McAllister of Ireland
Joseph McAllister, the ninth child of Arthur McAllister and Ann Smith, was born on 25 February 1876 in Brompton, South Australia. He had five older sisters and two older brothers, another sister had died at one month old. The youngest member of the family, William, was born just before Joseph’s second birthday. The McAllister family lived at 68 Chief Street, Brompton, South Australia. The little stone house built by Joseph’s father would have been bursting at the seams with nine growing children.
On 23 February 1903, when Joseph was 26-years-old, he married Ethel Margaret Mason, the 21-year-old daughter of Edward Mason and Margaretta Bourne Chisholm at the home of Frank Althorp, (Minister), Cross Street, West Hindmarsh, South Australia. Joseph and Ethel lived in the McAllister family home after their marriage. The house was left to Joseph and his brother William when their father died in 1900. The property was later transferred to Joseph after the death of his mother in 1905. |
Joseph worked at the Hallett Brick Company for 25 years as a brick-maker. Job Hallett started a brickyard in Chief Street, Brompton, in 1889, where he employed two men. In 1900, Job’s eldest son, Thomas Hallett joined him and by 1910 the family ran seven yards in Brompton and Hindmarsh. The firm of J Hallett and Son Ltd was formed in 1910. Up until this time the bricks had been made by hand. Two pits supplied the brickwork's. Young boys often would earn themselves a few shillings carrying clay from the pug-holes on their heads in lumps sufficient for about a dozen bricks. Hand-moulders could turn out about 250,000 bricks a week in 1910. The former site of J Hallett and Son Brickwork's at Thebarton was later known as the Brickwork's Market.
In about 1920 Joseph left the brickyards. He was then employed by the South Australian Railways as a wheel examiner. Before trains were allowed to leave the station, a man had to go along and tap each of the wheels to detect any flaws. It was possible to hear from the tapping whether or not a crack was present. This was a safety precaution and was carried out on all trains.
In about 1920 Joseph left the brickyards. He was then employed by the South Australian Railways as a wheel examiner. Before trains were allowed to leave the station, a man had to go along and tap each of the wheels to detect any flaws. It was possible to hear from the tapping whether or not a crack was present. This was a safety precaution and was carried out on all trains.
Joseph had a passion for ballroom dancing. He often went to a hall on the Port Road to go dancing. Ethel didn’t join him in this pursuit however; she was “always having babies” according to their daughter Estelle.
After his retirement, gardening became Joseph’s main interest. A photograph appeared in one of the daily newspapers of him with his ‘prize’ tomatoes. He was also well known for his onions which he hung up under the grape vines to dry. He used to say “I’ll ang me hunions up.” Joseph would visit the local greengrocer to exchange his surplus vegetables for other fruit and vegetables. Joseph and Ethel would have Christmas at their house each year. Father Christmas would come up through the trapdoor from the cellar beneath the lounge room. During the rest of the year the cellar served as a bedroom for Joseph and Ethel’s sons, Joseph, Harold and Gordon. In later years the family gathered together on Sunday evenings. All of the children would play an instrument or sing. Estelle or Florence would play the piano, Harold played the bones and Gordon had a three stringed ukulele. Joseph is remembered as a small man with a very bristly moustache. He had an uncertain temperament and his grandchildren would all sit like “spoggies” on a fence when they visited so as not to annoy him. He suffered badly with Asthma and on 12 December 1951 he died in hospital from Broncho Pneumonia and Chronic Bronchitis. He was buried in Dudley Park Cemetery, Dudley Park, South Australia. |
Ethel McAllister spent the next ten years living at the homes of her children before moving into a nursing home in about 1961. She died on 24 July 1965 at the Nursing Home in Leabrook, South Australia at age 84. She was buried in Dudley Park Cemetery, Dudley Park, South Australia.
Descendants of Joseph McAllister
Joseph McAllister was born on 25 February 1876 in Brompton, South Australia and died on 12 December 1951 in Magill, South Australia at age 75 years. Joseph married Ethel Margaret Mason on 23 February 1903 in West Hindmarsh, South Australia. Ethel was born on 18 March 1881 in Balmain, Sydney, New South Wales and died on 24 July 1965 in Leabrook, South Australia at age 84 years. They had seven children: Estelle Ellen, Joseph Edward, Violet Ann, Florence May, Harold Leslie, Ethel Margaret and Gordon Henry.
