Time Travellers in Essendon, Flemington and the Keilor Plains

Biographies

Edwin Dangerfield was one of ten children of James & Amelia Dangerfield who arrived from the UK in 1858. He married widow Janet Gorham in 1883. In 1883 he also became Town Clerk of Flemington and Kensington from which position he resigned in 1886. Dangerfield was then selected from 66 applicants to take up the position of Town Clerk with Essendon. He was well thought of, being seen as the smartest Town Clerk in the Colony and keeping a masterly set of books. Method and system have been the secrets of his success. In 1888 he resigned to accept a more lucrative position in firm of Balfour & Elliot, the politician James Balfour's mercantile firm.  By 1889 he was Shackell & Dangerfield, Collins St, Estate and financial agents. In February 1889 he was elected to an extraordinary vacancy on the Essendon Council being Mayor 1890-91. By July 1890 Dangerfield was advertising his services as an Accountant, Financier, Agent and Auctioneer from the Rialto. He negotiated loans, made valuations, effected insurance, collected rents, loaned money, offered building society mortgages and had available properties on easy terms on small deposits. In 1893 Dangerfield resigned from Council saying he could not afford to give time and money for the sake of honour and glory only. From 1895 he was employed as a Municipal Auditor travelling around the State. The family lived in Milverton St, Moonee Ponds. Infant children died in 1886 and 1891 and a nine year old son drowned in 1894. The couple appear to have separated by 1898 and Dangerfield moved to various address in eastern Melbourne. By 1915 the notices for his 27 year old son, killed at the Dardanelles, refer to the late Mr Dangerfield.

© Marilyn Kenny, 2015

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