This week’s image was taken by famous colonial photographer Beaufoy Merlin on his visit to Bathurst in 1872 as he travelled throughout some of the western districts. It shows William Pittendrigh’s second home in Bentinck Street, “East Lynne”. William’s wife and three children can be seen out the front of their home. This is part two of a story in three parts.
William Pittendrigh owned and operated one of the premier coach-building establishments around Bathurst and Kelso.
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His coachworks were located in Bentinck Street between Russell and Keppel streets.
William was a Bathurstian, having been born in 1847 in Bathurst. He was the son of Alexander and Elizabeth Pittendrigh. His father, a shoemaker, worked for George Ranken at Eglinton.
Ranken had visited Scotland in 1840 in search of tradespeople and workers to employ at Bathurst and his other properties.
Thus William’s parents sailed from Scotland with three of their children in 1841, arriving three months later in Sydney Harbour.
From here they travelled to Bathurst and settled on George Ranken’s property “Saltram”, adding four children to the family.
The Pittendrigh family stayed at “Saltram” for two decades before buying some land at Wattle Flat and relocating there.
Seeing an opportunity to pursue a trade, young William started a blacksmithing apprenticeship in 1862 with Francis Halliday, a Bathurst coach-builder.
Mr Halliday had started his business 10 years previously due to a boost in local business after the discovery of payable gold in the surrounding districts.
His coachworks were located beside the then post office in Russell Street.
The business was well-established by the time young William joined it and Mr Halliday had a reputation for quality, reliability and for delivering his orders on time.
The business outgrew its first buildings and by April 1861 he had completed his new factory.
William Pittendrigh’s indenture to learn the coach-building trade with Francis Halliday was signed on August 20, 1862 and lasted six years.
Around 1870, William was able to purchase Mr Halliday’s coach-building business after Mr Halliday decided to establish his own tannery business, the Railway Tannery.
William decided not to stay in Russell Street and established the new business around the corner in Bentinck Street in conjunction with Mr D. Hume.
William married Emily Jane Blackman of Peel on December 17, 1873. It was the same year he became the sole proprietor of the business. The wedding took place at her parents George and Susannah Blackman’s residence at Peel.
William placed a series of advertisements in The National Advocate newspaper in November 1889 for his “Bentinck Street Coach Factory” on behalf of W. Pittendrigh and Company.
He claimed that: “He was one of the ‘genuine’ coach builders in Bathurst with 28 years practical experience by that time with 19 years in his own establishment.”
It seems William was taking some “leave of absence” and wished to confirm customers’ confidence in his establishment. He had much pleasure in announcing that it was the intention to continue to conduct the business on the best principles and most reasonable terms.
Being in a position to do so, they could make and repair as cheaply as anyone in the colony. They could paint and finish in first-class styles, he said.
Ladies’ phaetons and other vehicles were made from the best seasoned timber.
They were making coaches, sociables, buggies and village carts on the premises or made to order at moderate prices. William had arranged for Mr. D. Hume, a man of 37 years’ experience in various parts of the colony and a former partner, to receive orders while he was absent.
