Alfred William Tucker

Alfred William Tucker (1856-1934) was an Australian Solicitor who for a short time lived and worked in Blayney, then Medlow Bath, New South Wales. He owned three properties, one of which was just over one acre in Kanimbla Street, and two on the Bathurst Road, Medlow Bath. Along with his wife, Annie Jane Tucker (1857-1934) they ran the Medlow Tea Rooms from 1899 to 1915. After his death a lookout established behind his “Shamrock” cottage was named Tucker’s Lookout. Due to modern development Tucker’s Lookout was moved further down the escarpment.
==Early Life==
Alfred William was born in 1856, to James Cawley Tucker and Elizabeth Ann Algar Tucker, in Sydney, Australia. His father, James, owned and operated Tucker & Co., Wine and Spirit Merchants, 379 George Street, Sydney.
In early 1881, when he was 25 years old he lived in Waverly Street,, Bondi and worked, while a Law Student, for Richard Holdsworth & George Evans Attorneys, Solicitors, Proctors, and Conveyancers of 124 Elizabeth Street, Sydney. He may well have been with RICHARD HOLDSWORTH and STEPHEN CAMPBELL BROWN Solicitors, in 1878, before their partnership was dissolved.
In December, 1881, Alfred relocated to the town of Blayney 35km south west of Bathurst, NSW. By March 1882 he was established in Blayney and practised as a Solicitor. The Carcoar Chronicle published a Legal Notice signed by Richard & David Heaton and witnessed by Alfred W. Tucker, Solicitor, Blayney. Through 1882 to May, 1886, he advertised with The Carcoar Chronicle on behalf of a Money Lender through himself and Messrs. Tucker and Co., 377 George Street, Sydney.
==Family==
On 10th March, 1891, Alfred W. Tucker married Annie Jane McElroy Rollins, at the Holy Trinity Church, Sydney, by the Venerable Archdeacon King. Annie Jane M'Elroy, eldest daughter of William Rollins, county Roscommon, Ireland.
On 7th January 1898, at her residence, Hazelton, Bowral, Annie Jane Tucker, gave birth to a son. Their son's name was Alfred Rupert but was later known as Roy. Alfred and Annie left Burwood to go to “Hazelton” in Bowral for the birth. While in Bowral in March 1898 Alfred wrote to the Editor of the Robertson Advocate in March 1898. Little more is known other than "Hazelton" was advertised as a Boarding House from October 1893 until 1900 and run by Miss Paterson.
An unsubstantiated story says the "Hazelton" property in Bowral, was originally owned by the Wilkinson family. The Wilkinsons were early settlers in the Bowral area, and they owned and developed the property before it passed into the hands of Charles H. Hennessy, who later renamed it "Hazelton."
Family Notices in The Sydney Morning Herald recorded the birth of a son to the wife of Annie Jane Tucker, July 17, 1903, at Ascot, Medlow. 2nd son's name was Reep. (Originally called Brown's Siding, Medlow was not yet named, Medlow Bath.)
The Tucker's third child, a daughter named Time, was born in the Shamrock Cottage on 11 March, 1908. By then the Tucker's were eager to sell up land in Medlow Bath. Alfred continued advertising his properties through 1908, and 1909. First, he advertised one property, then two, both opposite the station. He signed one advert. A. Tucker, Medlow Bath or Manly.
==Writing==
In March, 1887, Tucker began writing to The Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald on social issues. His first published letter dealt with fees payable for work done in Government offices.
Alfred's frequent letters to the Editor between 1887 and 1897 addressed issues of the Deficit, Criminal Law, George Street Markets, Police Buildings, a Regatta Flag Ship, the Centennial Banquet, a Death Sentence, a Public Disturbance, and The Drought.
Tucker always signed his letters “I am. &c., ALFRED W. TUCKER.” except for one occasion, regarding the Centennial Flag Ship, when he signed it, “I am. &c., ALFRED W. TUCKER, Burwood.”
A year later, in April 1899, Alfred wrote a letter to the Editor of the Mountaineer, a Katoomba publication. Mr Tucker had moved from Blayney to Katoomba and he signed the letter in his usual way but added, “Katoomba” as he did with “Burwood” earlier.
Alfred was now sending letters to The Mountaineer and The Sydney Morning Herald but it wasn't until April 1901 that he signed a letter, “Yours &c., ALFRED W. TUCKER, Medlow.” It was sent to the Mountaineer regarding the upcoming visit of the Duke And Duchess of Cornwall and York. Then in August 1902 he signed “Medlow” in a letter to The Sydney Morning Herald titled, “Mountain Trains”.
