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himself. His whole life was wrapped up in his business and his home, and his success can be as much attributed to his single-mindedness as to the business acumen. He was not much given to delegation, rather a believer in the motto "If you want a job done well you must do it yourself." He kept current with every aspect of the business, and personally attended to customers' requirements as much as was humanly possible. As prosperity came to the colony (and for a time South
Australia was the wealthiest in the British Empire) rivals became numerous and competition fierce, but the firm more than held its own, thanks largely to his industry and business sense.
260:"Two of his brothers. Messrs: Alfred and Augustus Scarfe, are dead, another is in America, and Messrs Charles C. Scarfe and T. R. Scarfe reside in this State. The latter gentleman lives at Eden Park, Marryatville, and is one of the directors of the firm of Messrs. George P. Harris, Scarfe, & Co. Two sisters survive him, both residing in England. One is the wife of Mr. F. N. Scarfe, a very early colonist, who was once Mayor of Norwood. The other is unmarried. The remains of Mr. Scarfe will be buried in the family vault at the North-road Cemetery."
204:, named "Wattle Park", where he took a keen interest in his orchard and flower beds. He enjoyed vigorous good health, and never missed a day's work until the last year of his life, when in February 1903 it began to break down, and he took to his bed. For the first time in his working life he was not the first to arrive and the last to leave. He recovered somewhat, and was back in action around 1 April 1903, but a week or so later declined rapidly and died at his home, attended by Dr.
277:
110:. Scarfe was called a "genius of commerce", he was largely credited with the firm's early success and gained great personal wealth. His brother T. R. Scarfe (1843â1915), nephew F. G. Scarfe (1867â1961) and Frederick George's son-in-law C. C. Deeley were prominent in the 20th century development of the company.
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His estate was sworn not to exceed ÂŖ800,000. Brothers
Charles Claxon Scarfe of Norwood and Thomas Roger Scarfe of Adelaide were his executors. Provision was made for ten cottages, to be known as "Scarfe Homes" for the use of industrious indigent aged workers and widows. Provision was made for various
188:
Scarfe was preeminently a business man, upright and diligent, regarded as one of the best and truest of
Adelaide's merchants, fair and just and approachable by the humblest employee. He lived an exceedingly quiet life, shunning publicity, and despite his position and influence, refused to talk about
403:
The family vault, which George Scarfe commissioned at the North Road cemetery following the death of his brother Alfred, was resumed by the cemetery trust in 1980 and replaced with a granite memorial, on which his name and year of death appear last, almost as an afterthought.
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Scarfe's bequest provided for the construction of ten cottages for economic rental by workers who had fallen on hard times. These were built in 1906 at
Gertrude Street, Norwood as the "Scarfe Cottage Homes", since refurbished and now the "Scarfe Court Retirement Village".
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Thomas Roger Scarfe (30 March 1843 â 19 March 1915) married Teresa Mary
Gertrude Birrell (died 3 August 1942) in 1895. Actively involved in the firm, he died a wealthy man, leaving considerable sums to a range of Catholic and other charitable
172:
Around 1864 Harris began establishing a store at 58-60 Gawler Place (later Allan's building, currently Allans Billy Hyde), leaving
Scotsman William Fraser to run the Hindley Street establishment with Scarfe as assistant, then as partnership
134:, who were in business together, were fellow-passengers, but it is not known whether he was then an associate. Scarfe returned to Britain at some not-too-distant date, perhaps as their London agent, as he was back at Port Adelaide aboard
177:. They began selling off their stock at a discount over six months in 1866, giving early termination of the lease as the reason. That partnership was dissolved in August 1866, and Harris, who had been a silent partner, founded
287:(Claxon Alexander) Frederick George Scarfe (1 May 1867 â 18 March 1961) was a director in 1925, manager in 1929, married Mary Florence Birrell (c. 1872 â 16 September 1931) on 27 March 1895; lived Victoria Ave, Unley Park.
265:
family members. The estate being considerable, it attracted attention from the legal fraternity on behalf of relatives who had been left out. Siblings and others mentioned in reference to the will were:
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The firm of Harris, Scarfe & Company continued to trade profitably through to the 1970s as a conservative Rundle Street department store with a greater emphasis on hardware than nearby competitors
301:
Alfred
Augustus Scarfe (died 28 July 1944) married Emma Elizabeth Lyons on 3 January 1895 lived "Kenilworth", Beulah-road, and in 1903 purchased his late uncle's property "Wattle Park" at auction.
389:
243:
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342:(cousin) Frederick Norman Scarfe married Mary (died 21 June 1865) in 1850. His son George Norman Scarfe married cousin Flora Scarfe of Clapham Common on 2 June 1898
272:
Charles Claxon Scarfe (c. 1835 â 8 September 1903) married Anne or Ann
Birrell (c. 1847 â 4 September 1887) on 3 July 1866. He left a substantial sum to his family.
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161:
in 1861, and sold his share to Robert Burden in
October 1866. Scarfe also assisted his brothers Alfred and Augustus to establish the firm of ironmongers
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Louisa C. S. I. Scarfe married
Frederick Norman Scarfe in 1850. He may have been a cousin, but his family connection is not known. He was mayor of
169:, from which George Scarfe bowed out in December 1866. Scarfe's involvement with Harris during this time is not clear but may have been extensive.
127:
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Audrey Howard Scarfe married Charles Clifford Deeley (4 March 1892 â 28 October 1975) in 1920. He was actively involved in the firm.
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for some years. By January 1856 Scarfe had started a grocery business at Port Adelaide. He established a domestic hardware store
149:, but in what capacity and for how long is not clear. Lanyon, the founder, left in February 1855, and Harris ran the business as
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in 1957, closed 1973. Renamed "Scarfe House", it became in 1991 the centrepiece of "Wattle Grove" retirement village for
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Scarfe played no part in public affairs, but was involved in other commercial interests. He was a director of:
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Augustus Thomas Scarfe (20 April 1838 â 12 May 1896). His name is on the Scarfe memorial, North Road cemetery.
