Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane Aird

 

Lizzie was one of Sunshine’s earliest businesswomen. For over 30 years she owned and operated the Blair Athol Boarding House & Coffee Palace in Hampshire Rd, Sunshine.

 

She was born Elizabeth Jane Jones, on the 4th of June 1865 in Ballarat East, Victoria. Her parents were Evan Jones & Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane Jones Nee Shields. Her siblings were Phillip Evan (b1863 d1921), Thomas (b1867), John (b1870), Rachel (b1873), Mary Ann (b1875) & Evan Moses (b1877).

 

She was affectionately known to all as “Lizzie”.

 

She married Reuben Beale in 1886 at Ross Creek, Victoria. Reuben was the grandson of Major Beale, the paymaster of the soldiers guarding Napoleon the First, while he was incarceration on the island of St. Helena, off the coast of Africa.

 

Reuben and Lizzie had eight children together, Elizabeth Ethel "Etty" (b4/11/1886 d20/7/1980), Alice Maud (b1888 d1888), Florence "Flo" May (b19/9/1890 d3/12/1969), Millie Irene (b1893 d1894), Ruby Lilian (b1895 d6/6/1976), Gracie (b1897 d1993), Evan (b1899 d1899), Dorothy "Dossy" Mavis (b1906 d17/3/1983) & Maisie "Molly" (b1908 d1955), all of them being born in the Ballarat region.

 

Lizzie came to Sunshine from Ballarat at the invitation of H.V. McKay. In 1911, she was listed in the Sands & McDougall Directory as living in Clarke St, Sunshine. In 1912, she was listed living in Hampshire Rd. In 1913, she was listed as operating the Boarding House in Hampshire Rd.

 

In 1914, her husband Reuben died in Transvaal, South Africa.

 

In 1917, Lizzie was remarried to William Aird and she changed her surname to “Aird”.

 

By 1919, she was listed as Mrs Elizabeth “Lizzie Jane – Coffee Palace

 

In 1921, she built the National Bank premises on the North-East corner of Hampshire Rd & Devonshire Rd. She moved her business to the first floor of this building where she could provide accommodation for 60 people including providing hot & cold water for their use.

 

For many years, the coffee palace was where many of H.V. McKay's factory foreman would venture there for lunch. The coffee palace was also the venue for many private functions including birthdays and weddings.

 

Over the years the boarding house accommodated hundreds, if not thousands of men, many of them working at McKay’s and the nearby factories.

 

Lizzie resided in Sunshine for over forty years. With her advancing age she retired to Ascot Vale.

 

She was described as having a lovable character with a kindly disposition. Her generosity to those less fortunate than herself and her devotion to the Presbyterian Church won her a large circle of friends.

 

Lizzie died on the 23rd of December 1950, Age 77, at Brunswick East, Victoria. She was buried in the Fawkner Cemetery, Victoria. Her husband, William Aird, died 11 years later and is buried with Lizzie.

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1911 Clarke St Beale, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane

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1912 Hampshire Rd Beale, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane

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1913 Hampshire Rd Beale, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane - Boarding House

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1914 Hampshire Rd Beale, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane - Boarding House

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1915 Hampshire Rd Beale, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane - Boarding House

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1916 Hampshire Rd Beale, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane - Boarding House

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1917 Hampshire Rd Beale, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane - Boarding House

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1918 Hampshire Rd Beale, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane - Boarding House

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1920 Hampshire Rd Aird, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane - Coffee Palace

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1921 Hampshire Rd Aird, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane - Coffee Palace

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1922 Hampshire Rd Aird, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane - Coffee Palace

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1923 Hampshire Rd Aird, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane - Coffee Palace

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1924 Hampshire Rd Aird, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane - Coffee Palace

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1925 Hampshire Rd Aird, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane - Coffee Palace

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1926 Hampshire Rd Aird, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane - Coffee Palace

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1927 Hampshire Rd Aird, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane - Coffee Palace

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1928 Hampshire Rd Aird, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane - Coffee Palace

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1929 Hampshire Rd Aird, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane - Coffee Palace

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1930 288 Hampshire Rd Aird, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane - Coffee Palace

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1931 288 Hampshire Rd Aird, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane - Coffee Palace

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1933 288 Hampshire Rd Aird, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane - Coffee Palace

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1935 288 Hampshire Rd Aird, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane - Coffee Palace

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1938 288 Hampshire Rd Aird, Mrs Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jane - Coffee Palace

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1940 288 Hampshire Rd Blair Athol Coffee Palace

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1942 288 Hampshire Rd Blair Athol Coffee Palace

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1945 288 Hampshire Rd Blair Athol Coffee Palace

 

Ref: Sands & McDougall Directories

Ref: Sunshine Advocate Death Notice 12th January 1951

Ref: Sands & McDougall Directories

Photos: S&DHS