Beach Villa - Zeehan
Beach Villa was the Commercial Boarding House owned and operated by Milson and Lucy Beach in their early years after moving to Tasmania from Melbourne.Advertisments of the time, consistently referred to it as being located opposite St Furseaus Church in Main Rd, Zeehan.Photographs of the day showed a large hotel like building in that location and it was assumed that was Beach Villa.Recent research has proven that is not the case, with that building now being confirmed as the Caledonian Hotel. Another advertisement refers to Beach Villa as being located opposite Mr Overall’s Shop which was located a few doors down from St Furseaus Church.
Beach Villa was a Commercial Boarding House which travelling salesmen, doctors, etc used as a place where they not only stayed but undertook their various business activities. It is also clear from a number of newspaper records that Milson was a significant builder in that period and we can assume he would have built Beach Villa.
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Feb 1898:WANTED, 2 Mercantile Boarders. Terms, 18s per week. Apply Beachville, Main street
An auction took place in June 1898 but the circumstances are unclear (maybe business was not viable or they were re-furnishing):IMPORTANT CLEARING-OUT SALE At Beachville, Main street.C. BRUMBY AND CO, having received instructions, will sell, at the abovenamed residence, by public auction, on WEDNESDAY, June 22, at 2 p.m.
WHOLE of the SUPERIOR HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE andEFFECTS, comprising Superior Upholstered Chairs and Rockers, Tables,Brussels Carpets, Linoleum, Couches, Austrian Chairs, Bamboo Tables, SuperiorBrass-Mounted Bedstead, Bedding, Cherts of Drawers, Mirrors, Clocks, Fenders and Fire Irons, Crockery, Glassware, Ornaments, Kitchen Utensils, and other quantity useful sundries.
In 1899 the following advertisement appeared:A Respectable GIRL, to help with housework . Apply MRS BEACH.
In May 1900 the following advertisement appeared:A Good GENERAL SERVANT. Apply MRS BEACH, Beach Villa. In August 1901:
FOR SALE OR TO LET: First-Class centrally situated BOARDING HOUSE, in Main street, every possible convenience ; doing good business.The Proprietress (Mrs L. A. Beach) is relinquishing same solely on account of ill-health, having to leave Zeehan. Easy terms can be arranged. For particulars apply to J. C. HARRIS, Auctioneer.
Life must have been challenging in the Wild West during those days:
Zeehan and Dundas Herald, 2nd June 1899Police Court. THURSDAY June 1 (Before Mr E. L. Hall, S.M, and Mr J,S.Lee,J.P.)
H. M. BEACH v. J. E. SPENCER— ASSAULT.Mr A. J. Douglas (of Messrs Simmons, Crisp, and Simmons) appeared for the complainant, and Mr J. W. Hudson for the defendant. H.M. Beach stated that on Tuesday, the 30th, he went to remove a chain that had been fixed to the door of a hut belonging to him when the defendant approached him with an axe and threatened to split his head open if he did not go away.W. Beach and A.R. Bremner gave corroborative evidence. For the defence, J.E.Spencer denied having had an axe in his possession while Beach was at the hut, and said he did not threaten to strike him.Florence Spencer and John Alexander corroborated the statement of Spencer.After deliberation the Bench decided that the evidence of the complainant was the more worthy of credence, and inflicted a fine of £1,with £1 in council's fee and court fees and also witnesses expenses, or 14 days imprisonment. Milson Beach had a good reputation for being a builder of quality:
An auction took place in June 1898 but the circumstances are unclear (maybe business was not viable or they were re-furnishing):IMPORTANT CLEARING-OUT SALE At Beachville, Main street.C. BRUMBY AND CO, having received instructions, will sell, at the abovenamed residence, by public auction, on WEDNESDAY, June 22, at 2 p.m.
WHOLE of the SUPERIOR HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE andEFFECTS, comprising Superior Upholstered Chairs and Rockers, Tables,Brussels Carpets, Linoleum, Couches, Austrian Chairs, Bamboo Tables, SuperiorBrass-Mounted Bedstead, Bedding, Cherts of Drawers, Mirrors, Clocks, Fenders and Fire Irons, Crockery, Glassware, Ornaments, Kitchen Utensils, and other quantity useful sundries.
In 1899 the following advertisement appeared:A Respectable GIRL, to help with housework . Apply MRS BEACH.
In May 1900 the following advertisement appeared:A Good GENERAL SERVANT. Apply MRS BEACH, Beach Villa. In August 1901:
FOR SALE OR TO LET: First-Class centrally situated BOARDING HOUSE, in Main street, every possible convenience ; doing good business.The Proprietress (Mrs L. A. Beach) is relinquishing same solely on account of ill-health, having to leave Zeehan. Easy terms can be arranged. For particulars apply to J. C. HARRIS, Auctioneer.
Life must have been challenging in the Wild West during those days:
Zeehan and Dundas Herald, 2nd June 1899Police Court. THURSDAY June 1 (Before Mr E. L. Hall, S.M, and Mr J,S.Lee,J.P.)
H. M. BEACH v. J. E. SPENCER— ASSAULT.Mr A. J. Douglas (of Messrs Simmons, Crisp, and Simmons) appeared for the complainant, and Mr J. W. Hudson for the defendant. H.M. Beach stated that on Tuesday, the 30th, he went to remove a chain that had been fixed to the door of a hut belonging to him when the defendant approached him with an axe and threatened to split his head open if he did not go away.W. Beach and A.R. Bremner gave corroborative evidence. For the defence, J.E.Spencer denied having had an axe in his possession while Beach was at the hut, and said he did not threaten to strike him.Florence Spencer and John Alexander corroborated the statement of Spencer.After deliberation the Bench decided that the evidence of the complainant was the more worthy of credence, and inflicted a fine of £1,with £1 in council's fee and court fees and also witnesses expenses, or 14 days imprisonment. Milson Beach had a good reputation for being a builder of quality:
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The family took the opportunity to expand their property holdings in Zeehan during ths period. In addition to owning and operating the Beach Villa commercial boarding house, historical records confirm ownership of three other lots in the town - one by Milson, one by Lucy and one by Sarah the wife of their son Albert (see map below).
