Spark, J.D. (Dean)
[Passenger list, "KOOMBANA" 37, compiled 04 June 1912, Adelaide Steamship Company. Broome Historical Society]
List of passengers known to have been bound for Derby.
From Fremantle [saloon]
...
Spark, Dean Proprietor of wine saloon at Derby.
[Passenger list, "KOOMBANA" 37, compiled 02 April 1912, Adelaide Steamship Company. Noel Butlin Archives Centre, Australian National University, 0186/N46/634]
Fremantle-Derby Spark Dean Storekeeper at Derby.
["Kanowna Racing Club", Western Mail (Perth, WA), Fri 17 Jun 1898, Page 42, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33153972]
KANOWNA RACING CLUB
Kanowna, June 9.
The committee of the Kanowna Racing Club have drawn up the following programme for a meeting to be held early in August, the exact data not yet having been fixed:--Hurdle Race, of 60'
- been fixed :-Hurdle Race, of 60 sovs.; Trial Stakes, of 30 sovs.; Kanowna Handicap, of 200 sovs.; Jumpers' Flat Race, of 40 sovs.; Flying Handicap, of 60 sovs.; and a Ladies Bracelet of 30 sovs., with a bracelet of the value of 10 guineas. The following officers were appointed:--Patron, Warden Troy; president, the Mayor; judge, W. Lowes; handicapper, J. J. Wilkinson; starter, E. B. Castieau; clerk of course, J. D. Spark, clerk of scales, E. Wilkinson; stewards, J. Barry, E. Begg, C. Cutbush, G. Kennedy, A. P. Glover, C. Long, and D. Campbell; secretary, A. L. Paul.
["Port Hedland Hotel" (advertisement), The Pilbarra Goldfield News (Marble Bar, WA), Sat 23 Jan 1904, Advertising supplement, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page18058209]
[captured as image; not transcribed]
["Koombana's Passenger List", Broome Chronicle (WA), Saturday 30 March 1912]
KOOMBANA'S PASSENGER LIST.
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For Derby.
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Dean Spark
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["Story Of The Koombana", The Sunday Times (Perth, WA), Sunday 31 March 1912, page 12, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57729211]
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SOME OF THE PASSENGERS.
Now that it appears more than probable that the Koombana no longer exists, the personality of the passengers who most likely have shared her untimely fate will be of interest. Amongst them are several well-known people, and it is quite possible that some of them may have left the ship at an intermediate port.
...
Mr. Dease[sic] Spark is a storekeeper, of Derby, who had been spending a holiday in Perth, and was returning to the scene of his labors.
...
["The Passengers", The West Australian (Perth, WA), Wednesday 03 April 1912, page 7]
FOR DERBY.
Saloon.
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Mr. Dean Spark.
...
["Those Known Locally", The Evening Star (Boulder, WA), Wednesday 03 April 1912, Page 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206525254]
THOSE KNOWN LOCALLY.
Amongst those who were on the ill-fated vessel were the following, who were well-known to many residents on the fields:--
Mr. Deane Spark was a storekeeper and hotelkeeper at Derby, and was returning after a trip to Perth. Some 14 years ago he was in business in Kanowna, and his brother Perry was also in business there. He has a brother Frank in Boulder. Mr. Spark comes from a family once well known in Korumburra district of Victoria. He has a mother, sister, and brother in Perth, and was a great favorite with all who knew him.
Mr. Jenkins was manager of a station in the north-west for Forrest, Emanuel, and Co.; and with his daughter was returning after a trip to the coast. He was a brother of Nurse Russell, of Collins-street, Kalgoorlie.
Corporal Frank Buttle was a very well known and popular police officer, and many of the force now on the fields who served under him will regret his loss.
As already mentioned, Mr. W. Poor, well-known in sporting, circles in the Boulder, was amongst the passengers.
It is supposed that the W. Smith whose name appears in the passenger list is identical with Mr. W. Smith who formerly worked for Mr. W. Lewis, baker, of Boulder, because he wrote to bis brother some weeks ago that he would prolbalbly leave for the north-iwest by the Koombana.
["Some Of The Passengers", Broome Chronicle (WA), Saturday 06 April, 1912]
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Mr. Spark, hotelkeeper at Derby, was returning from a holiday.
