Joseph Wilkie

Joseph Wilkie (30 August 1828 – 10 December 1875) was an English music merchant and politician. In 1850 with John Webster, he co-founded Wilkie & Webster, a music warehouse in Collins Street, Melbourne, which eventually became Allans Music after George Allan became the sole proprietor. Wilkie served as an early member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1857 to 1861, representing the districts of West Bourke and Polwarth & South Grenville. In 1871, he was declared a lunatic, and restrained at the mental asylum in Cremorne before being returned to England where he died in 1875.

Joseph Wilkie
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for West Bourke
In office 28 August 1857 – 9 August 1859
Preceded by	Robert McDougall
Succeeded by	Henry Amsinck
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Polwarth and South Grenville
In office 22 September 1859 – 11 July 1861
Preceded by	District created
Succeeded by	William Nixon
Personal details
Born	30 August 1828 St Pancras, London
Died	10 December 1875 (aged 47) England
Nationality	British
Occupation	Music merchant

Early life

Wilkie was born in St Pancras, London to James Wilkie, a pianoforte tuner, and his wife Mary Ann. Wilkie trained in piano tuning and repair with John Broadwood & Sons.[1]

Music business

1925 article in The Australian Musical News showing the history of the companies of Wilkie, Webster and Allan which became Allans Music.

Wilkie arrived in the colony of Victoria in 1849, and in May 1850 established Wilkie's Music Saloon—a music warehouse selling and repairing musical instruments and selling sheet music—with partner John Campbell Webster at 15 Collins Street East at the site of the present Block Arcade.

George Leavis Allan joined the company as a junior partner in 1862, with the firm becoming Wilkie, Webster & Allan. By 1876, Wilkie and Webster had died leaving Allan as the sole proprietor, and the company became Allan & Company.

Wilkie also went into partnership with fellow Broadwood apprentice Joseph Kilner, who had begun manufacturing pianos in Melbourne in 1856. In 1863, Wilkie, Kilner & Company opened at 174 Queen Street, Melbourne, and specialised in manufacturing pianos from native Australian timbers, as well as importing international models, until 1866.[2]

Political career

In 1856, Wilkie nominated as a candidate for the inaugural Victorian Legislative Assembly to represent the electoral district of West Bourke. He was unsuccessful, losing to Patrick Phelan and Robert McDougall,[3] but he was elected in an 1857 by-election following McDougall's resignation. At the 1859 colony elections, Wilkie was elected as member for Polwarth and South Grenville.[4] Electors of West Bourke petitioned Wilkie to return to represent his former district, but he declined, re-nominating for Polwarth and South Grenville,[5] although he was defeated at the 1861 election by William Nixon.[6]

Declaration of lunacy

In 1871, an inquiry was held into Wilkie's mental state—as The Argus newspaper put it, "signs of insanity inherited from his father".[7] He was subsequently declared a "lunatic" and admitted to a private asylum in Cremorne run by James Thomas Harcourt.[8] In March 1871, Wilkie escaped from the facility by climbing over a fence, and attempted to return to his home in South Yarra by ferry, however he was apprehended by the ferryman and returned to custody.[9] In May 1871, Wilkie's barrister applied to the Supreme Court of Victoria for leave to return him to England which was thought would be beneficial for his treatment. Justice Molesworth declined to issue the order until Wilkie's wife had heard from family in England who could support them.[10] In June, with George Gregory appointed committee of Wilkie's estate, the judge issued the order for Wilkie's transfer to England, as well as an allowance for his family and the purchase of furniture.[11] On 15 December 1875, Gregory received a telegram confirming that Wilkie had died in England on 10 December, the day after Justice Molesworth had sanctioned the sale of Wilkie's and Webster's shares in their music firm to George Allan.[12]

References

1. "Joseph Wilkie". Re-member. Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
2. Atherton, Michael (2018). A Coveted Possession: the Rise and Fall of the Piano in Australia. Schwartz Publishing Pty, Limited. ISBN 978-1743820520.
3. "THE ELECTIONS". The Argus (Melbourne) (3214). Victoria, Australia. 9 October 1856. p. 4. Retrieved 30 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
4. "THE ELECTIONS". The Age (1, 538). Victoria, Australia. 27 September 1859. p. 5. Retrieved 30 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
5. "WEST BOURKE ELECTION". The Argus (Melbourne) (4, 725). Victoria, Australia. 25 July 1861. p. 8. Retrieved 30 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "TOWN TALK". The Herald. LXVII (4847). Victoria, Australia. 15 August 1861. p. 4. Retrieved 30 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
7. "The Argus". The Argus (Melbourne) (9, 206). Victoria, Australia. 16 December 1875. p. 4. Retrieved 30 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
8. "MELBOURNE". The Newcastle Chronicle. XIII. New South Wales, Australia. 23 March 1871. p. 2. Retrieved 30 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
9. "THE NEWS OF THE DAY". The Age (5114). Victoria, Australia. 1 April 1871. p. 2. Retrieved 30 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
10. "LAW REPORT". The Argus (Melbourne) (7, 788). Victoria, Australia. 27 May 1871. p. 6. Retrieved 30 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
11. "LAW-REPORT". The Argus (Melbourne) (7, 805). Victoria, Australia. 16 June 1871. p. 6. Retrieved 30 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
12. "DEATH UNDER CHOLOROFORM AT THE MELBOURNE HOSPITAL". Weekly Times (328). Victoria, Australia. 18 December 1875. p. 8. Retrieved 30 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.