Early Life and Migration

Thomas Charles Attwood was born in England in 1846. According to the 1881 Census, he was working as a hardware and commission agent in St Pancras, London. Around 1890, he arrived in Western Australia with his wife, Kate, and their children, settling in Mount Magnet.

Mining Interests

In 1892, Attwood became part-owner of the Monarch Claim with M. J. Ford and others. He collected several stones from the mine and transported them to Adelaide, believing that the machinery available there was superior to that used in Mount Magnet for extracting gold-bearing ore. After achieving better results, he purchased a machine for the syndicate from Melbourne and had it shipped to Western Australia. Later that year, he sold the mine to an Adelaide syndicate.

Public Service and Hospitality

In May 1893, Attwood was appointed Postmaster in the growing town of Mount Magnet.

By May 1895, he had obtained a Wayside House Licence for a hotel called the One & All Hotel in Hepburn Street, Mount Magnet. The hotel initially had only three sitting rooms and five bedrooms, though it was later expanded.

Volcanic Aerated Waters Factory

His first advertisement for the Volcanic Aerated Water Factory appeared in the Northern Mining Register and Murchison Goldfields Gazette on 16 May 1896. The factory produced soda water, lemonade, ginger ale, tonic water, sparkling horehound, and old English ginger beer, and trade orders were supplied. His advertisements continued until 10 October 1896.

In addition to Attwood’s factory in Hepburn Street, J. W. Perymann operated a rival aerated water business in Richardson Street. Other local establishments included Pogue & Morck’s Oasis Hotel and Mrs J. Smith’s Royal Mail Hotel, ensuring that Mount Magnet’s miners were well catered for.

Return to Perth and Later Career

In February 1897, Attwood sold the One & All Hotel. By that time, he had lived in the town for five years—recalling that there had been only one building when he first arrived. He had also operated a chaff house for horses during his early years in the district.

Later in 1897, he relocated to Perth, where in August he commenced business as a Mining and General Agent at Crossland Chambers, 69 Barrack Street. However, by December 1898, he had returned north to once again manage the One & All Hotel. By February 1899, the hotel had grown to include ten bedrooms, a parlour, dining room, and billiard room, and the licence had been transferred from M. De Pedro.

Legal and Financial Troubles

Business soon became difficult. In May 1899, the Port Brewery in Fremantle brought legal action against Attwood. An auction was subsequently advertised to sell tanks, casks, wines, spirits, and cordials. Shortly afterward, Attwood leased a public house at Lennonville from D. McIntosh in May, but by August, James Worth had taken over the business. In September 1899, Barnabus Pember became the new proprietor of the One & All Hotel, while Attwood moved to Laverton.

Laverton and Midland Junction Years

By May 1900, Attwood and J. O’Doherty had purchased the Laverton Hotel in partnership, though by October O’Doherty had become sole proprietor. Attwood then resumed work as a mining and commission agent and auctioneer, also serving as Secretary of the Board of Health and participating in the local Progress Association.

In January 1904, Attwood relocated to Midland Junction, where he worked as an auctioneer, house, land, and commission agent, accountant, and hotel broker.

Death and Family Legacy

Thomas Charles Attwood passed away on 2 November 1905, aged 59 years, and was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery. His wife, Kate, and their children—Daisy, Helen, Arthur Bruce Attwood, and William Charles Attwood—later moved to Kalgoorlie, remaining there until about 1914 before settling in Perth.

Kate Attwood died in 1930, and their son William Charles Attwood, born 1880 in London, became well known as the proprietor of William Attwood Motors, Chrysler dealers in Perth, before his death in 1938.

Legacy of the Volcanic Factory

The Volcanic Aerated Waters Factory may have operated only for a few months. Whether Attwood had labels printed or used marble bottles remains uncertain. Although Mount Magnet bottle collectors hold examples from various local firms, Attwood’s enterprise appears to have been too short-lived for many surviving specimens.

References

Find My Past. (n.d.). Genealogical records – United Kingdom and Australia.

Justice Department of Western Australia. (n.d.). Public court and licensing records.

Metropolitan Cemeteries Board. (n.d.). Karrakatta Cemetery records.

Western Australian Electoral Rolls. (n.d.). Commonwealth of Australia – Abridged record of voters.

Wises Post Office Directories. (n.d.). Western Australia listings.

Murchison Times and Day Dawn Gazette. (1895, May 25; 1895, Dec 4; 1899, Feb 23; 1899, May 23; 1899, Sep 5). Various notices.

Northern Mining Register and Murchison Goldfields Gazette. (1896, May 16; 1896, May 30; 1897, Jan 16). Advertisements for Volcanic Aerated Waters.

Mount Magnet Miner and Lennonville Leader. (1897, Feb 13; 1897, Aug 28; 1898, Dec 10; 1899, May 20; 1899, Jul 22). Local reports and advertisements.

Malcolm Chronicle and Leonora Advertiser. (1900, May 26; 1900, Sep 22; 1900, Oct 6; 1900, Nov 3; 1901, May 25; 1903, Jan 24). Various notices.

The Swan Express. (1904, Jan 2). Untitled notice.

The West Australian. (1892, Sep 26; 1893, May 4; 1895, May 25; 1897, Dec 4; 1899, Feb 23; 1899, May 23; 1899, Sep 5; 1900, May 26; 1900, Sep 22; 1900, Oct 6; 1900, Nov 3; 1901, May 25; 1903, Jan 24). Various news articles.

W.A. Record. (1893, May 4). Local notice.

Vivienne Sinclair

Edited by Trudi Anne Gribble