Bean Brothers was a company based in

Adelaide, South Australia Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...

involved in tanning, leathergoods and shipping ventures in the latter half of the 19th century. Bean Brothers Ltd was set up by the principals to consolidate their assets and develop as wool and produce brokers. They also founded the Adelaide and Port Darwin Sugar Company to develop a sugar plantation in the

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regi ...

of Australia. Both ventures failed amid acrimony, recrimination and lawsuits. The firm of Bean Brothers were leather, wool and produce brokers. In 1882 its principals floated a company Bean Brothers Limited to take over their assets.

Leather goods

Robert Laundy Ingham and George Bean Snr. established the

Thebarton Thebarton ( ), formerly Theberton, on Kaurna land, is an inner-western suburb of Adelaide, South Australia in the City of West Torrens. The suburb is bounded by the River Torrens to the north, Port Road and Bonython Park to the east, Kintore St ...

Tannery in competition with William Peacock. In 1839 the partnership was dissolved and Bean Snr. took over the business. In 1840 Bean Snr. opened a shop in

Hindley Street Hindley Street is located in the north-west quarter of the Adelaide city centre, centre of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It runs between King William Street, Adelaide, King William Street and West Terrace, Adelaide, West Terrace. Th ...

previously held by a Mr Crabb, and a year later moved to premises vacated by the firm of Grieve & Campbell on

Rundle Street Rundle Street, often referred to as "Rundle Street East" as distinct from Rundle Mall, is a street in the East End of the city centre of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It runs from Pulteney Street to East Terrace, where it becomes Ru ...

. He was declared insolvent in 1859. A creditor, ex-employee Carl Schoening, charged that Mr Bean withheld cash transactions from the accounts books. Other books which might have supported his claims were not to be found. At this time all three sons were in his employ. He passed the tannery on to son William H. Bean in 1860. and moved to Sandhurst, Victoria (now named

Bendigo Bendigo ( ) is an Australian city in north-central Victoria. The city is located in the Bendigo Valley near the geographical centre of the state and approximately north-west of Melbourne, the state capital. As of 2022, Bendigo has a popula ...

), where he was jailed for bankruptcy. In 1861 G. T. Bean, W. H. Bean and Arthur Bean opened as Bean Brothers in larger premises at 108

, retaining the

tannery Tanning, or hide tanning, is the process of treating skins and hides of animals to produce leather. A tannery is the place where the skins are processed. Historically, vegetable based tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound derived fr ...

and grindery at

Torrensville Torrensville is a western suburb west of the centre of Adelaide, South Australia. It was named after Irish-born economist and chairman of the South Australian Colonisation Commission, Robert Torrens. Torrensville is in the City of West Torre ...

. "On 20th January 1865 William Henry Bean, George Thomas Bean and Arthur Bean, of Torrenside, Tanners, were granted Title to 15 acres, part of Section 46 embracing the whole of the area later covered by Fauldings’ premises in Reid Street..." The adjacent Beans Road (now part of Dew Street) may have been named for them. They commenced making shoe and boot uppers, and by the end of 1865 had 14 workers so engaged in King William Street, in part of the building owned by J. Clarkson & Co. They moved offices to King William Street early 1867 with Arthur handling the retail trade at No. 25 and G. T. Bean at the wholesale business at No. 27, while W. H Bean handled the import of leathergoods, hides and tanning materials. Arthur bought the retail business in April 1867 and the wholesale side in September 1867. On 26 November there was a major fire in the retail shop, determined at an inquest by the Supreme Court as almost certainly arson. Certain inconsistencies of evidence made G. T. Bean the prime suspect, but nothing could be proved. Sometime before 15 September 1868 Arthur sold the business to H. G. Crocker & Co. which was taken over before 4 June 1869 by F. Fischer. This company was affected by another fire, in December 1870, this time originating in the adjoining Adelaide Photographic Company's premises.

Shipping

While Bean Brothers were running the tannery and leathergoods shop and factory, they were purchasing much of their hides and leather and other materials through agents, then seeing the commercial opportunities in exporting wattle-bark to tanneries in Great Britain, concentrated on that business. At first they were sending consignments as regular cargo but by 1869 they were chartering ships to export the bark from Yankalilla via

Normanville, South Australia Normanville is a coastal town in the Australian state of South Australia on the west coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula. Location and geography Normanville is south of Adelaide, South Australia. It is the largest regional centre on the western si ...

for London. and by 1870 were exporting all the wattle-bark they could obtain. In one year they shipped 8,000 tons of bark, at prices ranging from £10 to £13 a ton.Concerning People
(Obituary of G.T. Bean), ''The Register'' 8 April 1912 p.4 accessed 18 March 2011 In 1871 they purchased and refitted the 560 ton Joshua Bates and appointed Captain Thomas Bicknell to ship bark to London with a back-cargo of timber. Before it could make its first voyage, the ship was set fire by a disgruntled crewman, E. W. Holloway. Other ships owned or managed by Bean Brothers were the steamer Kura, the Brigantines Nightingale and Mary Bannatyne, the brig African Maid, and schooners St. Kilda (three-masted), Prosperity, Stephen, Lady Darling, and Io. From 1877 they produced a monthly circular containing information as her

on demand and prices for wool, skins and bark.

