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| The Flagstaff Boarding house was at 126 Little Bourke St, East, just around the corner from King St, in the vicinity of the red circle. This 1855 map of Melbourne by James Kearney can be seen in its entirety at the State Library of Victoria: http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/89107 |
The day after the marriage of James Hitchman and Susan Rochester, an advertisement seeking James was published in The Argus.
If this should meet the eye of James Hitchman of Keilor, his brother wishes to see him at the Flagstaff Boarding House, King st, Melbourne.The Argus 22 December 1853.
Perhaps a message could be left there, or his brother, most likely Richard, might be staying there, just before Christmas. So, we want to know just where this boarding house was situated, and what sort of establishment it was.
A young lady who wished to work for a respectable dressmaker resided at the boarding house in the same year:RESPECTABLE Board and Residence, 27s. per week,Flagstaff Boarding House, 126 Little Bourke streetwest, two doors from King street.Advertising (1855, April 17). The Age(Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 1.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154896617
The Argus, 30 June 1853, p 1.
Advertising (1853, August 2). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 1.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4795270
RESPECTABLE Board and Residence, 27s. per week,
Flagstaff Boarding House, 126 Little Bourke street
west, two doors from King street.
Advertising (1855, April 17). The Age
(Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 1.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154896617
There was a shop advertised with the house back in 1853, and in 1855 we find the shop is advertising roasted coffee (see, Coffee Culture well into Melbourne by 1855.)
Advertising (1855, July 21). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 8.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4812838
Very likely D Walton sold anything he could buy at a good price at the docks. In the following case, Flour of Sulphur. Various explanations of the use of flour of sulphur do not inspire one with comfort in terms of its safety. In this instance it could have been used as an insecticide, and we hope not stored too closely to the coffee.
Advertising (1855, September 29). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154894865
Advertising (1855, December 18). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4826040
Whether the whole of 126 Little Bourke Street had been turned over for a domestic residence, or whether Mr Coughlin and wife were boarders at a still-operating Boarding House is not clear, but the next few notices were for domestic in nature.
Family Notices (1856, February 29). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 8. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4832006
Advertising (1856, April 29). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 1.
The tiny house at 126 Little Bourke Street continued on in the annals of Melbourne for many years.
But to return to the question of whether the 'brother' enquiring after James Hitchman was his brother Richard, we have one other tiny piece of evidence - which at the very least implies he was in Melbourne.
1855 'No. 23. General Post Office, Melbourne.', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 9 July, p. 6., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154896060
In this list of letters detained at the GPO for the payment of sea postage was a letter for 'R Hitchman', so we may assume that Richard Hitchman was in Melbourne, or had been in Melbourne prior to the date of 9 July 1855.
