Cawthorne's was a company founded in 1870 in Adelaide, South Australia by Charles Cawthorne and his father, which dealt in musical instruments, sheet music and recordings, and acted as concert promoters.
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History
In 1876, William Anderson Cawthorne and son Charles, as W. A. Cawthorne & Co., were book sellers operating from Morphett Street, Adelaide, and were publishing the Australian Handbook. They moved to Waymouth Street, then by 1877 they had premises at 1–3 Franklin Street, "Cawthorne Chambers", adjacent to the G.P.O., and in March 1882 started carrying sheet music and violin strings. and a year later materials for amateur dramatics.
In 1884 they opened in the new Y.M.C.A. building at Gawler Place, and by 1885 Cawthorne & Co. was acting as a booking agent for concerts. They retained the Franklin Street shop as a branch office until the Cyclorama Building (later West's picture theatre, 91 Hindley Street) opened, and the second shop moved there.
Later the Gawler place premises were enlarged considerably and the Hindley street business closed.
In 1911 Cawthorne's moved to 17 Rundle street and in 1924 those premises were demolished, and an up-to-date music warehouse was built. Around this time, three of Charles's four sons – Gus, Cyril and Frank – became involved in the company.
In 1924 a new company "Cawthorne's Limited" was formed, with £20,000 capital, to take over the business and assets of Cawthorne & Co. Its first directors were Charles Witto-witto Cawthorne, Augustus Eckersley Cawthorne, Cyril Cawthorne, Frank Roy Cawthorne and William Miller.
W. A. Cawthorne
W. A. Cawthorne (25 September 1825 – 25 September 1897) arrived in South Australia with his mother on the Amelia in 1841. His father, Captain William Cook Cawthorne, was from 1851 to 1861 the (first) Head Keeper of the "Sturt" lighthouse on Cape Willoughby. By 1851 W. A. Cawthorne had with his mother founded a school on Morphett Street, which moved to Pulteney Street in 1852 (in which year he was elected to the Education Board) then Victoria Square west in 1856.
He was interested in aboriginal culture and made useful observations of Kaurna language and customs. That this was a continuing interest is reflected in the middle names he gave (some if not all of) his children. He was the author of The Islanders (1854), an early history of settlement on Kangaroo Island; Kupirri; or, the Red Kangaroo (1858), a reader for children; and a biography of Johann Menge (1859).
He was founding secretary of the Schoolmasters' Association. He was member of the Volunteer Military Force until 1863 when, as Captain of the West Adelaide Rifle Company, he resigned in protest at the Government's refusal to allow evening parades. In 1865 he stood for City councillor, Grey ward, but was defeated. He was later successful and served from 1871 to 1873. He was secretary of the National Building Society from 1863 to 1892.
The "Victoria Square Academy Est. 1841" closed in December 1864. He then advertised himself as a telegraphic agent, and began stocking the Illustrated Melbourne Post, later the Australian Journal and other interstate and overseas magazines at business premises in Morphett Street.
Charles Cawthorne
Charles Witto-witto Cawthorne (1 July 1854 – 26 June 1925) was with his father W. A. Cawthorne, founder of Cawthorne & Co. as a business involved in every aspect of music-making, and chairman of directors when the company became Cawthorne's Pty Ltd. See main article
Gus Cawthorne
Augustus Eckersley "Gus" Cawthorne (29 April 1887 – 15 July 1937) was born in Adelaide the eldest son of Charles Cawthorne. He was, with brothers Cyril and Frank, on the board of Cawthorne and Company, Ltd., serving as managing director.
Like his father, he was a prominent supporter of amateur theatre and music performance. He was a keen supporter of the brass band movement, and held office in several bands, and a vice-president of the Unley Orchestra.
He and A. J. Chapman (of Allan's Ltd., Cawthorne's chief competitor) founded the Dame Nellie Melba Memorial Fund.
He served as house manager for S. Talbot Smith's Repertory Theatre.
Family
Capt. William Cook Cawthorne (c. 1799 – 28 September 1875) married Georgina Sarah (c. 1802 – 14 June 1860) and emigrated to South Australia with son W. A. Cawthorne aboard Amelia, arriving in May 1841. He married again, to Margaret Grant in 1862. They lived at Brighton.
William Anderson Cawthorne (c. 1824 – 25 September 1897), schoolmaster, married Mary Ann Georgiana "Annie" Mower (1830 – 13 July 1884) on 24 June 1848; he married again, to Sarah Jane McArthur ( – ) on 13 October 1885. They lived on Currie Street, then Morphett Street, then Melbourne Street, North Adelaide. His last address was Gilbert Street, Goodwood. Jane remarried, to Walter Sherringham on 14 February 1899.