- Estelle Ellen McAllister was born on 15 September 1903 in Brompton, South Australia and died on 5 January 1996 in Bedford Park, South Australia at age 92 years. Estelle married George Frederick Seward on 28 Aug 1926 in Adelaide, South Australia. George was born on 27 Jan 1901 in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia and died on 29 October 1963 in Woodville, South Australia at age 62 years. They had four children: Mavis Estelle, Elva Margaret, Anita Mary and Marilyn Janette. Estelle next married Roy Frederick Harding on 1 September 1967. Roy was born on 11 January 1894 in Cameron, South Australia and died on 14 January 1975 in Modbury, South Australia at age 81 years.
- Joseph Edward McAllister was born on 1 April 1905 in Brompton, South Australia and died on 29 April 1967 in Brompton, South Australia at age 62 years. Joseph married Hazel Christabel McKenzie on 30 January 1928 in Adelaide, South Australia. Hazel was born on 26 September 1903 in Broken Hill, New South Wales and died on 25 July 1960 in Brompton, South Australia at age 56 years. Joseph next married Laura (Nell) Dardenella Harrison on 7 October 1961 in Brompton, South Australia. Nell was born on 23 May 1915 in Stansbury, South Australia and died on 18 September 1983 in Brompton, South Australia at age 68 years.
- Violet Ann McAllister was born on 20 September 1906 in Brompton, South Australia and died on 29 November 1976 in Wingfield, South Australia at age 70 years. Violet married Ralph Schmidt on 7 December 1929 in Brompton, South Australia. Ralph was born on 3 May 1906 in Glandore, South Australia and died on 21 October 1990 in Adelaide, South Australia at age 84 years. Violet and Ralph were divorced. They had one daughter: Betty. Violet next married Edward (Ted) John Hubert Mettam. Ted was born on 22 April 1897 in Edinburgh, Scotland and died on 16 November 1974 in Angle Park, South Australia at age 77 years.
- Florence May McAllister was born on 24 January 1909 in Brompton, South Australia and died on 9 March 2005 in Adelaide, South Australia at age 96 years. Florence married Cyril George Strawhan on 26 August 1931 in Brompton, South Australia. George was born on 25 December 1907 in Ridleyton, South Australia and died on 11 September 1996 in Largs North, South Australia at age 88 years. They had two children: Peter Dale and Nalda Lynette.
- Harold Leslie McAllister was born on 11 January 1911 in Brompton, South Australia and died on 27 March 1998 in Daw Park, South Australia, at age 87 years. Harold married Veronica (Bonnie) Daisybell Harris on 17 December 1938 in Adelaide, South Australia. Veronica was born on 23 October 1920 in Rose Park, South Australia and died on 2 August 1998 in Bedford Park, South Australia at age 77 years. They had three children: Helen Doretta and twins, Robyn Veronica and Dianne Lesley.
- Ethel Margaret McAllister was born on 9 January 1913 in Brompton, South Australia and died on 11 December 1976 in Adelaide, South Australia at age 63 years. Ethel married Ralph William McDonough on 22 July 1933 in Hindmarsh, South Australia. Ralph was born on 20 October 1914 in Adelaide, South Australia and died on 1 July 1989 in Adelaide, South Australia at age 74 years. They had 11 children: Colin Ralph, Margaret Dawn, June Patricia, Janice Ethel, Daryl Richard, Andrew Joseph, Philip John, Stephanie Lynette, Coral Ann, Helen Ruth and Graeme Eric.
- Gordon Henry McAllister was born on 26 July 1915 in Brompton, South Australia and died on 9 November 1996 at age 81 years. Gordon married Robina (Beanie) Joyce Dodson on 12 April 1941 in Hindmarsh, South Australia. Robina was born on 28 September 1917 in West Hindmarsh, South Australia and died on 25 February 2013 at age 95 years. They had one son: Geoffrey Gordon.