31/08/2025
Arthur Shirley Woolmer
Settler, Publican and Aerated Water Manufacturer
Hawera 1898 to 1901
Born in Maidstone, Kent, circa 1866, Arthur Shirley Woolmer was a man who, like many of his contemporaries, sought to forge a new life in the expanding British Empire. Arthurs middle name, Shirley, was a name inherited from the Exeter Woolmer’s of the late 18th century.
His father was the Rev. Charles Edward Shiley Woolmer, whose life as a vicar for 50 years was publicly celebrated. Charles was educated at Oxford, where he excelled in academics and athletics. Over his long career, he held various positions, including Vicar of Ramsgate and Sidcup, and was highly regarded for his dedication to church building and restoration projects.
Arthur was one of nine children born to Charles and his wife Cordelia. It was a privileged household, the children were raised with a governess, and household servants were a mainstay; as detailed in the English Census of 1871 through 1891. However, in the 1881 census Arthur was not recorded, I can only assume that at the age of 15 he was boarding at school, as was his brother, Shirley.
Only 3 years later, on the 29th of May 1884, we find Arthur S. Woolmer departing London on the ship Ruapehu of the New Zealand Shipping Company. He was in steerage, a common passage for those with more hope than funds. The Ruapehu arrived in Lyttelton late July 1884. He was only 18. His journey from England to New Zealand was not a singular event but the first of two. No records have been found of Arthur’s early life in New Zealand. He travelled to London in early 1890 and returned to New Zealand later that same year, arriving in Wellington.
Peculiarly, the occupation enumerated on the passenger lists for Arthur leaving New Zealand was “gentleman”, however, he returned as a “labourer”. Not necessarily a contradiction but a reflection of the adaptability required. A significant number of English labourers came from the south-east of England. The rural trade unions were strong in the county of Kent and very well represented in the category “labourer”. Possibly this was a means of financing his return to New Zealand in 1890 at age 24.
Upon his return, Arthur found his way to Rurupopo-Makotoku and is recorded as a settler in the electoral rolls of 1893 and 1894. In 1894 there is reference to Arthur residing in Waimarino, and that he had been “resident there for several years”. A transfer of land from Arthur, section 1 block 2 Makotuku, was approved at the end of June 1894.
Eight months later, Arthur was in Manaia, South Taranaki. There he established himself in both the community and in business. This relocation marks a significant change of circumstance. A notice of application for a publican’s license by Charles Ringwood indicated that he and Arthur Shirley Woolmer were joint owners of the Waimate Hotel in Manaia. As was common at the time, the Waimate Hotel had its brush with fire in July 1896, fortunately the damage was minimal and insured.
Through this partnership that he met his future wife Annie, daughter of Charles Ringwood, whom he married on the 12th of November 1895 at St. Cuthbert’s Church, Manaia. They welcomed their first of four children on February the 1st 1897.
Shortly after their marriage, Arthur further extended his business interests, where on New Years Eve 1895 it was reported that he had purchased the Manaia flour and oatmeal mill. His intentions were simple; to meet the demand for oatmeal
In the Manaia community, Arthur was involved in the Caledonian Society, the Chess Club, the Egmont Cycling Club, and played a part in establishing the Waimate Racing Club. For the cycling club both he and Charles Ringwood were of sufficient means to offer a cup to the value of 10 guineas to the Egmont Cycling Club ($2,600 Q2 2025).
Perhaps through his exposure to the aerated water trade, as joint owner of the Waimate Hotel, an announcement of the 2nd of June 1898 was made advising a transfer of interest in a borough lease between J. McLachlan and H. Woolmer. This was the lease was for the Hawera aerated water and cordial factory, located in Princes Street. The factory had been established circa 1886 by Mark and Nathaniel Johnston as an extension to their brewing business. The land title shows that Arthur Shirley Woolmer had taken over the lease on the 20th of June 1898.
Arthur began making improvements and alterations to the cordial factory. These included new sheds for the storing of bottles and refitting the second floor for storing cordials in large quantities. Additionally, new drainage was arranged and the factory interior whitewashed.
