Biography

William Birchall, born on 1 June 1850, was the third child of Thomas and Betty Birchall (n&eacutee Urmson). The family were living at 3 Victoria Street, Bardsley in Lancashire. William was baptised 14 July 1850 in the Parish Church at Bardsley. His father’s occupation was as a stonemason.

William would most likely have been apprenticed at the age of 12 as a stonemason. In later life he became a bricklayer.

A diary entry shows William sailed for the USA on 21 March 187(2). He was probably attracted by the rushes to gold in California. He travelled about 15,000 miles in just over a year before returning to Bardsley.

Two years after his return to England William applied to emigrate to New Zealand. He was listed as a passenger on the ‘Rakaia’ which left Greenock on 7 September, 1877. He arrived in Lyttelton on 10 December.

Probably not knowing anyone in New Zealand, he settled in Dunedin where he was married to Sarah Carnell (n&eacutee Palmer), a widow with two children, Hannah and Nellie, on 30 June 1879. They lived at her house in Castle Street. Sarah was the daughter of Frederick and Mary Palmer (n&eacutee Hazard). His occupation was recorded as bricklayer. Four children were born to them; Sarah Elizabeth, Frederick William, Edith, and Albert Urmson. The home that he built at North East Valley in 1886 is still in good condition over 100 years later. Two more children were born; Ernest Hazard and Walter Palmer.

A niece, Agnes Birchall, arrived from England in 1903, to stay with them on extended holiday. Agnes was suffering from tuberculosis and it was thought the New Zealand climate could cure her. Sadly she died 15 February, 1905. Her brother Will Birchall came from England in 1907 to visit her grave and stayed for 18 months.

In 1912 they puchased a dairy farm property at Maungatua, South Taieri. This was named ‘Greenwood’. To get there from Dunedin a train was caught to Henley and the rest of the journey was completed by horse and cart. Because of the war conditions the farm was sold in 1917 when they returned to Dunedin.They lived at another farm called ‘The Pines’ at 648 North Rd from 1923 – 26 when William died.

As a bricklayer his work has been described as exceptional and although there is no record of of all the buildings that he was associated with, some of those standing today are recognized as being of historical interest for the craftmanship.

An early building attributed to him is the present St Peter’s Church in Hillside Road completed in 1882. Another was an involvment in the rebuilding of Hudson and Company’s factory after it was completely gutted by fire in 1902. There were other buildings and churches as well. He worked until the age of 75, almost the end of his life. His work must have been highly regarded. Sarah was sent a large sum of money by Hudson & Co as a thankyou for his services.

His granddaughter, Ella Colgrave, wrote that William was always just a back-ground figure, a very quiet man. He always wore a smoking cap in the evenings. Also he never went anywhere without his gladstone bag.

Ref: “To the End of the World-The Birchall-Palmer Link” by Elsie M Birchall, Auckland 1996

William Birchall’s Journeys
Source: Family