In 1881, Patrick Kirby purchased a small undertaker’s business at 84 Hunter Street, in central Sydney. Two years later he sold a half share in the business to Elizabeth Barby, who ran a tobacconist’s shop at no. 66 in the same street. Elizabeth was an astute business woman who had moved from the country to make a living for herself and her illegitimate son William, then eight years old.
Trouble arose for the business in 1885, ‘ Patrick Kirby, undertaker, of Hunter Street, Sydney, was arraigned upon the charge of having caused danger to public health by allowing decomposed bodies to remain overnight at his establishment.’ (Sydney Mail, Feb 7 1885)
Two bodies had been taken from Sydney Hospital to the University, for dissection by medical students. At the end of the dissection Kirby was paid to bury the bodies. However, instead of taking them straight to Rookwood Cemetery, he stored them at his Hunter Street premises. His neighbours were overcome by the stench and took legal proceedings against him. He was found guilty and fined £30.
Kirby’s young wife Fennetta died in June 1885 and just a few weeks later he married the thirty two year old Elizabeth Barby, by special license.
It was not long before Elizabeth found herself a widow. Patrick died after a short illness the following year;
The business prospered , with branches opening in many Sydney suburbs. Elizabeth’s son changed his name to Kirby by deed poll and joined the business. A few years later, aged 22, he became a partner.
In 1908 Elizabeth paid £4000 to have impressive new headquarters built at no. 7 Elizabeth Street. A feature on the premises was published by Town and Country.
Elizabeth retired just prior to WWI and the undertaking business was wound up in 1920. Subsequently she converted the majority of her real estate to cash and shares. She rented a palatial estate at 42 Rangers Road, Cremorne. After taking a trip to England, she and William settled down contentedly together.
42 Rangers Road,
All went well until William met and fell in love with a Cremorne local Miss Madeline Sproule, daughter of ship’s captain Charles Sproule. Elizabeth was vehemently against her son marrying, but in 1922 William went ahead anyway. He did all he could to appease his mother, even choosing to live in the same street to be near her. But Elizabeth’s jealousy was all-consuming;
‘Will comes every day and we are good pals. But the sunshine has all gone out for us. I will never speak to her [her son’s wife Madeline] I would like to kill her,,,He takes me out in the car every day, but I would not lend it to him to take her out.’ (The Sun, Sept, 16 1937)
Two children came along, but although Elizabeth loved them, her bitterness towards her daughter-in-law remained until the day she died in 1934.
The bulk of her £177,000 estate was left to provide soldier settlement properties for WWI servicemen. Mind you, there were so many conditions attached to the bequest that it was challenged as invalid. If this had occurred Elizabeth would have been declared intestate. However, the bequest finally passed legal scrutiny and veterans did receive parcels of land.
The extraordinary will also contained a clause that if William ever fell on hard times and could not support himself, he could be paid £10 per week by the trustees. However, there was a proviso that can only be described as vindictive, revealing the extent of Elizabeth’s dislike of her daughter-in-law. To receive the money William would have to leave his family and live at a club where women were banned. Here is an extract from the will;
When a reporter knocked on Madeline Kirby’s door he found her to be remarkably untroubled by the actions of her mother-in-law (or the intrusion of the press). A portrait of Elizabeth remained on the wall of the cottage.
Source – Daily Telegraph, 26 July 1934
Madeline understood that Elizabeth would have resented anyone who married her son. It was testament to her character that she had coped with the situation so well over the years.However, William Kirby took action to claim the sum of £20,000 from the estate. It was revealed that at one point he had transferred property to his mother, agreeing not to enforce payment as she promised he would receive the sum in her will. According to witnesses this was a deliberate ruse on her part. Thankfully William w0n the case.
William Jnr. inherited his grandmother’s Packard motor car, and nine year old Beverley was left Elizabeth’s piano and jewellery.
William and Madeline Kirby and their children lived on in the cottage at Rangers Road, Cremorne. William passed away in September 1954.
Madeline died at Cremorne in 1963.
Very interesting article. Just wondering what happened to the Funeral Business after 1929? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Andrew, as far as I know it was taken over by Wood Coffill funerals.