Prior posts have touched on why Bert may have needed to leave Sydney at the turn of the 20th Century. But why did he come to Bendigo ? It has taken a while to establish a link between Bert and Bendigo, however without being completely definitive that this was the reason, I have only recently discovered he had family in Bendigo.

I thought at first he may have been related to Montaque Levy at the Shamrock who was the Proprietor at the turn of the century. However, a Levy family member (Phil Lipshut) has informed they were not related. Montague Levy was responsible for the 1897 major addition of 2 extra stories and hot and cold running water in the bathrooms. (a rarity for the time) Here’s a postcard advert for this grand establishment, one of the finest in the country.

Now, Bert’s family connection in Bendigo.

Bert’s wife Harriet, younger sister Victoria had married a Bendigo lad, one Hyman White of Queen Street. See below the joyous wedding plans.

A year after their marriage, Victoria and Harriet’s recently widowed mother comes to stay in Queen Street with Hyman and Victoria. Tragically, the mother dies in Bendigo after a fall at their residence.

Interesting Bert’s brother in law, Hyman White is not only a Furniture salesman in his father’s store, he also gets into Theatre management in 1901 and opens a new type of theatre in the Masonic Hall on View Street. The Bendigo Independent Supplement has a new editor (Bert) in January 1901 and ‘lo and behold’ the new theatre gets a double page spread in this publication. The Bendigo Advertiser reports on the new theatre however, no photos or fanfare.