George Cranwell

George was a small Braybrook businessman. He operated a butcher shop and later a Post Office & General Store in Ballarat Rd near Duke St. Later his son James Norman Cranwell ran the business.

George was born in 1861 in Essendon, Victoria. His parents were James Cranwell and Susan Cranwell Nee Jeffrie “Jeffrey”. George has nine siblings, William (b Abt 1841 d Abt 1940), Sarah Ann (b Abt 1845 d1922), Rebecca (b1848 d18/7/1935), Martha Jane (b Abt 1851 d Abt 1875), Unnamed (b1854 d1854 At sea), Mary Elizabeth (b1854 At sea d Abt 1875), John George (b1856 d Abt 1857), Joseph (b1858 d9/6/1942) & James (b1864 d Abt 1869), the first 6 siblings were born in England or at sea. Joseph & James births were registered at Essendon, Victoria.

George married his wife, Joan Ann (Johanna) McLeod in 1888 in Victoria. They settled at Braybrook where they had seven children, Joseph Archibald (b22/2/1889), Ruby Jane (b1891 d1892), Aileen "Eileen" Rubenia (b1893 d1976), Emma (b1896 d1899), George (b1900 d1/6/1937), James Norman (b1902 d1981) & Doris May (b1906). All their births were registered in Maidstone.

George took an interest in the affairs of the district and was a Shire Councillor and for one term the Shire of Braybrook President (1914 – 1915). He was the President of the Sunshine – Braybrook Football Club.

Many of his children married into other prominent families of the district including the Lynch’s and the Mullenger’s.

His son, Joseph Archibald Cranwell became a well-known trade unionist throughout Australia and he represented New South Wales on the A.L.P. federal executive in 1939-40.

George died in 1954 at Caulfield, Victoria, Aged 92.

George is buried in the Footscray Cemetery. His wife is buried in the grave beside him. Other family members are also buried in the two graves.

Cranwell St and Cranwell Park in Braybrook are named after the family.

The following is a list from the Sands & McDougall Directories of the “Cranwells” who resided in the district.

1888 No Topographical Location, Braybrook, Cranwell, George - Grocer

1892 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, Cranwell, George - Grocer

1892 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, Cranwell, Mrs Joan Ann

1893 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, Cranwell, George - Grocer

1893 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, Cranwell, Mrs Joan Ann

1895 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, Cranwell, George - Grocer

1895 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, Cranwell, Mrs Joan Ann

1896 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, Cranwell, George - Grocer

1896 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, Cranwell, Mrs Jane

1897 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, Cranwell, George - Grocer

1897 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, Cranwell, Mrs Jane

1898 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, Mrs Susan

1898 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & General Store and Butcher

1899 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, Mrs Susan

1899 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & General Store and Butcher

1900 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, Mrs Susan

1900 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & General Store and Butcher

1901 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, Mrs Susan

1901 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & General Store and Butche

1903 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, Mrs Susan

1903 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & General Store and Butcher

1904 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, Mrs Susan

1904 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & General Store and Butcher

1905 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, Mrs Susan

1905 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & General Store and Butcher

1906 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, Mrs Susan

1906 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & General Store and Butcher

1907 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & General Store and Butcher

1910 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & General Store and Butcher

1911 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & General Store and Butcher

1912 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & General Store and Butcher

1913 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & General Store and Butcher

1914 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & General Store and Butcher

1915 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & General Store and Butcher

1915 Sydney St, Sunshine, West Side Cranwell, Joseph Archibald

1916 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & Store

1916 Sydney St, Sunshine, East Side Cranwell, Joseph Archibald

1917 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & Store

1917 Sydney St, Sunshine, East Side Cranwell, Joseph Archibald

1918 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & Store

1919 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & Store

1920 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & Store

1920 Sydney St, Sunshine, East Side Cranwell, Joseph Archibald

1921 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & Store

1921 Sydney St, Sunshine, East Side Cranwell, Joseph Archibald

1922 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Post Office & Store

1922 Sydney St, Sunshine, East Side Cranwell, Joseph Archibald

1923 Sydney St, Sunshine, East Side Cranwell, Joseph Archibald

1924 Duke St, Braybrook, West Side Cranwell, George

1924 Sydney St, Sunshine, East Side Cranwell, Joseph Archibald

1925 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, James Norman - Post Office & Store

1925 Sydney St, Sunshine, East Side Cranwell, Joseph Archibald

1926 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, James Norman - Post Office & Store

1926 Sydney St, Sunshine, East Side Cranwell, Joseph Archibald

1927 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, James Norman - Post Office & Store

1928 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, James Norman

1928 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, James Norman - Post Office & Store

1929 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, James Norman

1929 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, James Norman - Post Office & Store

1930 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, James Norman

1930 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, James Norman - Post Office & Store

1931 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, James Norman

1931 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, James Norman - Post Office & Store

1933 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, James Norman

1933 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, James Norman - Post Office & Store

1935 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, James Norman

1935 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, James Norman - Post Office & Store

1938 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, James Norman

1938 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Store & Post Office

1940 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, James Norman

1940 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, George - Store & Post Office

1942 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, James Norman

1942 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, Mrs Grace Miranda - Grocer & Post Office

1945 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, James Norman

1945 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, Mrs Grace Miranda - Grocer

1950 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook, North Side Cranwell, James Norman

1955 25 Radio St Maidstone, South Side Cranwell, George

1955 7 Staughton St, Sunshine, South Side Cranwell, James Norman

1960 7 Staughton St, Sunshine, South Side Cranwell, James Norman

1965 Cranwell St, Braybrook, South Side Cranwell Upholstery

1965 7 Staughton St, Sunshine, South Side Cranwell, James Norman

1970 5 Hertford Rd, Sunshine, North Side Cranwell, J.

1970 7 Staughton St, Sunshine, South Side Cranwell, James Norman

1974 7 Staughton St, Sunshine, South Side Cranwell, James Norman

Ref: Sunshine Advocate

Ref: Harvester Town, The Making of Sunshine 1890 – 1925, Olwen Ford

Ref: Sands & McDougall Directories

Ref: Victoria Birth, Deaths & Marriages

Photos: S&DHS