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["Some Of The Passengers", Daily Herald (Adelaide, SA), Tuesday 09 April 1912, page 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105225991]
SOME OF THE PASSENGERS.
...
Mr. Deane Spark is a storekeeper, of Derby, who had been spending a holiday in Perth, and was returning to the scene of his labors.
[McPartland, John, James Deane Spark (unpublished), family memoir, in preparation, 2018, provided by John McPartland]
Born Alma, Victoria 23 June 1873 - died tragically at sea, north-west of W.A. 20 March 1912, aged 39
James Deane (more commonly known as Deane) born on 23 June 1873 was the second child of Archibald K. and Pauline Spark. His childhood and first five years of schooling were at Alma, in central Victoria, where his father was headmaster. In his sixth year of primary education the family had moved to Stanley in the north-east of the colony because Deane’s father had transferred to Stanley State School as headmaster in 1884.
It was a very distressful time for the family when Archibald Kinnear died unexpectedly in the summer school holidays of 1885. From that time it is expected that Deane was one of the Spark bunch who attended Albert Park State School because that’s where his mother moved with the family to live. Unlike, as is the case for his brother, Antoine, we do not have any documentation of Deane’s educational progress. In about 1890 when the family went to Korumburra, 75 mls (120km) south-east of Melbourne, Deane was 17 and of workforce age. At first he may have assisted his mother and older brother, Perry, in the Colliery Department Store they ran, but later with the help of his mother he set himself up as a timber merchant and building contractor. It could be that he drew on the expertise of his Uncle Antoine Brabet who was a successful businessman in the timber industry in Bairnsdale.
At Korumburra all of the age-eligible Spark family operated their own businesses but because of a global financial depression while they were there businesses experienced considerable struggles to survive. The younger family members, Francis William and Eva were still of school-age. Choices had to be made so just a few years before the turn of the century the adult men of the family decided to leave Victoria and join the mass of people heading to Western Australia which heralded better business prospects because of the discovery of gold. By the end of 1897 all four Spark brothers – Perry, Deane, Antoine and Frank – were in Kanowna where gold had been discovered in 1893.
Today, the Western Australian Tourism Commission describes Kanowna as: 'Perhaps the most incredible of all ghost towns. In 1905 there were 12,000 people living in this town 18 km north east of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. There were 16 hotels, two breweries and an hourly train service to Kalgoorlie. Nothing now remains except rubble, tourist markers and memories.'
Arthur Antoine Spark was granted a block of residential land at Lindsay’s Find, east of Kanowna near Kurnalpi, in November 1896 and then applied for business land at Kanowna. J D Spark was granted land at Kanowna in December 1896. (Kalgoorlie Western Argus, Thursday 17 December 1896, p10.) Deane combined gold prospecting with building construction. Being a man who didn’t take long to make a name for himself Deane held the position of ‘clerk of the scales’ for race meetings in 1898. He had an affability and gregariousness about him that endeared him to those he met.
As did Perry, within two years Deane moved from Kanowna north to Menzies, where he became a member of the Menzies Doric Lodge. (The Menzies Miner (WA), Saturday 3 June 1899, p15). There was plenty of building work available because of the astoundingly rapid growth of new mining areas which opened up. In September 1899, Deane and his partner, Mr Hall, moved further north and set up a building construction business east of Leonora at Mount Malcolm, which mushroomed as the commercial centre for the Mt Margaret goldfield. Mount Malcolm was 73 miles (117 km) north of Menzies. (The Menzies Miner (WA), Saturday 16 September 1899, p4)
But what was the impetus for change in 1902? Had Deane met someone from W.A.’s north-west who had encouraged him with irresistible stories? Whatever, for a reason with which he was happy, Deane left the eastern goldfields and relocated to Port Hedland on the Pilbara coast in the north-west of the state. Here he made a career change to become the licensee of the Commercial Hotel in May 1902. A year later according to the Pilbarra Goldfields News, Saturday 23 May 1903, p3 the Commercial Hotel was kept in first class style. Deane spent a year and a half as ‘mine host’ at the ‘Commercial’ before crossing town to become proprietor of the Port Hedland Hotel in October 1903. The licence was transferred to him from Mr F Liddiard. The licence of the Commercial Hotel was again taken over by Mr A.E. Gummow.
