Hans Christian Biltoft – grave tales

Hans Christian Biltoft, Wife Amy, and Children Ellen, Jessie and Robert – Photo Ancestry.com

Hans Christian Biltoft was born on 12 February 1864 in Grindsted, Ribe, Denmark, his father, Thoger Biltoft, was 34 and his mother, Ane Marie nee Hansen, was 24. After completing his schooling in Denmark Hans was involved in seafaring for six years. In 1880 he left the sea and became involved in photography. He arrived in NSW in 1886 and was naturalised in 1894. After working in an orchard for several years the lure of gold drew him to Peak Hill in NSW where he was quite successful.

He married Amy Sophia Newbury MARTYN in 1894 in Peak Hill, New South Wales. They had six children in 20 years.
Ellen Ann Biltoft born 1895 in NSW
Jessie Biltoft born 1898 in QLD
Robert Alexander Biltoft born 1899 in QLD
Eric M M born 1911 in Katanning WA
Deborah Edelina Sophia Biltoft born 1913 in Katanning WA
Amy Isobel Biltoft born 1915 Katanning WA

Between 1899 and 1911 the family moved to Western Australia where Hans set up a photography business. His family moved to Kattaning where he also carried out his photograph business. He also had a rural property near Kattaning at Badgebup on 1000 acres and had several mining leases in the Goldfields. He died in 1957 in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, at the age of 93 where he is buried alone in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. He has no headstone.

Grave of Hans Christian Biltoft – Kalgoorlie Cemetery – Photo Danelle Warnock.

There was a second Biltoft photographer in the WA Goldfields, Hans’s younger brother, Ivor Christian Biltoft. Both brothers were experienced and prolific photographers and their business name are to be found on many photographs.

The following information on the Biltoft family was researched by David Spain:

Amy Sophia Biltoft – Died in Greenmount on 21/08/1948 aged – 75.
Iver Cristian Biltoft – Died in Perth on 07/11/1922 aged – 60.  Hans’s older brother. Born 1862.
Ellen Ann (Maud) Biltoft –  Married Sydney W Hawkes at Katanning, in 1919 and died in Belmont on the  26/01/1978 aged 84.
Jessie Biltoft – Married Harry Woods at Katanning in 1920 and died on the 22/06/ 1998 in Bentley aged – 100.
Robert Alexander Biltoft – Married Irene McAllen in Perth in 1929 and died at Inglewood on 17/08/1976 aged – 76.
Eric Menved Martyn Biltoft – Married Jean Wittmer at Kalgoorlie in 1946 and died at Bentley on the 22/04/2012 aged – 101.
Deborah ES Biltoft – Married Herbert Barrett at Fremantle in 1939 and died at High Wycombe on the 16/11/1979 aged – 66.
Amy Isobel Biltoft – Married Kenneth Grant at Perth in 1940 and died at Carlisle on 09/10/2009 aged – 94.

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Moya Sharp

Owner at Outback Family History

My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

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