Florence Elina Jane Binks

Florence was born January 31, 1892 in Brunswick, Victoria.

Florence married Arthur Frederick Bowman, son of Henry Edson Bowman and Ann Jane Burton on January 31, 1914 in the Baptist Church, Box Hill, Victoria. Arthur was born on May 7, 1891 in Mulgrave, Victoria.

Florence Elina Jane Binks - name variations

The Victorian Births, Deaths & Marriages on-line index records her name as Flor Helena Jane BINKS
registered in 1891.
The birth certificate of her son, Howard Allen BOWMAN has her as Florence Elina Jane.
The wedding certificate for Florence has a signature that clearly records her middle name as Elina.

 

The following notes are kindly supplied by Grantley Hutchens:

Arthur Frederick BOWMAN was born in Mulgrave, Victoria. His family called him Arthur but all his
friends called him Fred, which he preferred. He chose Fred because he hated the name of Arthur.
When he was 22 years of age he married Florence Elena Jane BINKS (even though the marriage
certificate records him as aged 25). The marriage was performed on her 22nd birthday in Box Hill,
Victoria. She was born at Brunswick, Victoria.

During the First World War, Fred served in the "Light Horse" as a "Reserve" and remained in
Australia. His trade was a baker and his various places of employment meant moving around
Melbourne and Victoria. They were at Box Hill, Moe and Port Melbourne. They were living with
Florence's parents in Dorking Rd Box Hill and shifted to Port Melbourne when their son Walter was
about one year old. Walter was extremely ill and the sea air was believed to be good for him. In
about 1923 they moved to Auburn where they stayed for the rest of their lives. Sometime, during the
shifting around, they lived at Moe, Victoria.

In 1931, Fred's sister owed him some money. She had a block of land near Daylesford, Victoria
which was under a Miner's Lease. There was a very small, one-roomed shack erected on the site.
His sister signed the lease over to Fred in settlement of her debt. Fred extended the building to
become a three-room holiday shack. His family spent a lot of time there. The nearby mineral water
springs of Tipperary always created an excuse for a daily brisk walk down a large steep hill. The
property went from Miners Right to what was known as Residence Area Right in 1958. The
Freehold was purchased in 1991, by several family members.

During the "Great Depression" (1929-1933), Fred was lucky that he had the trade of baker. This
ensured him of employment and towards the end of the depression he was one of a privileged few
who could afford to run a car.

Florence was described to me as being a "sweety", "little and tubby like her mother". She developed
diabetes late in life. Fred was described as "too strong for Florence". He developed a twisted bowel
and it is believed that he died through an infection of the bowel. He passed away when he was 55
and Florence survived a further 15 years passing away at the age of 68. They both died in hospitals
and are buried in the Box Hill Cemetery.


Florence and Arthur had the following children:

Keith Frederick BOWMAN
Howard Allen BOWMAN
Walter James BOWMAN
Joyce Florence BOWMAN
Harry William George BOWMAN

Arthur died on 16 Dec 1945 in Fitzroy, Victoria. He was buried at Box Hill Cemetery, Victoria.

Florence died in Caulfield, Victoria on December 11, 1960. She was buried at Box Hill Cemetery, Victoria.