Thomas VASEY [14323]

  General Notes:

children

Blanche Adeline Vasey 1858-1950
Ella Louise Vasey 1859-1931 England (m. John Paull Fiddian CSI d. in India)
Geo Brinsden Vasey 1860-1934
Elizabeth Arnold Vasey 1861-1861
Maud Linkletter Vasey 1863-1938 (m Rev John English)
Ernest Hawthorn Vasey 1864-1865
Alfred Vasey 1868-1953 (m Edith Ellen Buttle)

Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic. : 1885 - 1939) Fri 28 Jun 1895 Page 2 Anecdotal Photograph.
Mr. Thomas Vasey.
THERE are few men better or longer known in the community of Melbourne than Mr, Thomas Vasey.

His name is, literally, a "household word"-wherever gas is burnt. Mr. E. G. Fitzgibbon's friends might perhaps, on the White Knight"s belief, contest the claim to universal fame in the metropolis with Mr. Vasey, but the Gas King's dominions extend over the whole metropolis, whereas Mr. Fitzgibbon, as Town Clerk, ruled only in the city of Melbourne. Mr, Fitzgibbon has, no doubt, lately acquired an extended territory, but in his new realm, his name is not brought so frequently and conspicuously under the eyes of his subjects as when he ruled at the Town Hall. Still, it may be said that he shares with Mr. Vasey, the empire of the household. Mr. Fitzgibbon may be called the Water King. Mr. Yasey, is, perhaps, even more intimately associated with another than the White Knight: his particular mission for 30 years has been to do battle with the Black Night-and no one will deny that he has done so successfully.
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Mr. Vasey is a townsman of one of the very earliest Australian colonists-Captain James Cook, who discovered the Australian Continent in 1770. The first point of the huge island sighted by the great
navigator was Point.Hicks, on the coast of Victoria, to which colony Mr. Vasey, our Whitby man, came 82 years later. But there, all likeness between Captain Cook- and Mr. Vasey ends. To be quite accurate it should mentioned that Cook was born at Marton;.in Yorkshire,but served his apprentice ship to some shipowners at Whitby, and it was in that seaport town-famous for its jet-that Cook received his first training for his wondrous feats of navigation find discovery in after life. Mr. Vasey was born in Whitby just when the centenary of Cook was about to be celebrated.
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Mr. Vasey was born in 1826, and received his earliest education at private schools in Whitby.
His last year at school was spent in the inland town of Market Weighton, in Yorkshire, 45 miles south of Whitby, as the crow flies, and within 37 miles of Hull. Amongst Mr. Vasey's schoolfellows, were two boys who are now eminent members of the medical profession in London. One of these is Dr. James Andrews, one of the physicians of the famous St. Bartholomew's Hospital-a noble institution founded in 1539, and incorporated in the last year of the reign of Henry VIII. It stands on the site of an Augustinian Monastery, suppressed in the same reign, and which had flourished since the year 1100. The other boy is now Dr. Robert Braithwaite, a distinguished authority on medical science.
.
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After leaving school, Mr. Vasey was sent to business in a drapery establishment in his native town,
where he remained seven years, and got his first insight into commercial pursuits. In 1848, when he was 22 years of age, he went to London, where he was employed in several drapery houses till 1852, when he resolved to try his fortune in Australia.
***
He sailed from England in the ship Brilliant, and had amongst his fellow pabsengers on the voyage to Melbourne, Mr. J. Alford, who, afterwards, was for many years a member of the house of Holmes, White and Company, a once well-known firm of shipping agents in Elizabeth-street, which ceased to exist some 15 years ago. Mr. Alford is, however, still connected with the mercantile world of Melbourne, and is well and favourably known. A few months after his arrival in Victoria, Mr. Vasey opened in business on his own aocount in Brunswick street, Fitzroy, or, as the whole district east and west of Smith-street was then popularly called, "Collingwood." He continued in business in Brunswick-street 12 years, that is to say, till the year 1864, and, in the meantime, was highly successful in his business operations, and made himself a useful and respected citizen.
***
Mr. Vasey was brought up a member of the Wesleyan Church, and on his settling down in
Brunswick-street, he became an active member of the local chursh of his denomination. The Wesleyans founded a place of worship in Brunswick street, at the corner of Moor-street, early in the forties, but when Mr. Vasey joined them they had removed to the site of the present very fine church between King Willian-street and Hanover-street. The church which then stood upon the spot was, however, an humble structure of wood, about 24 feet by 14 feet in dimensions. For four years Mr. Vasey was superintendant of the Sunday School, and afterwards was, for some years, secretary to the same organisation. He relinquished his business in Brunswick-street in the very same year-1864--that the fine Jubilee Schoolhouse round in King-William street, between Brunswick and Young streets, was built and opened. In those days, and until a very few years ago, one of the best known figures at the Brunswick-street church and schools was the towering one. of Mr. J. A. Marsden, another Yorkshireman who lived the greater portion of his life in Moor street, Fitzroy.
