Avoca Walking Tour: # 42 Bakery and Tea Rooms, c1860

This month’s blog posts concern places on the Avoca Walking Tour, a brochure published by the Pyrenees Tourism Association. An online transcription is available here.  

42 Bakery and Tea Rooms, c1860. Henry Powers established the Avoca Bakery here in 1860. In 1927 the shop to the North had become the Avoca Tea Rooms under the charge of Miss Maggie Larkins. Eventually the Tea Rooms were expanded to include the South Shop as well.

Henry Powers (1835–1914) was born in Blunham, Bedfordshire, England, the son of a baker. He trained as a baker and on the 1851 census he was a baker assistant working for his older brother John.

Henry emigrated to Victoria as a young man and by 1859 was at Avoca. He established the Avoca Bakery in 1860.

Henry married in 1861 to Christina Johnstone. They had twelve children.

The Avoca Heritage study compiled in 1993/94 records:

The first rate records of 1865 show him [Henry Powers] occupying a bakery and dwelling on this site [128 High Street]. A later photograph possibly dating from the 1890s, shows Henry Powers still occupying the shop to the north. Sign boards on the shop indicate that during this period he was operating a store and newsagency in addition to a bakery. The shop to the south was used by a hairdresser.  In 1900 Henry Powers was still operating on the site as a baker, while the shop to the south operated as a butcher's shop under the control of a Mrs Kang [Mary Eliza (Kells) Kang (1859-1941)]. By 1915 Arthur Ah Pee [son of Mary Kang, Arthur Innes Ahpee (1883-1964)] had taken over the butchers shop and he ran the business until 1919 when he sold to John Redpath [John Redpath (1873-1956)] who turned the building into a fruit and vegetable shop. By 1927 the shop to the north had become the Avoca Tea Rooms under the charge of Miss Maggie Larkins [Margaret (Larkins) Costello (1890-1959)], and as this business expanded it also took over the building to the south for use as a dining room. An advertisement on 14 June 1927 proclaimed that the tea rooms could provide refreshments at all hours. It also advertised cool drinks and sweets, and fresh bread and pastry daily.  The location of the tea rooms directly opposite Avoca's memorial rotunda eventually prompted a change of name and from the early 1930s it was known as the Rotunda Cafe. During this period the shops appear to have been owned by H. F. Dowsley, a fruiterer [Henry Francis Dowsley (1864-1934)]. The Rotunda Cafe was eventually purchased by Claude Harrison, [Claude Bertram Harrison (1912-1991)] the proprietor of the Willow Cafe who established a fish and chip shop in the premises. It later became a private residence. 

Description: Each shop is marked at the parapet line by a central triangular pediment. These were originally of timber boarding but have been clad in flat galvanised iron sheeting. The shops are marked on the facade by flat timber Doric pilasters at each end and between the shop fronts.

Obituary for Henry Powers

Avoca Free Press and Farmers’ and Miners’ Journal (Vic.), Saturday 17 January 1914, page 2

Obituary.
MR HENRY POWERS
Deep regret is always felt when any of the pioneers-the men who did so much towards the upbuilding of their country-pass away, and in this connection the death of Mr Henry Powers which occurred at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday will be deplored by all. The deceased gentleman was born in Bedfordshire, England, 78 years ago. At the age of sixteen he came to Australia, and arrived at Avoca 55 years ago. A year later Mr Powers established the Avoca Bakery, and under his capable supervision the business flourished, and the bakery is now one of the best equipped in the provinces. Twenty years ago ago Mr Powers turned his attention to farming pursuits, and purchased the farm known as "The Vale," the homestead being one of the old landmarks on the Moonambel road. Throughout his long association with this district Mr Powers was held in high esteem; he was noted for his integrity and straightforwardness, and his many kindly actions will long be remembered. The death of Mr Powers closes a very honorable career of a veteran who will be greatly missed by a wide circle of friends. Mr Powers was married at St John's Church of England. Avoca, by the Rev Garlick, and he and his wife (who predeceased him about sixteen years) reared a large family, who also hold the respect of all local residents. Numerous messages of sympathy have been received by the sorrowing ones in connection with their sad bereavement. The members of the family are:-Mr Jno Powers (Avoca); Mr Henry Powers (Avoca): Mr Robert Powers (Melb) Mrs Lilburne (Birchip); Mrs Lamont (W.A.); Mrs L Wills, Mrs T Wills, Mrs Lilburne (Birchip); Mrs Baker (Bet Bet); Mrs Wilson (Sea Lake): Miss Elizabeth Powers (Avoca); Miss Agnes Powers (Avoca); Miss Caroline Powers (Avoca).
The funeral will take place this afternoon, leaving "The Vale" at half-past three o'clock for the Avoca Cemetery.

Related posts and further reading

• Book: Postcards from Avoca: The book is built from a collection of postcards exchanged between members of the Powers family in Avoca and the Wills family in Lake Bolac

Wikitree:

• Henry Powers (1835–1914)
• Mary Eliza (Kells) Kang (1859-1941)
• Arthur Innes Ahpee (1883-1964)
• John Redpath (1873-1956)
• Margaret (Larkins) Costello (1890-1959)
• Henry Francis Dowsley (1864-1934)]
• Claude Bertram Harrison (1912-1991)