Millar Buzzard

1.2
Thomas Buzzard in the Colony of Victoria

In 1853, soon after arriving in the Colony of Victoria, Thomas went into business and opened a bookshop in the Eastern Markets of Melbourne (known locally as Paddy’s Market).

This market was established in 1847, and was situated close to the Yarra River, on the corner of Bourke St. and Exhibition St. The location of the market meant goods could easily be unloaded from ships to small boats and then transported to the market halls via the Yarra River. As the railways expanded, the market’s proximity to Flinders Street Station was also an advantage.

Port Phillip, Hobson Bay and River Yarra leading to Melbourne [9]

History of Early Booksellers Melbourne

Books from the “mother country” were obviously highly sought after, as many retailers advertised new shipments of books that had arrived in Melbourne. In 1853, together with his partner, Mr. Vale, he advertised in the Melbourne newspapers that they had received a new delivery of books. Over the years, there are many references to the pair receiving parcels of books from England, which they advertised for sale in the newspapers. The astute, amongst avid readers, could also read the “shipping intelligence” summaries in newspapers which, beside listing passengers that were landing in Melbourne, also listed Melbourne companies they were receiving specific goods. These included how many parcels of books the Melbourne Bookshop was receiving.

Arrival of shipment of books

Transcript:

Between March 1853 and December 1853, the bookshop moved from the Eastern Markets to the Western Markets. However, on 27th December 1853, the business moved again, to 181 Bourke St. East, and a Circulating Library was opened.

Re-location of Bookshop to 181 Bourke St. East [10]

Transcript:

“NOTICE OF REMOVAL.
BUZZARD & VALE beg to give notice that they are now removing their Book Trade, from No. 7, Western Market, to their New Premises..
181, GREAT BOURKE STREET, EAST.

B. & V. take this opportunity of tendering their sincere thanks to their numerous friends, by whose kind assistance they have been hitherto supported, and are now enabled to notify the improved position their means warrant them in assuming. They beg to assure those friends of their increasing zeal with their enlarged trade, and hopefully solicit the same patronage as they have hitherto enjoyed. To the public in general, they trust being able to offer such inducements as may secure a large share of their favours, which it will be the constant endeavour of the firm to merit and maintain.”

Melbourne Circulating Library [11]
(Note: the misspelling in name “Melboure” in advertisement).

(The Catalogue of Circulating Library, 1853) [12]

On 9th December 1854, the partnership between Buzzard and Vale had come to an end, as they advertised the dissolution of their partnership in the Argus newspaper of 11th December 1884.

Dissolution of Buzzard and Vale Partnership, [13]
(Daniel R. Long was Witness to Document: See Long family.)

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[9] State Library of Victoria
[10] The Banner, Tuesday December 27, 1853
[11] Journal of the C. J. La Trobe Society Inc. Vol 18, No 3, November 2019. State Library of N.S.W.
[12] University College Dublin – Southern Hemisphere Publications
[13] Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Monday 11 December 1854, page 8