From September 1898 he diversified his business to include the manufacture of pickles, sauces, and vinegar. Preparatory to this, further building additions were made, and the importation of plant to facilitate the expansion. His first advertisements for this business were published between October 1898 and April 1899. It can be assumed that the goodwill inherited from McLachlan was sufficient to this point.
Not all supplies were readily available, and from the onset we find Arthur advertising for pickle, pint and quart, ale and spirit bottles. In the summer seasons of 1898/9 and 1899/1900, we find adverts for “hampers of summer drinks, including Tonic Beer, Lemonade, Ginger-ale, Orange Champagne and Apple Cider”. Leading up to Christmas 1898 the Hawera & Normanby Star reported that a big trade was being made by the Hawera Cordial Manufactory, and that a substantial sample of beverages had been provided to them.
Only a few months later, on the 3rd of February 1899, the sale of Woolmers Aerated Water and Cordial business to a Mr B H Somervail was announced. Binny Hamilton Somervaile was the proprietor of the Hawera Brewery, who had purchased the brewery, located on the corner of Cameron and High Streets, the prior year. Either this was the result of rumour, or the sale fell through. Nevertheless, Arthur continued in business, with a new waggon for the cordial factory completed later that year, and further adverts for “Xmas Hampers of Summer Drinks, any size, any variety” and “Summer Drinks of every description. No picnics or other parties complete without them.”.
The aerated water industry was notorious for injuries. In 1900 Arthur met with a “nasty accident” at his factory requiring medical attention to a head wound. During the first few months of 1901 two accidents occurred, one to R. Cole and the other to a man named Walsh. Both accidents resulted from bursting bottles cutting their arms.
On the 18th of May it was announced that Arthur had sold his business to John Kirtley Cameron. The lease was transferred on the 20th of May 1901. Shortly thereafter, he began the process of divesting himself of personal property. It appears that a period of uncertainty followed where he purchased the Normanby Hotel, and within days disposed of his interest. On departing Hawera, tributes were paid to Arthur’s personal qualities, particularly to his energies shown in business.
By December 1901, Arthur had taken ownership of the Kakaramea Hotel near Patea. Life as a hotelier, however, was not without its risks. The New Zealand Police Gazette of 1902 records a particular instance: a man named John Connell, alias Kilgour, defrauded Arthur of £3 12s using a valueless cheque.
Arthur and his family’s stay in Kakaramea was to be short lived. In July 1902 it became publicly known that they were to depart Kakaramea. Subsequently, the hotel was sold and in October Arthur had applied for a transfer of license to James Hicky who had leased the hotel from the new owner.
Feilding, in the Manawatu, was Arthur’s next destination. He had a homestead on North Street and a 200 acre dairy farm on the Kimbolton Road, which he aptly named Shirley Farm. In keeping with his restless nature and inability to settle, Arthur gave up dairying. A clearing sale was announced on the 26th of July 1904, with a herd of 60 “first class young dairy cows” for sale. On departing Feilding, Arthur donated a valuable gift of old Maori carvings. This was presented to the public library, with the Mayor F. F. Haggitt expressing the library committee’s desire for these to form the nucleus for a future museum.
His next move was to Halcombe, a short distance north and east of Feilding. There Arthur was hotelkeeper of the Halcombe Hotel. This wasn’t to last. However, this time it was not of his own choosing. While assisting in the loading of pigs at Halcombe railway station, he slipped and fell. He suffered a severe injury to his temple and was removed to hospital. He developed complications and died on the 30th of April 1905, aged 39 years. We can only speculate that it was related to his prior head injury, which he sustained at the Hawera aerated water factory.
Arthur is interred at the Kimbolton Cemetery. His wife, Annie, remarried later that year, most likely out of necessity, and for the immediate future took over the hotel license. Annie married a third time, and outliving all her husbands died at Marton on the 25th of September 1962.
Unfortunately, we are only afforded a fleeting glimpse into the life of Arthur Shirley Woolmer, who died 120 years ago. Fragments of evidence in newspapers, government documents and archives paint a life of chasing opportunities, restless in nature, energetic in his pursuits, who was well liked and respected generally.
Photos: (1) Manaia Flour Mill c.1890, (2) Cordial Factory, Princes Street, Hawera c.1900 (3) Kakaramea Hotel c.1920s, (4) Halcombe Hotel.
(C) OldBottlesWanted 2025
