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.
33 “Rutherford”, 1860s. On the Corner of Duke Street this home was built for Edmund Snell who operated the General Store. (Refer No. 36)
36 General Store c1860. Edmund Snell migrated to Victoria in 1852 and was on the Avoca Goldfields in 1853. He established a general store and this was in existence on the present site as early as 1863
Edmund Snell arrived in Melbourne from England in 1852 and initially tried his luck on the diggings at Forest Creek, though with little success. He later travelled to Geelong and then to the Otway Ranges intending to take up land, but was soon drawn back to gold seeking. From there he moved to Daisy Hill (Amherst) and then to Donkey Woman’s Gully near Avoca. In 1853 he settled at Avoca, later recalling that he “thought so much of the scenery and the beauty of the locality” that he decided to remain. Although he continued prospecting for a time, fortune eluded him, and he turned to business instead.
In 1858 Edmund Snell married Agnes Grewar. They had nine children.
Edmund Snell built one of the leading businesses in High Street. His store sold a variety of produce – including groceries, drapery, hardware, timber and building supplies.
He was elected to the Avoca Borough Council. Following the creation of the Shire of Avoca in 1865, Snell served on the new council and was elected President in 1865–66.
Edmund Snell also played an active role in mining ventures, community organisations, and charitable work. He served on the boards of several mining companies and of the Mechanics’ Institute, and participated in the Progress Committee and Prospecting Association. In 1881 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace.
Victoria and its Metropolis (1888)
Snell, Edmund, J.P., Avoca, is a native of Devonshire, England, who arrived in Melbourne in 1852. His first occupation was that of alluvial miner at Forest Creek and Daisy Hill, but going to the Avoca district in 1853 he commenced business as a general storekeeper in the part known as Deep Lead before the town was laid out, and while the country still consisted of primeval bush. Subsequently he removed to his present premises, which he has greatly enlarged and improved. Mr. Snell was the second president of the Avoca shire council, and was a member of the old borough council before it was absorbed by the shire. He holds the position of justice of the peace, member of the board conducting the mechanics' institute, and member of the progress committee, a kind of board of advice to the shire council, bringing any local matters under the notice of that body.
This early photograph of Snell’s store shows that it extended to the corner in the nineteenth century with an additional section of store stepped back a little from the existing section.
In 1890 the Snell family left Avoca and moved to Melbourne. Edmund Snell sold his business, which was renamed Snell and Co.
Less than a year later the Snell family returned to Avoca, and Edmund repurchased the business.
When Edmund Snell died in 1896, Agnes, with her children, operated the business.
Photograph 363 of the Avoca and District Historical Society
Avoca Mail, Tuesday 2 June 1896, page 2
DEATH OF MR E. SNELL, J.P.
As we stated in our last issue the sudden and unexpected death of Mr Edmund Snell, J.P., has cast over the town and district a deep gloom, and heartfelt sorrow at the loss of such a good townsman is expressed throughout the length and breadth of the whole Shire, whilst from many other districts and large centres where the deceased was well known, letters of sympathy are daily coming to the bereaved wife and family. During his 43 years residence amongst us, there has not been one more highly esteemed and respected by all classes and creeds His kindly face and genial disposition made friends for him wherever he was known, and it is not too much to say that his place will never more be filled by one so generous or so just. It is frequently said that a man's good qualities are not known until he has gone, but the noble traits in Mr Snell's character have been for years recognised, and he could not but be aware of the regard in which he was universally held. It was not necessary to wait until his death to recognise his true worth, his real merit and his value as a citizen, and all that we can say or write cannot add to the praise that could at all times be heard of him from everyone. The residents of the neighborhood can but regret that he has gone, and that they have had taken from among them one who in every respect can be referred to as a gentleman-a man of the highest order. In all his public career and his private business dealings not one single word can be breathed to his discredit, and it is to be deplored that such men, who can ill be spared should be taken all too soon. Death is certain, and the Creator who watches over and controls the world and all that therein is, alone knows when His people will be called away to their everlasting abode. To his decree all have to bow, and though those who remain cannot do else than mourn the vacancy thus caused, the consolation still remains that it was his Maker's wish. The deep and sincere sympathy felt for Mrs Snell and the family of four daughters and three sons, who have lost a loving husband and a fond and affectionate father, will, we trust, lessen the loss they are called upon to bear, and help them to sustain the severe shock they have experienced. The deceased gentleman, who was 68 years of age, was interred in the Avoca cemetery on Saturday afternoon, when the remains were followed to the grave by hundreds of friends and acquaintances from all quarters of Victoria, and had others been enabled to reach Avoca, there is no doubt the number would have been doubled. The hearse was preceded by the Avoca Fire Brigade, that body considering it their duty to show as far as practicable their honor and respect for one who had always assisted it both by word and deed. The Rev. G. Schofield, minister of the Avoca Wesleyan Church, performed the ceremony of committing to the ground the remains of the departed one, and in a few brief and feeling remarks, referred to the grand career Mr Snell had set out for himself and successfully accomplished. The handsome floral tributes sent completely covered the coffin, and added to the feeling of deep admiration felt for the deceased, showing as they did that scores of friend could not let so sad an event pass by without showing in some way their great esteem for one who had resided so long in their midst.