Sugar in the Northern Territory

In 1881 G. T. Bean floated a company Adelaide and Port Darwin Sugar Company to establish sugar plantations in the

. In 1882 he set up a trial sugar plantation on Wagait Shire, Cox's Peninsula (later Cox Peninsula) across

Darwin Harbour Darwin Harbour is a body of water close to the city of Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is the traditional waterways of the Larrakia people. It opens to the north at a line from Charles Point in the west to Lee Point in the ...

from

Port Darwin Port Darwin is the port in Darwin, Northern Territory, and is the most northerly port in Australia. The port has operated in a number of locations, including Stokes Hill Wharf, Cullen Bay, and East Arm Wharf. Since 2015, the port has bee ...

, and organised the hire of 2,000 Singapore Chinese labourers to work the field at £1 per week. Investors included Benjamin Cohen De Lissa of

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

(and after whom the Cox Peninsula suburb and town Delissaville (now Belyuen ) and the nearby Delissaville airstrip were named), G. T Bean, W. H. Bean, Arthur Bean, Luther Scammell,

George Scarfe George Scarfe (c. 1826 – 14 April 1903) was an English-born merchant in Adelaide, South Australia, a partner in the firm of George P. Harris, Scarfe, & Co., later known as Harris Scarfe. Scarfe was called a "genius of commerce", he was largely c ...

and F. W. Stokes. Housing was erected, many cane tubers were supplied by the Government botanist M. W. Holtze from the nursery at

Fannie Bay Fannie Bay is a middle/inner suburb of the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. It is the traditional country and waterways of the Larrakia people. Situated in the suburb is the Fannie Bay Gaol museum, Fannie Bay Race Track, Fannie ...

, many more ordered from Queensland and locally and a mill was erected by the Delissa Pioneer Sugar Company. DeLissa, who had been appointed supervisor for his sugar plantation experience, made a trial crushing of 30 tons of cane in December 1881 which returned very little sugar. DeLissa quit in 1882, citing interference by G. T. Bean, who was scathing in his denunciation of DeLissa. W. H. Thompson was brought from

Antigua Antigua ( ; ), also known as Waladli or Wadadli by the local population, is an island in the Lesser Antilles. It is one of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region and the most populous island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua ...

to take over management of the plantations. The machinery was bought for a tenth of its original £6,000 by W. H. Gray, for his Daly River Plantation Company but his plantation also failed, and it was left to rust away. In 1885 the 100,000 acre lease was resumed for non-compliance with the conditions. G. T. Bean was criticised for spending Adelaide and Port Darwin Sugar Company money on worthless land without due diligence, over-extending his stay in London and overspending his allowance there.

Bean Brothers Ltd

In 1882 Bean Brothers floated Bean Brothers Limited wool and produce brokers with initial subscription of 6,000 £10 shares and total capital of £100,000. Its purpose was to acquire the assets of Bean Brothers (including properties in Grenfell Street, Coromandel Place and French Street) and continue their business as commission agents. Founding directors were W. B. Rounsevell, M.P., Robert Darling, J.P., of Mundoora, W. K. Simms, J.P., John Hill, Seth Ferry, F. E. Bucknall, M.P., and William Whinham of

Mount Gambier Mount Gambier is the second most populated city in South Australia, with a population of 25,591 as of the 2021 census. The city is located on the slopes of Mount Gambier (volcano), Mount Gambier, a volcano in the south east of the state, about ...

with W. H. Bean as manager. But two years later the company collapsed among a series of lawsuits, notably that in the Supreme Court against G. W. Bean for over £2000.Summary In Cuzco
''South Australian Register'' Monday 22 September 1884 accessed 8 April 2011 At a shareholders' meeting it was revealed that it was necessary to make a call of £1 per share to pay creditors. The two brothers were insolvent and owed the company money, but were out of South Australian jurisdiction (G. T. Bean being in England and W. H. Bean in Melbourne). Among the causes for the company's collapse was W. H. Bean's unauthorised purchases on company cheques (speculating on chaff for instance). Nor had W. H. Bean maintained the books properly. At the shareholders' meeting anger was expressed that the liquidator, Mr C. Schlumberger, appeared to side with the company principals, not the ordinary shareholder who stood to lose the whole of their investment. The company went into voluntary liquidation in 1885.

