George Vause Birks facts for kids

Dr. George Vause Birks (born around 1815 – died 31 January 1858) was a medical doctor. He moved with his family to South Australia in 1853. Sadly, he passed away less than four years later. His family became very important in the business world of the new city of Adelaide. Many members of the Birks family were involved in interesting projects. Some joined William Lane's "New Australia" colony in Paraguay. Others were part of a farming settlement called Murtho on the River Murray. These projects were meant to be perfect communities, but they didn't work out, and the family lost a lot of money.

A New Life in Australia

Dr. George Vause Birks, his wife Hannah Napier Birks (born 1807 – died 1883), and their children lived in Knutsford, England. They sailed to South Australia on a ship called the Leonidas. They arrived in December 1853 at Glenelg, South Australia. The family settled in Angaston, where Dr. Birks started his medical practice.

Just four years later, he died after being thrown from his horse. After his death, Mrs. Birks opened a store in Angaston. Her sons, William and George, helped her. Later, these two sons opened a stationery shop and a pharmacy called Birks Chemists in Rundle Street, Adelaide. Another son, Charles, started a clothing store. This store grew to become a very large department store in Adelaide.

The Birks Family Tree

This section tells you about the main members of the Birks family. It shows how they were connected and what important things they did.

George Vause Birks around the 1850s

Hannah Napier Birks around the 1850s

Dr. George Vause Birks and Hannah Napier Birks arrived in South Australia in December 1853 with their seven children:

• George Napier Birks (1838 – 1895)
  • He married Helen Rosetta Thomas in 1863. She was the daughter of William Kyffin Thomas.
  • George started Birks Chemists with his brother William H. Birks.
  • He later joined William Lane's group that went to "New Australia" in Paraguay. He died there. His wife returned to Adelaide.
  • His son, George Frederick "Fred" Birks (1866 – 1948), also went to Paraguay. He returned to Australia and started a company that made chemicals. He was also an important leader in Rotary International.
  • Another son, Dr. Alfred James Birks (1874 – 1916), worked as a dentist in Paraguay.
  • His son, (William) Kyffin Birks (1875 – 1938), moved to Argentina. He became a high-ranking manager for a railway company there.

Holden & Birks store in Rundle Street

• Alfred James Birks (1840 – 1873)
  • He worked at the Bank of South Australia.
  • Later, he became a partner with James Alexander Holden in a business called Holden & Birks. They sold saddles and leather goods. Their shop was in Rundle Street. This spot later became Birks Chemists.
  • His son, Alfred Percy Birks (1865 – 1946), lived in Clare, South Australia.
  • His son, William Salter "Will" Birks (1871 – 1940), married Rosalie Clyde Neill. She was also a grandchild of William Kyffin Thomas.

Birks' Chemists, Rundle Street, Adelaide, around 1920

• William Hanson Birks (1841 – 1925)
  • He married Adeline Jefferson "Ada" Raymond in 1863.
  • William and his brother George Napier Birks opened Birks Chemists in 1876. This was at the corner of Rundle Street and Gawler Place.
  • His son, Raymond Birks (born 1871), later took over managing Birks Chemists. He then became the Australian manager for a Canadian company.

Charles Birks drapery store around 1900

• Charles Napier Birks (1844 – 1924)
  • He was usually known as Charles Birks.
  • He married Mary Maria Thomas in 1866. After she passed away, he married her sister, Rosetta Jane "Rose" Thomas, in 1879. Both were daughters of William Kyffin Thomas.
  • Charles founded Charles Birks & Co., which became a very famous department store in Rundle Street.
  • His son, Napier Kyffin Birks (1876 – 1953), became a partner in Charles Birks & Co. in 1900.
  • His granddaughter, Edith Napier Birks (1900 – c. 1975), was an artist and loved speedboat racing.

• John Napier Birks (1845 – 1929)
  • He was a reverend.
  • He and his family were early settlers at the Murtho irrigation settlement. This was a farming project that started in 1895. It failed around 1898 or 1899, and many people lost money.
  • He later moved to Claremont, Western Australia, and had a pharmacy there.
  • His daughter, Elsie Ellen Birks (1872 – 1950), was the schoolteacher at the Murtho settlement.
  • His son, Arthur Norman Birks (born 1885), also had a pharmacy in Perth.

• Walter Richard Birks (1847 – 1900)
  • He was a partner in Charles Birks & Co. from 1879 to 1886.
  • Like his brother John, he also invested in the Murtho irrigation settlement. He lost a lot of money when it failed.
  • His son, Lawrence Birks (1874 – 1924), became a chief electrical engineer in Wellington, New Zealand. He was a pioneer in using hydro-electricity in New Zealand.
  • His son, Dr. Melville Birks (1876 – 1924), was a surgeon and researcher. He was also the mayor of Petersburg (now Peterborough, SA).
  • His daughter, Charlotte Napier Birks (1884 – 1934), was the superintendent of the Children's Library.
  • His son, Walter Richard Birks (1886 – 1960), was the principal of Roseworthy College, an agricultural college.
  • His daughter, Dora Hannah Birks (1887 – 1987), was a nursing Sister in France during World War I.

• Emily Hannah Birks (1848 – 1932)
  • She married Alexander Crooks in 1873. He was a well-known cricketer.
  • He was also a manager at a bank that later failed. He moved to Claremont, Western Australia.

Other Notable Birks

• Rev. Martin James Birks (1840 – 1915) was a pastor. He doesn't seem to be closely related to Dr. George Vause Birks's family.
• Frederick Birks (1894 – 1917) was a soldier who received the VC and MM for his bravery in World War I. He was killed in the war and also doesn't appear to be closely related.