***
The present spacious stone church was built about 1860. A. netice board in front, bearing certain
information, dated 1861, is signed " W. A Bennetts." That gentleman, than whom there ia no man better known in Fitzroy, and more widely esteemed, still holds the same honorary office in connection with the church which he held 34 years ago; Mr. Vasey has held every office in the Wesleyan Church which it is possible for a layman to hold. Since 1878 he has been continuously a member of the general conference of the Wesleyan Church of Victoria and Tasmania. Prior to 1878, the conference was composed of ministers only, and in that year laymen were for the first time admitted to the councils of the church. For time years past Mr. Vasey has been prominently
identified with the Wesleyan Church at Auburn, where he resided.
*****
Mr. Vasey is, in a certain sense, one of the fathers of the municipality of Fitzroy. In 1859, Fitzroy. which up to that time was a ward of Melbourne city, was created a separate municipality, and the first election of members of the new council took place in that year. Of course, there were no existing members who could act as Returning Officers on the occasion, and Mr. Thomas Vasey and Mr. H. P. Fergie were appointed " assessors " to, conduct the voting at the election. When the council was duly organised, the members were called upon to elect one of themselves as " Chairman" of the municipality-office equivalent to that of Mayor at a later date. Mr. Charles Vaughan was elected. That gentleman has bean dead for many years past, but a life-size portrait of him in oils, is hung in the Town Hall, Fitzroy. In 1860 there were two candidates for the chair-Mr. Charles Vaughan and Mr. John Edwards, the younger. The former was a member, of the firm of Vaughan (and Wild, brewers, Collingwood, and a prominent member of the congregation of Albert-street Baptist Church, of which the late Rev. Isaac New was then the pastor. The latter was a young solicitor, only 24 years of age, who afterwards represented " Collingwood" (and Fitzroy) in the Legislative Assembly, and was popularly known as the " Native Companion " and the " Collingwood Boy." On that occasion Mr. Edwards was elected to the chair by a majority of one vote. Thus, Messrs. Vasey and Fergie-who are both happily still to the fore-started Fitzroy on its prosperous municipal career. Since then North Fitzroy-almost a city in itself-has sprung into
existence and the magnificent buildings in Napier street have been erected.
*****
Mr Vasey's active connection with gas commenced in 1858, when he and others promoted the Collingwood Gas Company, whose works still stand at the corner of Queen's Parade (called, in earlier days, the Heidelberg-road) and Smith-street. Amongst the best-known founders of the Collingwood company were Mr. George Coppin; the late Dr. Embling, who for some years represented Collingwood in Parliament, and was a long resident in Fitzroy ; the late Hon. George Harker, who for many years was a member of the Legislative Assembly ; and the late Mr. Ambrose Kyte, who for some time sat for East Melbourne in the same house of legislature. Every one knows that among the " many parts" which Mr. Coppin has played "are those of member of the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament. Dr. Embling, Mr. Harker and Mr. Vasey (who was then in business in Brunswick-street) became some of the first directors of the new gas company, which prospered from the beginning. The first secretary was Mr. John Allen, who, after a time, was succeeded by
Mr. Alfred Jackson, and on the retirement of the latter, Mr. Vasey accepted the office of secretary.
Mr. Allen and Mr. Jackson held office for short periods, so that, substantially, Mr. Vasey was secre
tary to the company from its inauguration. About 20 years ago, the South Melbourne Gas Company was started by the late Mr. J. W. Randall (a draper in Smith-street) and others ; but in 1878, the Melbourne, Collingwood and South Melbourne companies were amalgamated under the title of the Metropolitan Gas Company. After nearly 20 years service with the Collingwood Company, Mr. Vasey became office manager of the Metropolitan Company, which position he held till 1882, when he became secretary to the company on the death of Mr. John Scott.
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Mr. Vasey is married and has a family. One of his sons is a rising member of the Victorian bar, who was one of the Counsel for the defendant in the recent famous libel action, Lange v. Bage; and
another holds a responsible position in the firm of Messrs. Gibbs, Bright and Company, the well-known merchants and shipping agents of this city. In person, Mr. Vasey, senior, is a typical English gentleman of the good old sort. Burly, open-faced and good-humoured a thorough son of John Bull in uprightness and straightforwardness-but minus the disposition, if he have the right, to growl. He wears large side whiskers which are now grey, and although approaching his seventieth year, shows no sign of wear, and in all human probability, will be found in harness for many years to come. In manner he is frank and genial, and he has filled, for 35 years, positions of delicacy and responsibility in a way that promoted the interests of his pincipals and gained himself a host of genuine friends.