Family

George Bean (c.1805 – 25 April 1869), tanner, founder of a tannery and grindery on banks of

River Torrens The River Torrens (Karrawirra Parri / Karrawirraparri) is the most significant river of the Adelaide Plains. It was one of the main reasons for the siting of the city of Adelaide, capital of South Australia. It flows from its source in the Ad ...

, and a "colonist of 32 years" was married to Ann, who was accidentally killed on 17 September 1862Fatal Accident – Coroner's Inquest
''South Australian Register'' 19 September 1862 p.3 accessed 17 March 2011 Among their family were: * Lavinia Annette Bean (1837 – 9 July 1904) married Luther Scammell (c. 1826 – March 1910) on 5 February 1856. He was owner of F. H. Faulding & Co. :* William J. Scammell (26 October 1856 – 19 April 1928) with F. H. Faulding & Co :* Luther Robert Scammell FCS LSA (20 March 1858 – 8 April 1940) with F. H. Faulding & Co :* Francis George Scammell (1861– ), solicitor :* Ernest Arthur Scammell (1865– ), in Queensland :* Lavinia Mary "Minnie" Scammell (1859 – 8 July 1915) :* Annette Emily Scammell (1866– ) married Stanley De Laire Newton in 1901, moved to Western Australia :* Florence Euphemia Scammell (1868– ) married Alfred Corker Minchin in 1888 * William Henry "W. H." Bean (1843– ) * George Thomas "G. T." Bean (1843 – 25 February 1912) * Arthur Bate Bean (1845–) married Rosa Elizabeth Williams (died 1917) on 7 June 1866. :* Ann Letitia Maria Bean (9 May 1867 – ) born at St. Marys, married Leonard Harvey Gresham in 1894 :* Lilla Elizabeth Bean (17 April 1869 – ) born at "Bleak House", St. Marys, married Linton Hall Swann in 1903 :* Selina Lavinia Bean (23 July 1871 – 1872) born at St. Mary's :* Walter Arthur Wickham Bean (16 April 1873 – 1952) born at North Adelaide, married Clara Adelaide Twining Astles (c. 1875 – January 1902) who died in childbirth aged 26. :* Harold Leonard Bean (1875 – 13 February 1892) died at Cathedral Lodge, Pennington Terrace, aged 16 :* Florence Rosa Bean (18 May 1878 – 1962) born at St. Marys :* Clarence Percival Bean (21 June 1880 – ) :* Reginald Harvey Bean (4 January 1884 – ) born at "Bleak House", St. Marys :* Douglas Hurtle Bean (6 August 1890 – )

Arthur Bean

Another brother, Arthur Bate Bean, was often a partner in George's business enterprises. He too was educated at J. L. Young's

Adelaide Educational Institution Adelaide Educational Institution was a privately run non-sectarian academy for boys in Adelaide founded in 1852 by John Lorenzo Young.B. K. Hyams'Young, John Lorenzo (1826–1881)' ''Australian Dictionary of Biography'', Volume 6, Melbourne Uni ...

,Examination of Pupils
''South Australian Advertiser'' Wednesday 15 June 1859 p.2 accessed 18 March 2011 He was the driver of a

dogcart A dogcart (also dog-cart or dog cart) is a two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle pulled by a single horse in shafts, or driven tandem. With seating for four, it was designed for sporting shooters and their gun dogs, with a louvred box under the drive ...

which overturned, killing his mother Ann. James McEnhill, whose runaway horses upset the carriage, was found not guilty of manslaughter. He married Rosa Elizabeth Williams in 1866. They had at least eight children and she died 10 June 1917 From some time before 1867 they lived at "Bleak House", a substantial property on South Road, St Mary's. In 1882 he was found to have acted deceptively in attempting in 1880 to persuade Miss Selina Rogers of Tusmore to sell her nearby property "Sarnia" to one Ernest Alfred Leonard of

Western Australia Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...

at a price around half its market value. It is not clear what Arthur's motives may have been, but in September 1882 he sold off much of his effects. In 1893 he sold "Bleak House". He was living at Sussex Street, Glenelg from at least 1902 to 1904. In 1907 he was boarding and keeping shop at 235 Forbes Street Sydney under the alias "Henry Louis Burton". In 1918 he was residing in Cathedral Street, Woolloomooloo. Arthur's son, Walter W. Bean took over the Hindmarsh tannery and leatherware shop at 158 Rundle Street in 1898.Public Notices
''South Australian Register'' 21 May 1898 p.2 accessed 10 April 2011

References

{{Reflist History of the Northern Territory History of Adelaide Companies based in Adelaide Australian wool merchants Leather manufacturers Australian merchants Tanneries