==Medlow & Tea Rooms==
Alfred Tucker settled in to the Katoomba district after leaving Blayney and met William H. Hargreaves, a principal land owner, in Medlow and purchased property adjacent to him. This is known because later he sold a cottage to Mark Foy after Foy had purchased Hargreaves property to build the Hydro Majestic Sanatorium that opened in 1903 and later became the Hydro Majestic Hotel. (Hargreaves is sometimes spelled Hargraves in newspapers.)
In December 1899, The Mountaineer printed an advertisement. It read, “The proprietress of the Medlow Tea Rooms advertises that aerated waters can be obtained at the rooms.”
===The Patriotic Fund===
Alfred Tucker along with J. Neate (Jnr), C. N. Backhouse and Hargreaves himself organised a Concert, in February 1900, on Hargreaves grounds, in aid of the Patriotic Fund. In December 1900, The Mountaineer published, “We notice Mr. A. W. Tucker, of the Medlow Tea Rooms is making extensive alterations, and the contractor is erecting some substantial buildings.”
In March 1901, Mrs Tucker's Tearooms hosted a hearty send-off for Privates George and Albert Cliff, who were leaving for the war. There were about 50 persons present, and an enjoyable evening was spent, entertained by a programme of musical and other items. On behalf of those in attendance the departing soldiers were each presented with a beautiful silver matchbox.
In November 1903, The Mountaineer announced that the Medlow Tea Rooms were closed temporarily. Although, it is unknown exactly when a cottage, owned by Alfred Tucker, was purchased by Mark Foy and incorporated into the building of the Hydro, it occurred about the same time Foy purchased The Belgravia Hotel in 1903. This of course was prior to the opening of the Hydro Majestic in July 1904. The cottage purchased was the Medlow Tea Rooms since it was advertised as next to the Hargreaves property almost opposite the railway station. This meant the tea rooms had to move to another property Alfred already owned or purchased in the same street.
In those days Medlow had only one main road, the Bathurst Road, and while, in general, new streets were being named there were no street numbers so houses were given exotic names. One reason was for the delivery of mail. As mentioned earlier, Alfred Tucker's first son was born in a house called "Ascot." This house is likely to be the one on the corner of Belgravia and Kanimbla Streets since the Tucker's also owned Shamrock Cottage on Bathurst Road where they ran the Medlow Tea Rooms. When the Hydro Majestic Sanatorium opened in 1904 Mark Foy and Alfred Tucker successfully petitioned the New South Wales Railways and changed the name of Medlow to Medlow Bath.
By March 1907, the Tucker's were done with the Tea Rooms and in October Alfred began placing rental advertisements for two houses, one being the Medlow Tea Rooms. The reasons most likely were the knowledge that Annie Jane was pregnant with their third child and Alfred was often making the long train commute to Sydney for work as a solicitor. Advertisements in the Sydney Morning Herald read, “Blue Mountains Accommodation for visitors at Shamrock Cottage, Medlow Bath next Hydro, Lovely view.“ and another, “BLUE MTS. — To LET, Opp. station, next Hydro, large Furn. COTTAGE, also new Cott., unfurn., together or separately with or without Medlow Tearooms, lovely view of valley. A. W. TUCKER, Manly. It's interesting to note that Alfred was posting from Manly not Medlow Bath. Manly was likely where he worked.
===Progress Association===
Medlow Bath was a small community and Alfred participated in the affairs of it alongside Mark Foy. In August 1911 a public meeting was held at Mr. Tucker's residence for the purpose of forming a progress association. Officers were ejected with Mr. J. Cliff as president and Mr. T. S. Wroe, secretary and treasurer. During the meeting it was noted that an application to the postal authorities to build a new post office had been ignored and the mail still remained at the railway station.
In November 1911, Alfred along with J. J. Barker, John Cliff, Mark Foy, H. O. Johnston, J. Rice and T. S. Wroe were appointed trustees of reserve No. 46,686 at Medlow Bath Meanwhile, Alfred kept advertising where one offered visitor accommodation in the "Shamrock Cottage."
===Post Office===
The Blue Mountain Echo, November 1912, announced the opening of a properly equipped Post Office at Medlow Bath. The occasion was celebrated when Mr Mark Foy and Mr Alfred Tucker entertained a number of townspeople and officials. The new office was on the main road opposite the station. Mr Livermore was in charge, and he, together with an assistant, began looking after the mailed communication with the outer world. Mr Morris, the ever-courteous station master was thanked for his valuable services.