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196:, corner of Rundle and Pulteney streets, until around 1880 when he purchased the large property near
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Frederick Scarfe, about whom nothing has been found; perhaps the American brother mentioned above
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348:(nephew) Herbert Ernest Scarfe married Adelaide Scarfe, of Finchley, London on 23 September 1899
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Alfred Scarfe (c. 1832 â 4 May 1881) had a business at Port Adelaide with brother Augustus.
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126:, English presumably to assess the business opportunities in the new British colony.
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Other relations mentioned in his will or in the legal proceedings which followed:
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sister Ellen Laura Scarfe, perhaps the unmarried sister in London mentioned above
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Francis Scarfe (died before GS) married and had five daughters and one son
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in December 1866 at Gawler Place; and in 1869 adding their salesman
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Eliza Ann Fuller (nÊe Scarfe) had four daughters; died before GS.
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Scarfe first arrived in South Australia in February 1849 aboard
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Scarfe's property "Wattle Park" became the Adelaide suburb
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94:(c. 1826 â 14 April 1903) was an English-born merchant in
381:, then became the target and vehicle of entrepreneurs.
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His remains were interred in the Scarfe family vault,
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Frederick George Scarfe; caricature by J. H. Chinner
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774:. South Australia. 25 September 1920. p. 13
802:. South Australia. 19 November 1903. p. 6
626:. South Australia. 21 December 1866. p. 2
570:. South Australia. 17 December 1866. p. 1
486:. South Australia. 24 February 1855. p. 3
458:. South Australia. 17 February 1849. p. 2
430:. South Australia. 6 September 1910. p. 1
542:. South Australia. 27 October 1866. p. 1
830:. South Australia. 17 April 1915. p. 15
598:. South Australia. 16 August 1866. p. 1
514:. South Australia. 4 January 1856. p. 4
746:. South Australia. 18 April 1895. p. 4
690:. South Australia. 14 April 1903. p. 1
657:. South Australia. 14 April 1903. p. 1
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718:. South Australia. 14 June 1904. p. 7
345:(nephew) Frederick George Alexander Scarfe
192:He lived alone as a guest of the elegant
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876:19th-century Australian businesspeople
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539:The Wallaroo Times And Mining Journal
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794:"Mr. G. Scarfe's Burnside Property"
334:sister Frances Walters (nÊe Scarfe)
249:South Australian Mining Association
179:George P. Harris, Scarfe, & Co.
104:George P. Harris, Scarfe, & Co.
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239:South Australian Insurance Company
185:as partner and managing director.
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881:Colony of South Australia people
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72:George P. Harris, Scarfe and Co.
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822:"The Late T. R. Scarfe's Will"
654:The Evening Journal (Adelaide)
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427:The Evening Journal (Adelaide)
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390:Wattle Park Teachers' College
233:South Australian Gas Company
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649:"Death of Mr George Scarfe"
388:, and his residence became
357:(niece) Mrs Francis Walters
102:, a partner in the firm of
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244:Wallaroo Phosphate Company
228:Port Adelaide Dock Company
151:George P. Harris & Co.
37:, England , United Kingdom
827:The Advertiser (Adelaide)
799:The Advertiser (Adelaide)
743:South Australian Register
715:The Advertiser (Adelaide)
687:The Express and Telegraph
595:South Australian Register
511:South Australian Register
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219:Other business interests
141:He was soon employed by
450:"Shipping Intelligence"
354:(nephew) Roland Scarfe
351:(nephew) Norman Scarfe
323:Kensington and Norwood
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682:"A Good Citizen Gone"
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866:Australian merchants
623:The Adelaide Express
567:The Adelaide Express
394:Southern Cross Homes
360:(niece) Flora Scarfe
163:A & A. T. Scarfe
871:History of Adelaide
771:The Mail (Adelaide)
710:"The Scarfe Estate"
213:North Road Cemetery
175:Scarfe & Fraser
155:Scarfe & Burden
143:Lanyon & Harris
838:– via Trove.
810:– via Trove.
782:– via Trove.
754:– via Trove.
726:– via Trove.
698:– via Trove.
665:– via Trove.
634:– via Trove.
606:– via Trove.
578:– via Trove.
550:– via Trove.
522:– via Trove.
494:– via Trove.
466:– via Trove.
438:– via Trove.
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455:Adelaide Observer
422:"Men and Matters"
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147:Hindley Street
138:in July 1853.
128:John C. Lanyon
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59:Known for
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46:14 April 1903
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22:George Scarfe
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856:1820s births
832:. Retrieved
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804:. Retrieved
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861:1903 deaths
386:Wattle Park
206:J. C. Verco
850:Categories
766:"Weddings"
408:References
194:York Hotel
51:Occupation
198:Stonyfell
114:Biography
85:(brother)
325:in 1861.
237:the old
202:Burnside
167:the Port
124:Plymouth
120:Candahar
96:Adelaide
54:Merchant
35:Plymouth
31:c. 1826
806:10 May
778:16 May
750:10 May
490:10 May
462:10 May
434:11 May
379:Myer's
255:Family
159:Kadina
145:at 43
79:Family
834:9 May
722:9 May
694:8 May
661:8 May
630:8 May
602:8 May
574:9 May
546:8 May
518:8 May
375:Foy's
122:from
66:with
836:2020
808:2020
780:2020
752:2020
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696:2020
663:2020
632:2020
604:2020
576:2020
548:2020
520:2020
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377:and
200:and
130:and
70:(as
43:Died
28:Born
165:at
157:at
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