The Tobias Brothers –

THE TOBIAS BROTHERS.

We are herewith publishing a photo of one of the pioneer stores of the field — that of Tobias Brother. Starting in a small way at the lower end of Bayley Street in 1892 next to the Freemasons Hotel, they soon doubled their trade, and in 1894 moved into new and more commodious premises nearer the centre of the town, and worked up a flourishing and constantly increasing business, until it became one of the largest in Coolgardie. In October, 1895, just before the great fire in Bayley Street, they again moved, this time to their present situation in Sylvester Street which was mostly surrounded by bush.

Herald Coolgardie 13 July 1900, page 1

The town, however, constantly extending, has now sprung up all round it. On January 1st 1897, the business was taken over by a London company called the Transport Trading and Agency Company of W.A., Ltd, who still carry it on under the name of Tobias Brothers, Messrs C. F. and G. Cheston were appointed managing directors, and Mr E. R. Tobias services were secured as manager.

Tobias Brothers Store 1896 Coolgardie – Photo SLWA

Since taking over the business the company have greatly extended their field of operations, opening branches at Fremantle, Mt Malcolm, Diorite King, and Toorak, and, we understand, will shortly open at Kalgoorlie and Menzies. The company undertake forwarding agency work, and have forwarded hundreds of tons of machinery to different parts of the fields. Without doubt their venture is one of the most successful on the fields, and the shareholders can congratulate themselves on having invested their money exceedingly well.

Tobias Bros Store Coolgardie – Photo SLWA                                                                                    L L to R -TUNBRIDGE (bank Clerk) – Aspinnel (Governor Robinsons Friend)- the two Egberts (prospectors Sons of Gwalia) – Billy Pope – Garry Evans – Tom Tobias – Mick Alves – Ernie Tobias.

The Freemasons Hotel Coolgardie was owned by the Tobias Bros in 1899 – Their first store was next door – Photo SLWA

Loading up outside the Tobias Bros warehouse Coolgardie – Photo SLWA

Interior shots of Tobias Store Coolgardie – Photo SLWA

Tobias Store, stock pile – Photo SLWA

The Tobias Brothers – There were four sons born to a Welsh couple Thomas TOBIAS and Elizabeth nee REES. They were:

Thomas Henry ‘Tom’ TOBIAS born 1859 in Wales
John Rees TOBIAS born 1866 in Lancashire England
Ernest ‘Ernie’ Rhys TOBIAS born 1868 in Lancashire England
William Porter TOBIAS born 1874 in Lancashire England

Although all of the brothers came to Australia the two brothers we are concerned with for this story are Ernie and Tom TOBIAS. William also came to Western Australia and John stayed in NSW.
Ernest ‘Ernie’ Rhys Tobias arrived in NSW in 1889 – in NSW in 1894 he married Louisa Francis.
They had the following children:
Gladys Beatrice Tobias born 1895 Coolgardie WA
Ernest Francis ‘Frank’ Tobias born 1897 Coolgardie WA
Winifred Tobias born 1899 Coolgardie WA
Gwendoline Louise Tobias born 1902 Victoria
Gwyneth Muriel Tobias born 1906 Perth WA
Ernest died in June 1920 in Perth WA

Thomas Henry ‘Tom’ Tobias was born in Wales and arrived in Coolgardie in 1893 after prospecting in the North West. for some time He was married with three children, Jean, Doris, and Rhys, his wife was Elizabeth Maude Tobias. He opened a store with his brother Ernest as was the one to arrange the prospecting party of four who eventually found the reef which became the Sons of Gwalia Mine. Thomas was the one to name the mine because of his Welsh associations. He died in Perth WA in August 1929 aged 69yrs.