Thomas Hall1

M, #6201, d. 24 January 1910
Last Edited11 Mar 2017
Marriage*14 April 1886 Residence of T Williams, Moorak, SA, Australia;
Thomas Hall, bachelor, 34, father John Hall
Margaret G Williams, spinster, 21, father William Williams;Bride=Margaret Gladstone Williams1 
Death*24 January 1910 Mount Gambier, SA, Australia;
OBITUARY.
Mr. Thomas Hall. —Surpriseand regret was expressed by all who heard it when the news became known yesterday morning that Mr. Thomas Hall,architect, had died with awful suddenness at his residence in Victoria-terrace, near Vansittart Park, on Monday night. Mr. Hallappeared to the ordinary observer to be a man in the full enjoyment of health and vigor, and it is true that he was never under treatment for anything that might lead him or others to fear a sudden or early death. Occasionally he would complain of certain sharp pains, which he did not understand, and asked men whom he knew suffered from indigestion what indigestion felt like. He also said that when sitting or lying still he did not feel any pains, but that some times when walking he did. For the last week or so he did not feel very well, and told his friends that, but did not seem to attribute this weak feeling to any serious cause. On Monday night he was sitting in his house reading a newspaper, and about 10 o'clock he said to his wife, "I think I'll go to bed." She asked him to hand her the newspaper, and he did so, and then rose to go to his room. Before he reached the end of the passage-way he fell down in a state of mental and bodily collapse. Mrs. Hall, who is an invalid, rushed out to assist him, and, with the help of her son, a lad of about 12 years, did what she could to ease her husband; and several neighbors who were called in gave valuable assistance. Mrs. Hall’sdaughter Trixie, who is the only one at home, was absent for the day at Port MacDonnell. Dr. Johnson was sent for, and presently arrived, but Mr. Hallhad died a short time before he came. Although the doctor had not been treating him for heart weakness, he was able to give a certificate that heart failure was the cause of death, and thus no colonial enquiry was rendered necessary.
The late Mr. Hallwas born at Galashiels, Scotland, nearly 60 years ago, and learned the trade of his father, that of a builder. His father, the later. John Hall,of Galashiels, was in a large way of business in that town, and was a man whom all held in the highest respect. He was for over 20 years provost (mayor) of Galashiels, which is believed to be a record for the town. Mr. Thos. Hall,his son, was one of those men who learn thoroughly anything they take in hand to master, and he became a first-class tradesman. He came out to Melbourne in 1877, and in 1878 Messrs. T. Haig and Co., contractors and builders, of Mount Gambier, learning that he was in that city, engaged him to come to Penola, to take charge for them of the erection of Vallum house. He was associated with Messrs. Thomasand Alexander Haig for several years in the carrying out of important contracts. He took charge for them of the construction of the first Waterworks reservoir at Mount Gambier, and when that was done he was employed by the Hydraulic Engineer's Department as the foreman of the erection of the pumping station, which is acknowledged to be one of the neatest examples of stone-work in this part of the State. That was late in 1882. After that was completed Mr. Hallbegan for himself as an architect in Mount Gambier, and one of the most important of his first works was Mr. Jens's Town Hall Hotel, in 1883. He showed his skill then very decidedly as a draughtsman and as a foreman and manager of men, and so pleased was Mr. Jens with the way he executed his task that he presented Mr. Hallwith a valuable gold watch, which the deceased greatly valued. For very many years the deceased was the principal architect in the South-East, and numerous are the buildings which he designed and the erection of which he superintended. Among them may be mentioned, in order of date the E., S., and A. Bank, Mount Gambier; the South-Eastern and Park Hotels, Mount Gambier; the extension of the Town HallHotel, in 1904; the convent at Narracoorte; the new Institute Hall,Mount Gambier; the Mount Gambier Convent of Mercy; and several churches at Tantanoola and elsewhere. His work lay all over the South-East, and many fine residences in the district, from beyond Narracoorte to Port MacDonnell, as well as public buildings, stand as monuments to his memory. The latest public buildings be had in hand were the Roman Catholic church at Glencoe and the Presbyterian church at Nelson.
Mr. Hallwas a man of sound business commonsense, a versatile architect, and a man of high character, and was universally respected in the district. He took no part during his 30 years' residence in the district in public matters, finding the demands of his profession enough for him. He was a member of the Mount Gambier Caledonian Society since its beginning. In Scotland he was connected with the volunteers, and when he came to Mount Gambier he joined the local volunteer company when Capt. (afterwards Major) Davidson had command of it. About 24 years ago he was married to a daughter of Mr. William Williams, machinist, of this town, and leaves her a widow with three children—a son and two daughters. It is not known that he has any other relatives in Australia. One of his brothers, John, is an architect in a large way in Galashiels and the south of Scotland, and another is the Rev. Mercer Hall,of the Established Church of Scotland.
The funeral of the deceased is fixed by Mr. G. B. Renfrey, the undertaker, for 2 o'clock this afternoon. Mr. Hall had five or six contracts under supervision in Mount Gambier and neighborhood when he died, and work on them all was suspended yesterday out of respect to the deceased gentleman.2 

Family

Margaret Gladstone Williams b. 2 Jan 1865, d. 11 Dec 1937

Citations

  1. [S1655] Findmypast South Australia Marriages 1842-1937 Transcription, online http://www.findmypast.com/, Thomas Hall & Margaret G Williams 1886.
  2. [S1565] Trove digitised newspapers, online http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/, The Border Watch, Wednesday, January 26, 1910.