During Friday and Saturday flags were flying half-mast, and on Saturday afternoon the whole of the business places were closed. On Sunday special reference was made to the sad event in all the churches. The Wesleyan church being draped with black.
The coffin-tearers at the funeral were six of the deceased's employés. Mesars J. Harris, G. Clark, W. P. Gilbert, A. Harvey, A. Bannister and F. Redpath. Of these Mr Harris has been with him 28 years and Mr Clark 17 years.
Mr Snell left England for Victoria in 1852, and landed in Melbourne, then Canvas Town, with the intention of seeking for gold in this new country of which he had heard so much. He was then a young man 25 years of age. He had with him three mates, and, leaving Canvas Town, they made their way to Forest Creek, but were not very successful in mining, Shortly after this they separated, and he and one mate went to Geelong, and then to the Otway ranges with the idea of taking up land and becoming squatters, but he found the place so different to what he had been accustomed to, that he started once more to look for gold. He then went to Daisy Hill, now Amherst, and from there to Donkey Woman's Gully, in this district, being there when the first hole was sunk. He camped about three miles away, and the first time he came to Avoca was when water was scarce, which brought him to the river. He thought so much of the scenery and the beauty of the locality, that he decided to remain. That was some time in 1853, and Avoca has been his home ever since. For a time he continued to search for gold, but fortune did not favor him, and eventually he went into business. Gradually he forged ahead, and having the one object "Success in life" he progressed, mounting the ladder of prosperity rung by rung until he acquired the large and influential business in High Street, and which has long since been recognised as one of the foremost in the district. This high position was attained solely by his energy, and his resolve to do unto all men only what was fair and honorable. A man of his ability and shrewdness was not long allowed to remain, following only business pursuits, and the townspeople, recognising his worth, made him one of their members in the Borough Council (Avoca at that time being Borough). In this he remained a good and faithful representative of the community. In January, 1864, the boroughs of Avoca and Moonambel and the Road Board merged into what is now the Shire of Avoca, and Mr Snell sat at the first meeting in the Shire Hall on the 12th of January, 1865. It then consisted of the whole of the members of the bodies named, the number being twenty-three; the former borough Council having nine representatives, Mr Snell's immediate colleagues being Messrs Holland, Steel, Buhlert, Campbell, English, Coghlan, Filbey and Pearson. Of these the first five are dead (Mr Snell making the sixth). Messrs Coghlan and Filbey are the only ones remaining here, and Mr Pearson is, we believe, at Steiglitz. Mr Dickson, of Moonambel, was the first President, and he also is dead. In February, 1865, the Council was divided into two ridings, the north and south, and an election being called Messrs Snell, Pearson and Kelly (now of New Zealand) were returned unopposed. Mr Snell was unanimously elected President in November 1865, and held that office until December,1866, when he decided upon retiring from Municipal affairs, and notwithstanding the urgent appeals of his colleagues he adhered to that determination. Not till August, 1873, could he be prevailed upon to once more enter the Council, and then he was again elected unopposed. He remained in as a representative for the south riding until 1876, when Mr W. Henderson, now of Gippsland, took his place. All along, however, he had the progress and welfare of Avoca at heart, and identified himself with every forward movement. In mining he took a very active part, and has filled the post of a director on many companies his last being on the Board of the late Golden Stream Company. For many years he was an active member of the Progress Committee and Prospecting Association, and he always was one of the recognised heads in all charitable matters; in fact his great charity was one of his very best qualities, and what he has done publicly is but a bubble in the sea to the help he has afforded to all classes privately, and none but himself knew what he disbursed in this manner. He was 15 years ago elevated to the position of a Justice of the Peace, and on the Bench he has ever done his duty faithfully and well. In 1888 he decided to take a trip to the land of his birth, and prior to his departure for England he was, in April of that year, entertained at a banquet in Avoca. It was attended by a large number of people, who assembled to wish him a good voyage and a speedy return. Taking his eldest daughter with him he spent six months in the old country, and returned much better for his holiday. In 1890 he thought he had been in business long enough, and determined to enjoy a well-earned retirement. Accordingly, he sold his business, and with his family removed to Melbourne, taking up his abode at Camberwell. However, he could not rest content away from Avoca, and in 1891 returned again and repurchased his old business, which he carried on to the day of his death.
This brief epitome of Mr Snell's career is sufficient to show that a townsman whose loss is great has been taken from us, and we join with heartfelt sorrow in mourning the loss the district has sustained
Further reading
- Earlier blog post: Agnes Snell nee Grewar, 1836–1920 , wife of Edward Snell
- Pyrenees Shire Heritage Precinct Study (2001) Volume 2 (PDF, 8MB)
- A96 page 168 (store); A180 page 242 (brick house 77 Rutherford Street)
- Avoca Heritage Study 1864-1994 Volume 3 (PDF, 10MB)
- A96 image 79 (store)
