We've been checking our notes for the Port history that we have been working on for CPlay and came across this gem...
Richard Turnbull (1826-1890) married Mary Hepizabah and over 1852-75 they had 14 children together.
In 1851 and they moved to Timaru and in 1864 he started a business with David Clarkson as Drapers. (Charles Bowker moved to Timaru in 1865 to work as a draper here). Their store and his families home along with most of the CBD was destroyed in the big fire of Dec 1868. The site of the store was nicknamed The Corner and rebuilt in stone. It was later known as Gabitites Corner and is now the site of the Heritage Listed Oxford Building.
Mr Turnbull built a large stone store in the main street which was later converted into a theatre, now the Theatre Royal which purchased by the TDC in 1963.
Mr Turnbull worked to improve the material and social status of the town and had a prominent voice in the harbor discussions before Timaru's breakwater was built.
Member Timaru Town Board 1865
Member Canterbury Provincial Council 1872-1876.
Member of Parliament 1878-1890 (retained the seat until his death)
Member Timaru Harbour Board 1878-1883.
David Clarkson Turnbull (Richard's son) founded D.C Turnbull & Co, the site on Timaru's newest mural on Strathallan Street.
You can download the NEW Timaru Trails App, to find his grave and story at the cemetery.
Check out a cool penny copper token "Clarkson and Turnbull 1865" that was used: https://sites.rootsweb.com/~nzlscant/token.htm
Source: Timaru Herald https://timdc.pastperfectonline.com/.../3AE40E84-33E1...