Thomas White – convict to storekeeper
Thomas White, occupation ‘seaboy', was 16 years old, 5ft 2½” tall, with light brown hair and light blue eyes when he was convicted of grand larcency and transported to Van Diemen's Land on the convict ship Juliana in 1821. His sentence was for 7 years and although his record shows some minor misdemeanors (reprimanded for being dirty and ragged when attending muster in 1823, and fined 5 shillings for being drunk and disorderly in 1827), he obviously reformed himself, for in 1832 he applied for and received a grant of land in Westbury. In 1841 he received a grant for another allotment and it is on this land that he built a substantial two-storey building which incorporated a corner store. In addition there was another smaller two storey building, used as a warehouse and a stone rubble coach-house and stables.
Subsequent to the grant, Thomas White borrowed £600 from Henry Reading at 15% interest. It is assumed that this capital enabled him to finance the construction of the buildings. In 1846 he borrowed a further £500 and with £130 of his own he repaid in full the capital and interest owing to Henry Reading. The mortgage document mentions “The capital and store now erected ….” So it is clear that the store was in existence prior to 1846. It became known as “White's Token Store” when, in 1855, a penny token was struck, with, on the obverse “Thomas White & Son Westbury”, on the reverse, a kangaroo and emu. In 1857 a penny and halfpenny were struck.
In 1832 Thomas White had married Mary Berbin, who had also been sent out as a convict in 1825. However, in spite of their background, the Whites became respectable citizens of Westbury and were involved in the establishment of the Methodist Church in the town. They had no children of their own but brought up a boy from an early age as their son, giving him the name Thomas White.
Unfortunately their success and respectability were shattered when, in 1859, a consignment of uninsured goods for his store was lost in a shipwreck and they were made bankrupt. Thomas White,snr, and his wife, together with Thomas White jnr and his family moved to Bairnsdale in Victoria.
In 1860 the property was acquired by Charles and Hannah Harris. In 1881 Harris borrowed £300 from D. Hatton, Chemist of Launceston, the security being the Westbury property, including a steam-powered flour mill and machinery. This machinery was housed in the building, originally erected by Thomas White as a warehouse, which now contains the F A Clemons Toy, Doll and Childhood Memorabilia Collection. It is still possible to see where the large millstones were installed in the upper floor (a pair can be seen set in the ground just outside the entrance to the garage) and the original Smutting machine is on display in the garage. In October 1889 Charles Harris met his death when his horse-drawn trap collided with another vehicle just outside Westbury and he was thrown out and killed.
Elizabeth Ann Scott was the next owner from 1902-1920 and it is known that the bakery was in operation, but it is uncertain whether the store still operated. Her son started a bus service from Westbury to Launceston and this was expanded by the next owner, Wm. John Ingamells during the period 1920-1946. His cabs met every train which stopped at Westbury. Jinkers could be hired by those who wished to drive themselves. His licence plate, No.1, for an omnibus to carry 15 persons is on display in the porch. In Mr. Ingamells' time the flour mill must have ceased to operate as he used the building for the construction of Sirdar bicycles which could be hired by the half day for sixpence.
There were two more owners, Mrs Betty Ranicar and Harold George, before Mrs Clemons bought the property in March 1969.