government botanist M. W. Holtze from the nursery at Fannie Bay, many more ordered from Queensland and locally and a mill was erected by the Delissa Pioneer Sugar Company. DeLissa, who had been appointed supervisor for his sugar plantation experience, made a trial crushing of 30 tons of cane in December 1881 which returned very little sugar.[21] DeLissa quit in 1882, citing interference by G. T. Bean,[22] who was scathing in his denunciation of DeLissa.[23] W. H. Thompson was brought from Antigua to take over management of the plantations.[24] The machinery was bought for a tenth of its original £6,000 by W. H. Gray, for his Daly River Plantation Company but his plantation also failed, and it was left to rust away.[25][26] In 1885 the 100,000 acre lease was resumed for non-compliance with the conditions.[27] G. T. Bean was criticised for spending Adelaide and Port Darwin Sugar Company money on worthless land without due diligence, over-extending his stay in London and overspending his allowance there.[28]

Bean Brothers Ltd

In 1882 Bean Brothers floated Bean Brothers Limited wool and produce brokers with initial subscription of 6,000 £10 shares and total capital of £100,000. Its purpose was to acquire the assets of Bean Brothers (including properties in Grenfell Street, Coromandel Place and French Street) and continue their business as commission agents.[29] Founding directors were W. B. Rounsevell, M.P., Robert Darling, J.P., of Mundoora, W. K. Simms, J.P., John Hill, Seth Ferry, F. E. Bucknall, M.P., and William Whinham of Mount Gambier with W. H. Bean as manager.[30] But two years later the company collapsed among a series of lawsuits, notably that in the Supreme Court against G. W. Bean for over £2000.[31] At a shareholders' meeting it was revealed that it was necessary to make a call of £1 per share to pay creditors. The two brothers were insolvent and owed the company money, but were out of South Australian jurisdiction (G. T. Bean being in England and W. H. Bean in Melbourne). Among the causes for the company's collapse was W. H. Bean's unauthorised purchases on company cheques (speculating on chaff for instance). Nor had W. H. Bean maintained the books properly. At the shareholders' meeting anger was expressed that the liquidator, Mr C. Schlumberger, appeared to side with the company principals, not the ordinary shareholder who stood to lose the whole of their investment.[32] The company went into voluntary liquidation in 1885.

Family

George Bean (c.1805 – 25 April 1869), tanner, founder of a tannery and grindery[33] on banks of River Torrens at Torrensville, and a "colonist of 32 years"[34] was married to Ann, who was accidentally killed on 17 September 1862[35] Among their family were:

  • Lavinia Annette Bean (1837 – 9 July 1904) married Luther Scammell (c. 1826 – March 1910) on 5 February 1856. He was owner of F. H. Faulding & Co.
  • William J. Scammell (26 October 1856 – 19 April 1928) with F. H. Faulding & Co
  • Luther Robert Scammell FCS LSA (20 March 1858 – 8 April 1940) with F. H. Faulding & Co
  • Francis George Scammell (1861– ), solicitor
  • Ernest Arthur Scammell (1865– ), in Queensland
  • Lavinia Mary "Minnie" Scammell (1859 – 8 July 1915)
  • Annette Emily Scammell (1866– ) married Stanley De Laire Newton in 1901, moved to Western Australia
  • Florence Euphemia Scammell (1868– ) married Alfred Corker Minchin in 1888
  • William Henry "W. H." Bean (1843– )
  • George Thomas "G. T." Bean (1843 – 25 February 1912)
  • Arthur Bate Bean (1845–) married Rosa Elizabeth Williams (died 1917) on 7 June 1866.
  • Ann Letitia Maria Bean (9 May 1867 – ) born at St. Marys, married Leonard Harvey Gresham in 1894
  • Lilla Elizabeth Bean (17 April 1869 – ) born at "Bleak House", St. Marys, married Linton Hall Swann in 1903
  • Selina Lavinia Bean (23 July 1871 – 1872) born at St. Mary's
  • Walter Arthur Wickham Bean (16 April 1873 – 1952) born at North Adelaide, married Clara Adelaide Twining Astles (c. 1875 – January 1902) who died in childbirth aged 26.[36]
  • Harold Leonard Bean (1875 – 13 February 1892) died at Cathedral Lodge, Pennington Terrace, aged 16
  • Florence Rosa Bean (18 May 1878 – 1962) born at St. Marys
  • Clarence Percival Bean (21 June 1880 – )
  • Reginald Harvey Bean (4 January 1884 – ) born at "Bleak House", St. Marys
  • Douglas Hurtle Bean (6 August 1890 – )

Arthur Bean

Another brother, Arthur Bate Bean, was often a partner in George's business enterprises.

He too was educated at J. L. Young's Adelaide Educational Institution,[37]

He was the driver of a dogcart which overturned, killing his mother Ann.[35] James McEnhill, whose runaway horses upset the carriage, was found not guilty of manslaughter.[38]

He married Rosa Elizabeth Williams in 1866.[39] They had at least eight children and she died 10 June 1917[40]

From some time before 1867 they lived at "Bleak House", a substantial[41] property on South Road, St Mary's. In 1882 he was found to have acted deceptively in attempting in 1880 to persuade Miss Selina Rogers of Tusmore to sell her nearby property "Sarnia" to one Ernest Alfred Leonard of Western Australia at a price around half its market value.[42] It is not clear what Arthur's motives may have been, but in September 1882 he sold off much of his effects.[43] In 1893 he sold "Bleak House".[44]

He was living at Sussex Street, Glenelg from at least 1902[45] to 1904.[46]

In 1907 he was boarding and keeping shop at 235 Forbes Street Sydney under the alias "Henry Louis Burton".[47] In 1918 he was residing in Cathedral Street, Woolloomooloo.[48]

