William
Joseph Burns
was born
in Woolloomooloo, in 1856, the second child and eldest son of Alexander Burns
and his wife, Ellen nee Carroll. His
father, Alexander was a prominent timber merchant in Sydney and William,
following in his footsteps, would be part of the second generation in a line of
Sydney and suburban timber merchants.
On 2 August, 1880, William married Bridget
Mary Bourke at St. Bede’s Catholic Church in Appin, NSW.
Bridget was the daughter of John Bourke and his wife, Mary, who were both
born in Kilkenny, Ireland.
William and Bridget had eight children –
Ellen Mary (1882-1932), Marion Winifred ‘Min’ (1884-1966, Anne Teresa
(1886-1976), Alexander Leo (1887-1958), Mary Josephine ‘Mollie’ (1889-1920),
Margaret Mary ‘Rita’ ( 1891-1971), William Joseph (1894-1954), Agnes Josephine
(1898-1986). By 1890, the family
were living at Rocky Point Road, Rockdale where William had also established his
timber yard. He also expanded the
business to Hurstville, while maintaining connections to the family businesses
at Balmain, Pyrmont and Druitt Street which his brothers managed.
The
family had a holiday cottage at Darook Park, South Cronulla and when the
Cronulla Surf Club was established, in 1908, William Burns Snr. was one of the
founding members and was elected as one of the Vice Presidents.
His son, William Joseph, also became a member of the Cronulla club.
Realising the potential of the area,
William purchased three acres of
land at Highfield, now Caringbah, on the route of the proposed steam tram line.
After the death of his wife, Bridget, in 1911 at Rockdale, William moved the
family to Caringbah. He established
a timber yard on what is now the site of the Caringbah Inn Hotel.
When, in 1911, the Sutherland to Cronulla tram line was opened, timber
was carted from the train station at Sutherland to the yard at Caringbah. A
large team of horses was also used to haul timber from the Baltic Wharf at
Pyrmont to the Caringbah yard. The family members helped out with the business
and William Joseph, looking after the horses, became a skilled rider and driver
of the horses. A large family home was built on Port Hacking Road and the family
became prominent members of the Catholic community in the Sutherland Shire.
After WW1, William’s son William (Billy)
Joseph and his wife Cassie, nee Burke, moved into the family home in Port
Hacking Road and raised their children in the family residence.
Billy’s sisters, Ellen, Min, Annie and Rita were unmarried and helped
Cassie with the children.
On 6 January, 1923, William Burns senior
died from injuries caused by a fall down steps. He was a popular and highly
respected man and still actively working in the business which he had founded.
His funeral left from the family home in Port Hacking Road and proceeded
to Woronora Cemetery where he was interred in the Burns Family plot.
