Funerary Consumption in the Second Half of the 19Th Century in Brisbane, Queensland
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Funerary consumption in the second half of the 19th century in Brisbane, Queensland Hilda Erica Maclean BA Hons, MEd A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2015 School of Social Science Abstract A plume decked hearse drawn by a pair of black horses is one of the most enduring and familiar images of the Victorian era. Death is universal yet little is really known about the business behind consigning the dead to the earth in our not so distant past. This thesis examines the consumption of funerary goods and services in Brisbane, the capital of the colony of Queensland, Australia between 1859 and 1901. Using a consumer behaviour theoretical framework, the consumption choices made by three categories of funerary consumers; individuals, institutions and intermediaries are examined. In this thesis, institutions are the facilities where deaths occurred and the consumption was made by corporate bodies. The intermediaries are the undertakers who facilitated and mediated the purchases made by the other two categories, while being consumers of goods and services in their own right. As existing consumption models do not adequately address all of these categories, a new model for funerary consumption is proposed. This research project developed from the 2000 – 2002 archaeological salvage excavation of the former North Brisbane Burial Grounds (NBBG) which operated between 1843 and 1875. A number of artefacts were recovered from 397 burials, providing a subset of funerary goods that were actually consumed but not the total range and value of goods which were available for purchase at the time. Documentary evidence was sought as to the origin and cost of these goods in an attempt to learn more about the consumption choices made by Brisbane residents. However, an incomplete documentary record meant that disparate strands of evidence were scrutinised together, and to assist in that process the archaeological record and existing models of consumption were examined. This thesis answers the question: What factors influenced the consumption of funerary goods and services in Brisbane in the last half of the 19th century? All surviving undertakers’ records in the location and period were examined for evidence of consumption. These were cross-referenced with existing cemetery records and sorted by grave class allowing for the consumption of individuals to be grouped. As a single grave class was exclusively used by institutional consumers, this allowed for these burials to be examined separately, showing a different process of institutional acquisition of burial services to those funerals arranged by the family and friends of the deceased. i The Funerary Consumption Model (FCM) was developed to show the consumption pattern of both individual and institutional consumers, with the intermediary (i.e. the undertaker) mediating their purchasing decisions. Then the factors which influence consumer decision making processes e.g. marketing, reference groups etc. were added to the model. The FCM can also be applied to the consumption of funerary services in other jurisdictions and time periods. ii Declaration by author This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly-authored works that I have included in my thesis. I have clearly stated the contribution of others to my thesis as a whole, including statistical assistance, survey design, data analysis, significant technical procedures, professional editorial advice, and any other original research work used or reported in my thesis. The content of my thesis is the result of work I have carried out since the commencement of my research higher degree candidature and does not include a substantial part of work that has been submitted to qualify for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution. I have clearly stated which parts of my thesis, if any, have been submitted to qualify for another award. I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the policy and procedures of The University of Queensland, the thesis be made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968 unless a period of embargo has been approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. I acknowledge that copyright of all material contained in my thesis resides with the copyright holder(s) of that material. Where appropriate I have obtained copyright permission from the copyright holder to reproduce material in this thesis. iii Publications during candidature No publications. Publications included in this thesis No publications included. iv Contributions by others to the thesis No contributions by others. Statement of parts of the thesis submitted to qualify for the award of another degree None. v Acknowledgements It would have been impossible to write this thesis without the help of many people, both in Australia and overseas. I am deeply appreciative of the assistance they have given me. At the University of Queensland, first and foremost, I must thank my advisors Dr Jon Prangnell and Dr Glenys McGowan for their insightful feedback. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the interest and support shown by other staff and PhD Candidates at the School of Social Science. In particular I would like to thank Keitha Brown post graduate administrative officer (retired), for calmly guiding me through the enrolment procedures of graduate school and giving me much encouragement. I also need to thank University of Queensland Archaeological Services Unit North Brisbane Burial Grounds 2000 – 2002 excavation crew and to Dr Jon Prangnell for providing access to the reports, maps, photographs and artefacts. I am especially indebted to Helen Cooke, faculty librarian, and the staff of the Fryer Library. This project could not have been undertaken without funding support received from University of Queensland Research Scholarship (UQRS) and conference funding from the School of Social Science Post Graduate Studies Committee. I would sincerely like to thank Matthew Harris for drawing the maps, Dr Margaretha Vlahos for providing the illustrations, Egil Gausel for taking the photographs and Jaydeyn Thomas for proof-reading. In Brisbane, I need to thank Stephanie Ryan and the staff of the John Oxley Library, the State Library of Queensland, and the Queensland State Archives. Not only did they retrieve the items I requested, they were frequently helpful with suggestions of other, lesser known and under-utilised resources I could investigate. I would also like to thank Dr Katie McConnel, Curator, Old Government House for making available the diary of Lady Musgrave and for her unfailing encouragement. The Royal Historical Society of Queensland, Genealogical Society of Queensland, Queensland Family History Society collections are a valuable source of data. For all of the generous assistance I received from the volunteers who run these societies, I am sincerely grateful. vi The Friends of Toowong Cemetery Association Inc. have collected in its 20 year existence data on the North Brisbane Burial Grounds and the Brisbane General Cemetery. Sue Olsen, Margaret Campbell, Prue Firth and Paul Seeto deserve particular mention. There were several other people who were of great assistance in making available the results of their own historical research and private collections. I am especially grateful to Reverend John Cuffe, Priest in Charge, Christ Church, Milton (retired), Val Blomer and Margaret McNamara for sharing the Hislop Family Photographs. Thank you also to Laurel Shanley of K.M. Smith for providing me with her research into Kate Mary Smith and to the staff of Cannon & Cripps for letting me delve into their collection of photographs and ephemera. In Sydney, I would like to thank Paul Cox of the Powerhouse Museum who welcomed me behind the scenes and made available the coffin furniture from the Wong Family Store collection. Thanks must also be made to the staff of the Mitchell Library for making available the diary of Blanche Mitchell. In Canberra, everyone connected with the National Library of Australia’s Trove Project need to be thanked for digitising colonial era newspapers and photographs, making external research possible. Associate Professor Helen Ennis provided a valuable insight into post-mortem photography. In the United Kingdom, the following have provided gracious assistance and unfailing encouragement, Dr Simon Buteux and Dr Sarah Hayes, Newman Brothers Coffin Furniture Factory project of the Birmingham Conservation Trust. A great deal of expertise was made available to me by Julie Halls at The National Archives, Kew and Dr Brian Parsons for the insight into the British funeral industry. I am deeply thankful for the encouragement of Reverend Doctor Peter Jupp, Dr Toby Miles-Johnson, Dr Susan Buckham, Dr Julie Rugg and Dr Ruth McManus. To fellow coffin furniture researchers Megan E. Springate and Sarah Hoile, thank you for sharing your collections with me. Finally, a huge debt of thanks must be paid to my family and friends for the varying degrees of interest shown in my research topic. Frontispiece Photograph: Best hearse with ‘four-in-hand’ and plumes. One of a series of publicity photographs taken outside John Hislop, Queen Street, Brisbane ca 1885 (SLQ 16756)