Arthur's son, Walter W. Bean took over the Hindmarsh tannery and leatherware shop at 158 Rundle Street in 1898.[49]

References
  1. Public notices, 27 July 1839 South Australian Register (Adelaide) p.1
  2. To Saddlers, Shoemakers, & Others. 10 October 1840 South Australian Register (Adelaide) p.3
  3. Leather! Leather! Leather! 20 November South Australian Register (Adelaide) p.1
  4. Business Notices 30 March 1860 South Australian Register (Adelaide) p.1
  5. Public Notices South Australian Advertiser Wednesday 17 April 1861 p.1 accessed 31 March 2011
  6. Insolvency Court South Australian Register 22 May 1861 p.3 accessed 1 April 2011
  7. Manufactures and Industries South Australian Industries 23 May 1868 p.6 accessed 14 March 2011
  8. Research by A. W. Tiffin for J. F. Scammell 21 July 1977 Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine accessed 15 March 2011
  9. A New Colonial Manufacture South Australian Register 10 January 1866 p.2 accessed 20 March 2011
  10. Shipping South Australian Register 18 April 1867 p.1 accessed 14 March 2011
  11. Shipping South Australian Register 29 November 1867 p.1 accessed 14 March 2011
  12. Bean vs SA Insurance Co, 13 June 1868 The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide) p.2, accessed 14 March 2011
  13. Business Notices South Australian Register 16 September 1868 p.1 accessed 14 March 2011
  14. The Fire in King William Street South Australian Register 19 December 1870 p.5 accessed 21 March 2011
  15. Shipment of bark from Normanville South Australian Register 25 March 1869 p.2 accessed 8 April 2011
  16. Concerning People, (Obituary of G.T. Bean), The Register 8 April 1912 p.4 accessed 18 March 2011
  17. Shipping IntelligenceSouth Australian Register Wednesday 28 February 1872 p.4 accessed 4 April 2011
  18. Burning of the Joshua Bates South Australian Register 28 March 1872 Supplement p.7 accessed 4 April 2011
  19. "Advertising". South Australian Register. Adelaide. 23 December 1872. p. 1. Retrieved 29 October 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. The Ministerial Party at Port Darwin South Australian Register Thursday 23 February 1882 p.5 accessed 14 March 2011
  21. The DeLissaville Sugar Plantation South Australian Register 2 January 1882 p.5 accessed 6 April 2011
  22. Northern Territory South Australian Register p.6 accessed 8 April 2011
  23. Our Sugar Companies Northern Territory Times and Gazette 6 January 1883 p.3 accessed 17 March 2011
  24. Northern Territory Sugar Companies South Australian Register 7 February 1883 p.6 accessed 8 April 2011
  25. Hasenohr, E W. H. Gray A Pioneer Colonist of South Australia Adelaide 1977 ISBN 978-0-9596673-0-1 – William Henry Gray (1808–1896)
  26. Mr W H Gray's will, The Advertiser (Adelaide) 8 September 1896 p.5
  27. Miscellaneous, "Notice of resumption", South Australian Register (Adelaide) 27 March 1885 p.7 accessed 14 February 2011
  28. Adelaide and Port Darwin Sugar Company Northern Territory Times and Gazette 8 November 1884 p.2 accessed 15 March 2011
  29. Prospectus South Australian Register 31 August 1882 p.2 accessed 8 April 2011
  30. Advertisement South Australian Register Tuesday 17 October 1882 p.2 accessed 8 April 2011
  31. Summary In Cuzco South Australian Register Monday 22 September 1884 accessed 8 April 2011
  32. Bean Brothers in liquidation South Australian Advertiser 25 March 1885 p.6 accessed 15 March 2011
  33. A grindery is a place where tools are sharpened, and where such tools may be sold. It can also mean such tools in general.
  34. Deaths South Australian Register Saturday 22 May 1869 p.3 accessed 8 April 2011
  35. Fatal Accident – Coroner's Inquest South Australian Register 19 September 1862 p.3 accessed 17 March 2011
  36. Deaths The Register Thursday 30 January 1902 p.2 accessed 9 April 2011
  37. Examination of Pupils South Australian Advertiser Wednesday 15 June 1859 p.2 accessed 18 March 2011
  38. "Supreme Court". South Australian Register. Adelaide. 25 November 1862. p. 2. Retrieved 29 January 2012 – via National Library of Australia. Here spelled "Anne Bean"
  39. Marriages South Australian Register 13 June 1866 p.5 accessed 8 April 2011
  40. Deaths The Advertiser 12 June 1917 p.4 accessed 8 April 2011
  41. To be let on the South Road South Australian Register 12 November 1857 p.1 accessed 8 April 2011
  42. Leonard v. Rogers South Australian Register 21 March 1882 accessed 8 April 2011
  43. Abstract of sales by auction South Australian Register Saturday 23 September 1882 p.7 accessed 8 April 2011
  44. Classifieds The Advertiser 10 June 1893 accessed 10 April 2011
  45. Deaths The Register Wednesday 29 January 1902 p.2 accessed 9 April 2011
    Sarah, wife of Walter W Bean died in childbirth
  46. The Northern Territory The Register 29 February 1904 p.9 accessed 9 April 2011
  47. A Dead Man's Effects Sydney Morning Herald 26 June 1907 p.7 accessed 8 April 2011
  48. "Miscellaneous Information". New South Wales Police Gazette and Weekly Record of Crime. No. 20. New South Wales, Australia. 15 May 1918. p. 230. Retrieved 9 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  49. Public Notices South Australian Register 21 May 1898 p.2 accessed 10 April 2011
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