Guide to the Records of Foster and Braithwaite (as filmed by the AJCP), 1896-1898

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Summary

Collection number:

M975

Extent:

2 items

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.

Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.

Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February-23 September 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for reference.

Background

Content Summary:

Papers concerning the raising of capital on the London market for two businesses in Sydney. Farmer and Company were seeking additional capital in 1896 and 1897, and the papers relating to this matter include a statement of assets at 31 July 1896 and a list of people who applied for shares in response to the advertisements placed in English newspapers. The raising of capital for W. and A. McArthur Limited was negotiated in 1898. W. and A. McArthur was a warehouse firm with property in the centre of Sydney. Copies of the prospectus and auditor's statement are included among the papers.

Biographical / Historical:

The London stockbroking firm of Foster and Janson was founded in 1825 by James Foster (d. 1861) and Richard Janson (d. 1830). Following Janson's death, Foster was joined by Isaac Braithwaite and the firm was renamed Foster and Braithwaite in 1833. The firm was based in Austin Friars in the City of London from 1863 to 1970. In 1867, a new deed of partnership established the dominance of members of the Braithwaite Family, which continued for the next century.

Joseph Farmer (1814-1890) established a draper's shop in Pitt Street in Sydney in 1840. His nephew William Farmer (1832-1908) joined him in 1848 and took control of the firm in 1854. In the following years William Farmer had several partners and the firm had various names, but from 1869 onwards it was Farmer Co. The firm branched out from drapery and became one of the largest departmental stores in Sydney. It became a public company in 1897, with Sir William Farmer as chairman. Farmer Co. was taken over by Myer in 1961.

The softgoods merchants A. McArthur Co. were established in Sydney in 1841 by the Irish-born Alexander McArthur (1814-1909) and his brother William McArthur (1809-1887). In 1848 the firm of W. A. McArthur was established in London. The Australian firm expanded rapidly and soon had branches in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Auckland. In the 1860s the firm moved into banking and finance. Following the death of Sir William McArthur and the retirement of two old members of the firm, it was decided to combine the management of the English and Australian firms. W. A. McArthur became a limited liability company in 1898, with Alexander McArthur as the chairman. The firm was reconstituted in 1908 after liquidation.

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:: Available for Access.
Conditions Governing Use:: Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.