Daily Telegraph (Launceston, Tas. : 1883 - 1928) Thu 30 Mar 1899 Page 2 DEATH OF MR THOMAS VASEY.
DEATH OF MR THOMAS VASEY, MELBOURNE, Wednesday.- Mr Thos Vasey, secretary to the Melbourne Gas Company, died last night, aged 72.

Leader (Melbourne, Vic. : 1862 - 1918, 1935) Sat 1 Apr 1899 Page 24 DEATH OF A WELL-KNOWN CITIZEN.
DEATH OF A WELL KNOW CITIZEN. ;
The many friends of Mr. Thomas Vasey, the veteran secretary of the Metropolitan Gas Company, will deeply regret to hear of his death, which took place at his residence,Goodall-street. Auburn, on Tuesday evening. The deceased gentleman, who was 73 years of age, had been complaining for
some time, but was able to attend to his official duties until the 22nd ult., when he left the office of the company to return to his home, at 4 o'clock, and never resumed duty. Dr. Eugene Anderson attended Mr. Vasey, and diagnosed his case but did not anticipate that there was immediate danger of a fatal result, though owing to the advanced age of the patient his case was very serious. During the last few days It was considered, advisable, to hold, a consultation with Dr, Maudsley, and it was found that an internal ailment was complicated with heart and brain troubles, which resulted in death. Mr. Vasey was a native of Yorkshire, and came out to Victoria in 1852. He was secretary to the Fitzroy Gas Co. from about 1855 to its amalgamation with the Melbourne and South Melbourne Gas Companies. A few years after that amalgamation Mr. Vasey- succeeded Mr
John Scott as secretary of the Melbourne Company, and retained the position to his death. Mr. Vasey was a prominent and influential member of the Wesleyan Methodist

Thomas married Elizabeth BRINSDEN [14324] [MRIN: 5141] on 27 Sep 1855 in Geelong, Vic, Australia. (Elizabeth BRINSDEN [14324] was born in 1824 in Totnes, Devonshire, England and died in 1904 in Hawthorn, Vic, Australia.)