Brother Bill

The Campbelltown community was in shock at the death of Bill Coogan in 1962. Bill was known as Brother Bill to the towns people from the way he addressed all and sundry. He was a cheery butcher (aren't all butchers) who had a shop near the corner of Queen and Railway Streets and adjacent to Lack's Hotel, known as Coogan's Butchery. His main contribution to the town however was as an alderman on Campbelltown Council between 1956 and 1962.

William Coogan was born in Campbelltown in 1908. The Coogan house was at the bottom of Milgate Lane, close to the Railway line where Bill's father Robert worked as a railway yard attendant and fuelman for locomotives. Bill began his working life as a drover before working for Tildesley Brothers butchers of Campbelltown. This shop was about opposite the Old Post Office that still stands in Queen Street. He later opened a butchery business at The Oaks before opening his Queen Street business in 1946.

As an alderman, Bill was noted for his forthright opinions. He was always fighting for faster planning of the area and believed the Cumberland County Council was hindering development of the area. He would sit in at as many committee meetings as he could so he could add to his knowledge of Council affairs. He was also heavily involved with the Campbelltown Kangaroos Rugby League Club and was a lover of horses.

The genial and humorous Brother Bill collapsed and died while attending a show at Bathurst on May 5 1962. He died the next morning. He was only 54. Two minutes silence preceded the football that weekend in honour of one of the Kangaroo's staunchest supporters.

Coogan Place is named for Bill Coogan.

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

Campbelltown-Ingleburn News May 8 1962

McBarron, Eddie J. et al 1985
Campbelltown 1930-1940 Dumaresq Street and Environs
Campbelltown: Campbelltown City Council

The One Armed Butcher

 

Photograph coutesy of Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society

The man with his head down in the back row and second from the right in this 1947 photograph is Ted McPherson. Look closely and you can see he is missing his right arm! Ted McPherson was affectionately known as "the one armed butcher". His shop was located next to Lack's Hotel near the corner of Queen and Railway Street. Ted worked with Bill Coogan when it was known as Coogan's Butcher Shop and took it over on Coogan's death in 1962. It seems Ted moved to the Illawarra after leaving Campbelltown and died there in 1991.

The butcher shop can be seen in the undated photograph above on the extreme left. Lack's Hotel is the large building on the right. (photo courtesy of Mick Murgatroyd)


Does anyone remember the one armed butcher? Perhaps you remember the butcher shop? I'd love to hear from anyone who does.

Written by Andrew Allen

Wilson's Butchery

Butchers in front of Wilson's Butcher shop in Queen Street around 1881. The girl on the crutches is Nell Chinooks. (Photo courtesy Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society)

Wilson's Butcher Shop was originally a weatherboard building constructed by cooper turned butcher Daniel Fowler. It stood between today's old post office building and Dumaresq Street. It was built prior to 1860.

James Wilson worked for Daniel Fowler for 16 years. Wilson emigrated to Melbourne in 1857 from Scotland and two years later moved to Campbelltown. He purchased the butcher shop from Fowler in the mid 1870s and in the late 1880s built a new two-storey shop on the same site. It was at 249 Queen Street. The business thrived and was so successful that James Wilson was able to retire thirteen years later. In 1881 James was referred to as a wholesale and family butcher.

The photograph above shows James Wilson's second butcher shop in about 1890. Pictured from left to right are: Balcony: Helen Wilson (nee Baxter), Nell Gregory, James Wilson; Ground: George Mabbott (below sign), unidentified boy, ? on white horse, Jacob Cook, George Chinnoks, James Hickey, ? on horseback, ? on horseback. Nell Gregory was raised by James Wilson and his wife Helen.

The photo above shows Wilson's Butcher Shop between blacksmith George Mabbot's shop on the southern side and Newling and Walker, cordial manufacturer on the northern side.

James Wilson died in 1912 after suffering from Chronic Bronchitis. He is buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery at Campbelltown.

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

HOLMES, Marie
The Presbyterian Cemetery Campbelltown

Demolished Heritage Buildings of Campbelltown
A Joint Project of Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society and Campbelltown City Council
November 2005