At the same time Alfred placed an advertisement in The Blue Mountain Echo noting that the Shamrock Cottage was next to the Medlow Post. Office. Following that the Shamrock Cottage continued as the Medlow Tea Rooms, run by the Tuckers, for the following two years until January 1915 when Alfred made a concerted effort to sell everything. He placed two advertisements, to Let a nice Boarding-house, with Medlow Tea Rooms Business, and two furnished cottages, close to Hydro Majestic Hotel. 
It's interesting to note that the second advertisement boasted a “lookout over Kanimbla Valley at the back.” For a short time this lookout became known as ‘The Hydro Lookout’ but, for a long time, it was ‘Tucker’s Lookout.’
The Tucker's were now finally done with tea rooms and possibly even Medlow Bath. Alfred had always worked in Sydney after arriving in Medlow Bath and its not surprising that, at 59 years of age, he was becoming tired of the long commute by train from Medlow Bath to the city.
It is unknown whether Tucker leased his premises or sold them but in August 1915 he placed his final advertisement in the Sydney Morning Herald. It read, “AT MEDLOW BATH STN., BLUE MOUNTAINS, CLOONLOO and ST. OMERS, with about ¾-acre land, lovely view valley, water for bath, etc, laid on from Lake Medlow; immediate possession if required; close Hydro and Post-office; Torrens title. A. W. TUCKER, Watson's Bay.” "Cloonloo" and "St. Omers" were the names of Alfred's second and third cottages while "Shamrock" was the first.
There is one indication that Tucker may have sold another cottage to Mark Foy as the next advertisement in January the following year, 1916, read, “MRS. SAUNDERS, late of Melbourne, wishes to intimidate to the public that she has opened an up-to-date TEA & LUNCHEON ROOMS in Mr. Mark Foy's commodious premises, two doors from Hydro.” It's possible that Mark Foy only acted as an agent for Alfred Tucker who was most likely living in Watson's Bay. In March, Mrs. Saunders renamed the Medlow Tea Rooms, "St. Omer Tea Rooms."
In January 1921 The Blue Mountain Echo announced that Mrs Saunders was opening a branch tea room and gardens opposite the station called the "Australia Tea Rooms," next to the Hydro Majestic. Later that year, the Australia Tea Rooms, moved and re-opened at "Melbourne House," two doors from the Post Office.
==Final Years==
Between 1915 and 1923 the Tucker family retreated to Sydney. Alfred continued as a solicitor and Annie along with their two sons ran a silk goods business. On 12 October 1923 notice was given in The New South Wales Government Gazette that the partnership existing between Annie Jane Tucker, Alfred Rupert Tucker and James Reep Tucker, carrying on business under the name of "Silk Goods Manufacturers Company," had been dissolved by mutual consent, and the said business was to be carried on by Annie Jane Tucker.
===Letters To The Editor===
From June 1922, Alfred again took up writing to the Editor of the Sydney Morning Herald on various topics, supposedly from his work locations, i.e.
* June 1922 - Martin Place Extension. June 1. Mosman.
* July 1924 - Martin Place Extension. July 3. Cremorne.
* Oct 1924 - Ne Temere. Oct 6. Croydon.
* Sep 1925 - An Old Spring. Sept. 21. Lewisham.
* Dec 1925 - Freedom Protest. Dec 21. Petersham.
* May 1926 - LawCourts. May 18. Petersham.
* Jan 1932 - Sydney Bridge. Jan 1. Bondi.
* Feb 1934 - Martin Place Extension. Feb 15. Bondi.
At 67 years of age, on 31st July 1934, Annie Jane Tucker died at her residence, "Cloonloo," 2 Rawson Street, Waverley. Anne Jane the dearly-beloved wife of Alfred William Tucker, and loving mother of Roy, Reep, and Time (Mrs. A. D. Smith), was at perfect peace with a request of no mourning.
Alfred succumbed four months later, 27th November 1934, at 170 Queen Street, Woollahra. Private Funeral.
"Tucker's Lookout" celebrates one of Medlow Bath's early pioneers. The Medlow Tea Rooms continued until 1939, albeit with another proprietress, Mrs C. M. Saunders and another name, "Melbourne Tea House," right opposite the station near the Hydro Majestic Hotel in Medlow Bath.
Category:1856 births
Category:1934 deaths
Category:Australian solicitors
Category:Australian people