Charles Frederick GATAKER [10485]

  General Notes:

CHARLES FREDERICK GATAKER. 1843 - 1921.
Born Mildenhall, Suffolk. He was educated at Bedford Grammar School for ten years and then was two years at University College, Oxford. He came to Australia in 1864 (aged 21 years), between 1863 and 1865.
He married Fanny Gulliver Barns (born 1853 at Wolverhampton, St. Dudley, England). She was daughter of Sarah and William Barns a solicitor in Maryborough. They were married in 1869, he was 26 years of age, and she was 16. She died in 1915.
Charles was a Government Surveyor with Hull in the Gympie Maryborough Bundaberg areas mostly. Gataker Bay, at Pialba, Hervey Bay, is named after him. They had a house at Gataker Bay, in those days an isolated area, and later the house was moved to Point Vernon, Pialba. It came into the possession of Minnie and then Mel. The house is still standing at Point Vernon, but was sold many years ago.
When prospecting with Hull, it actually was they who found gold in the Gympie area, but being Government employees they were not able to lodge a claim. They told a prospector Nash where to find it, and Nash is credited as being the first to find gold in the area.
Later Grandfather became a merchant, in partnership with Graham, Graham and Gataker 1880. The partnership was dissolved in 1906 and the firm became Gataker & Sons in 1908, dealing largely as Wine and Spirit Merchants. Grandfather retired in 1913, and sons Mel and James continued until 1933.when the firm was assigned in bankruptcy. Gatakers Pty.Ltd. was formed in 1934 under Mel and James until their deaths in 1957 and 1953 respectively. After the end of the war in 1945, Harry Nicholson (husband of Fanny Gertrude) was taken into the business. Harry was previously a teacher at Maryborough Grammar School and he enlisted in the R.A.A.F. After the death of Mel in 1957, Harry became manager of Gatakers Ltd. He retired in 1984 and the management of the family firm is now carried on by his son Rollo.
My memories of Grandfather are an elderly gentleman, sometimes of a rather testy nature! driving a sulky with a gray horse and a grey cotton driving rug over his knees. On a visit to 'Milden' what remains in my mind is running down the long drive, bordered by large Bunya Pine trees, to open the gate for Grandpa to drive in, and for us to get a drive hack to the house; but if you got caught swinging on the gate, Grandfather drove straight on, so no ride, but a walk back to the house by the offender!
Family Jottings by Muriel G Julius 1985

Charles Frederick Gataker
Spouse Name:Fanny Gulliver Barns
Marriage Date:20 Sep 1869
Marriage Place:Queensland
Registration Place:Queensland
Registration Year:1869
Registration Number:000362
Page Number:5220

DEATH OF MR. CHARLES F. GATAKER.
After a long illness, most patiently borne, our old and most esteemed citizen. Mr. Charles Frederick Gataker, passed peacefully away at his residence, Milden, Saltwater Creek road, early yesterdav afternoon, in the presence of his family. The deceased gentleman, who was the fifth son of the late George Gataker, Esquire, was born at Milden Hall Suffolk. England, in 1843, and was in his 79th year. He received his education at Bedford College and Oxford University, and came out to Australia in 1861, landing in Sydney. He came on to Maryborough in 1863. and from then until 1879 followed the profession of surveyor. His duties took him all over the Wide Bay and Burnett district, and even as far West as the Barcoo. He also surveyed a large part of the town of Maryborough. In 1879 he relinquished surveying, and entered into a business partnership with the late Mr. John Graham, founding the well-known firm of wholesale merchants and importers, then and for many years known as Graham and Gataker, and now conducted under the style of Gataker and Sons. Having bought out his partner some years previously, Mr. Gataker himself retired in 1913, owing to failing health, leaving his two sons, Messrs. M. L. and C. J. Gataker in possession. He had since lived in close retirement at Milden, where he had taken up his residence a few years after his arnral here. Mr Gataker was of a very retiring disposition, and never took any active part in the public life of the town, hut he was one of the foundation trustees of the Grammar School, He was a notable cricketer in his College days, and figured a good deal in local cricket in the later sixties and early seventies, especially in the inter-city matches between Maryborough and Gympie, and for years after frequently acted as umpire in big matches. He was a most consistent patron of Pialba in the prerailway days, and for years it was his habit to drive nearly every week-end to his once well-known residence. - 'Hockham,' near Eli Oeek. In 1867 he was married to Miss Gulliver Barns, daughter of the late Mr. William Barns. Solicitor. of Marybrough. who predeceased him in 1915 and he leaves a grown-up family of four sons and one daughter, all of whom were present at his death-bed, and for whom much sympathy will be felt in their bereavement. They are Melmouth Leofric (Maryborough), George William Frank (Brisbane) Charles James (Maryborough) . Walter Reynardson (Ipswich) and Mrs Reginald Julius (Chelmer Brisbane). The deceased leaves on surviving elder maiden sister Miss L S Gataker who resides in Bath England. The funeral will move from the residence at 2:30 this afternoon to Maryborough Cemetery.
Ref: Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser Thu 16 Jun 1921

Charles Frederick Gataker
Death Date:15 Jun 1921
Death Place:Queensland
Father's name:George Gataker
Mother's name:Sophia Sarah Partridge
Registration Year:1921
Registration Place:Queensland
Registration Number:001774
Page Number:570

Gataker Charles Frederick of Maryborough Queensland Australia died 15 June 1921 at Milden Saltwater Creek road Maryborough Queensland Australia. Probate Brisbane to Melmoth Leofrio Gataker and Charles James Gataker. Effects L406 17s 5d in England. Sealed London 31 October 1923
National Probate Calendar.

  Research Notes:

Image Courtesy of Pip Bucknell 2016

Charles married Fanny Gulliver BARNS [10486] [MRIN: 3497], daughter of William BARNS of Maryborough Qld. [16575] and Unknown, on 20 Sep 1869 in Queensland Aust. (Fanny Gulliver BARNS [10486] was born on 2 Jul 1853 in Dudley WOR and died on 10 Oct 1915 in Maryborough Queensland Aust..)