Under Deane’s expert building management, extensive renovations were carried out at The Port Hedland Hotel. A particular feature which he set up was a hairdressing saloon to be managed by his brother, Frank, who had left WA’s eastern goldfields a couple of years earlier and spent time hairdressing in Collins St, Melbourne. Frank returned to Western Australia aboard the “Kyarra” on 15 October 1903. Deane had received financial assistance from his mother, and brothers, Perry and Arthur Antoine to venture into the hotel business. Like his brother Frank, in whose chapter a lengthy expose is presented, Deane was an agent (bookmaker) for Tattersalls – the line, “I still communicate with Hobart, Tasmania” in his advertisements is the clue, which also reveals that he was the go-to bookmaker while he was at the Commercial Hotel.
Hoteliers were among the businesses that were required to observe Excise Duty law. Casks, cases of beer and kegs attracted excise (tax). The method of paying necessitated affixing each consignment with a stamp. When proprietors received their purchase they were required to cancel the stamp by cutting it. Failure to do so generally resulted in a fine which the court could set to a maximum of £50. When called to an Excise Inquiry a general defence of proprietor’s was “an oversight or neglect by an employee”. In October 1904 Deane was called to face an inquiry for omitting to cut a beer duty stamp. He was consequently fined £2.
For a year or so on from 1905 Deane seems to have consciously set himself a much lower profile than previously. Perhaps he was content to coast along as things were working out pretty well, thank you. Certainly, the proliferation of advertisements that had been part of his introduction to the hotel business were reduced to a trickle. In the period around the end of 1906 Deane left Port Hedland to settle in Derby where he included an earlier occupation in his repertoire of business activities.
At the beginning of 1907, the Kalgoorlie Miner (WA), Monday 28 January 1907, p4 published a list of Public Works contracts covering a number of localities throughout the state, among which was one for Sacks and Spark of Derby. The W.A. Postal Directory of 1908 registers Deane’s address as Derby and his occupation as contractor which clearly indicates that he worked at his trade of building contractor. The same directory lists Frank Sack of Derby as a contractor. Coincidently, by 1909 the proprietor of the Derby Hotel was a Mr D C Sack.
With his finger in a number of pies Deane’s business interests included a store (perhaps to do with building contracting) and a hotel – he was part proprietor and chief partner of the widely-favoured hotel generally known as “Robbies”. The other partner is believed to be his brother Arthur Antoine who was in Derby associated with the hotel in 1908, or his brother Archibald Perry whose Letters of Administration on his estate give evidence of his interest in Derby.
One of Deane’s passions was aerated waters – soda water, cordial and softdrinks. His namesake grand-nephew, Deane Arthur, who has his grand-uncle’s beautifully handwritten book of cordial recipes, said that on returning to Derby from a holiday in the summer of 1912 his uncle proposed to establish an aerated waters factory in the town. He obviously thought that softdrinks would be a worthwhile enterprise because when at the Commercial Hotel in Port Hedland in 1903 Deane boasted in his advertisements that “the Aerated Water Factory is one of the best in the colony”.
The attraction that had brought Deane to Perth in the summer of 1912 was a well-earned holiday coupled with visiting his mother, Pauline, brother, Antoine and sister, Eva who were living at 257 Hay Street, East Perth. At the conclusion of Deane’s stay in the south Antoine Spark was on the wharf to farewell his brother as the Koombana departed Fremantle for northern ports at 5pm on Tuesday 12th March. Antoine later related to his family that he had serious reservations about the ship because it seemed to list with an excessive load of timber on the main deck. He was so concerned about his feelings that he said he exhorted Deane to cancel this passage and return to Derby on another vessel.
But Deane was keen to get back to his businesses and sailed with the ship. The voyage proceeded as normal until the Koombana, in company with another vessel, left Port Hedland on the leg to Broome. History informs us that the ships departed Port Hedland on an “iffy” decision on 20 March and a few hours into the journey ploughed head on into a cyclone of gigantic intensity. The other ship, the Bullarra, battered and damaged, made it to safety at Cossack but the Koombana and its passengers and crew were tragically lost with no trace of them having been found even to this day.
The grief and anguish of the loved ones of those lost was felt and shared by the whole Western Australian community, and the ramifications also touched people in other parts of Australia. An official inquiry was held and there are many pages of historical documents and newspaper articles devoted to explaining the disaster.
Western Australian author, Annie Boyd, found herself so impelled by the intrigue of this still-unsolved mystery that she wrote a book, “Koombana Days”, which was published by Fremantle Press in 2013. Excerpts from the book are included below to instil a desire for those awakened to the story to seek a copy and delve into its revelations:
P227: “Also travelling First Class were two of Derby’s hotelkeepers: wine saloon owner Dean Spark and Derby Hotel proprietor, Louise Sack.”
P247: Annie Boyd writes of the controversy between Tom Allen of Koombana and Harry Upton of Bullarra. It is claimed that Captain Allen did not want to leave port (Port Hedland). At the consequent inquiry Capt. Upjohn denied that any conversation of that nature had taken place. But there were contentions that by this time Capt. Upjohn had a credibility problem.
P274: In Derby “the loss was intense and personal”. There was a void where once there was a mutual and tangible relationship between townsfolk, those who were passengers on that voyage and the ship’s crew.
The Daily News Thursday 7 November 1912, p10
Through Letters of Administration the estate (amount not specified) of James Deane Spark was bequeathed to Arthur Antoine Spark.
In memory of Deane, sons later born into the Spark fraternity were named after him - nephew Deane Jameson Spark (b. 1914) and grand-nephews Deane Arthur Spark (1935) and Deane Gerard Cannon (1940).
AB notes:
James Deane Spark was born at Alma in central Victoria on 23 June 1873.
He was the second child of Archibald Kinnear and Pauline Spark nee ?
Father was Alma school headmaster
The family moved to Stanley in north-eastern Victoria in 1884, when Archibald was appointed headmaster there.
A year later, during the summer school holidays, Deane's father died unexpectedly
Widow and children moved to Melbourne soon after. Deane attended Albert Park State School
Deane went into business as a timber merchant and building contractor, perhaps drawing from the experience and expertise of his uncle Antoine Brabet.
directly or indirectly, lured to Western Australia by gold
by the end of 1897 all four Spark brothers – Perry, Deane, Antoine and Frank – were living and working in Kanowna, about 20km north of Kalgoorlie
combined building construction and gold prospecting
described as affable and gregarious
as of 1898, held the position of ‘clerk of the scales’ for race meetings
soon after, moved to Menzies
became a member of the Menzies Doric Lodge (Menzies Miner, Saturday 3 June 1899, p15)
in september 1899, moved again, set up a construction business at Mt Malcolm, east of Leonora (Menzies Miner, Saturday 16 September 1899, p4)
moved to the Nor'-West, became licencee of the Commercial Hotel in May 1902
see Pilbarra Goldfields News, Saturday 23 May 1903, p3
in October 1903, sold the Commercial Hotel and took over the licence of Port Hedland Hotel
undertook extensive renovations of the Port Hedland Hotel
the extended premise included a barber shop for his brother Frank
according to John McPartland, Deane was a bookmaker and agent for Tattersalls
In October 1904 Deane was called to face an inquiry for omitting to cut a beer duty stamp. He was consequently fined £2.
left Port Hedland for Derby in about 1906
Kalgoorlie Miner (WA), Monday 28 January 1907, p4 published a list of Public Works contracts covering a number of localities throughout the state, among which was one for Sacks and Spark of Derby.
The W.A. Postal Directory of 1908 registers Deane’s address as Derby and his occupation as contractor
At Derby, Deane’s business interests included a store and a hotel. According to JP he was co-owner of the hotel known as “Robbies”. The other partner is believed to be his brother Arthur Antoine.
Deane had manufactured aerated waters in Port Hedland, and proposed to do the same in Derby after returning from Perth in 1912.
Deane's grand-nephew and namesake, Deane Arthur, has Deane's beautifully handwritten book of cordial recipes.
Deane came south in the summer of 1912, to visit his mother and siblings Antoine and Eva, who were living at 257 Hay Street, East Perth.
On Tuesday 12th March 1912, Antoine Spark was on the wharf at Fremantle to farewell his brother.
The Daily News Thursday 7 November 1912, p10
Through Letters of Administration the estate (amount not specified) of James Deane Spark was bequeathed to Arthur Antoine Spark.
Three sons born to the extended Spark were named after Deane: nephew Deane Jameson Spark (1914) and grand-nephews Deane Arthur Spark (1935) and Deane Gerard Cannon (1940).
