Alfred Martin Bartley 1866-1929

Alfred Bartley, Steven Album, Bartley Archive

Alfred was the third child of Edward BARTLEY and Elizabeth HANNKEN. He was born at Union St Auckland 24 January 1866[1] and his early schooling was at Devonport School. He and Frederick were close companions. Alf was an exceptional musician, with a particular strength in keyboard performance, although he also played string instruments with great facility.

He often appeared at the City Hall as accompanist to visiting musicians. His work with the child prodigy Celia DAMPIER was particularly admired.

Observer 25 July 1891 p 14

In the  1880s Fred, Alf and Bertha Bartley performed regularly as a musical trio. Sport, music and social activity characterised the flourishing Devonport community at this time, just as it does today. One such example is the vibrant culture of the tennis club.  The names mentioned in these newspaper extracts include Alfred's relatives: Queree, Philcox, Mouzer and Mason for example. 
Alf also served as secretary of this Club in the 1890's. 

Observer 30 April 1887

Observer 6 July 1895

Apart from his personal performances Alf was involved with numerous musical groups as accompanist, trainer or organiser - including the Waitemata Minstrels and the Savage Club. His father Edward was a founder of the Orpheus Club and Alf joined him in that group, first as a singer and later as choir master.

Cover page of the Photograph Album presented by the Waitemata Minstrels, Steven Family Collection 

Alf appears in the centre, in civvies. This photo is unidentified and undated. Any information identifying the subject band would be highly appreciated.

Auckland Star 14 July 1922 Jazz age music after the war

Alfred served with the local Borough Council after the war years. He was also a force behind the resurgence of croquet in Devonport in the 1920s:

 Alf was not so happy in his working life. His natural inclination was to a musical career, but the economic reality dictated otherwise. He trained as a draughtsman and worked with various firms in Auckland until the depression of the 1890s when he was out of work.[2] His father gave him what work he could, but both he and Alf were aware that there was insufficient new building to support another a full wage from the architectural practice.

The engagement between Alfred and Miss Essie GRATTAN was announced in July 1890, with those of his brother and sister.[3] Essie was the only daughter of Richard Grattan, and once diagnosed with Bright’s disease, shortly after her engagement, her health deteriorated rapidly. 
Fred and Alfred both had their career prospects  curtailed by depression, an experience shared by many of their generation.
The brothers went to Australia, planning to join the mineral boom in Queensland, but Alfred returned home to New Zealand within a few months. 
Neither of the brothers had found immediate employment overseas and Essie's illness now became obvious and critical. He returned to Devonport.

The Archive holds on file an undated letter from Alfred’s mother Elizabeth. She is writing to Fred in Australia, sharing family news. In it she remarks on Alfred’s situation:

 I think Alf has given up all ideas of getting married. Essie is still very poorly and 4 Doctors tell the same tale that she can't live long although she is usually bright. Sometimes she doesnt know she is bad and talks to Alf about getting married. It is something awful for both. The Doctor thinks if she knew she would give up altogether so they dare not tell her.

Essie died 10 April 1894.[4]

 

Auckland Star 11 April 1894

Once Fred died, in June 1899, in Australia there seems to have been a change. From this time onwards Alfred appeared to be groomed to take over his father’s practice, eventually being made a partner in Bartley & sons, Architects.

 Alfred, however, never shared his father’s passion for architecture and after Edward died Alf left the partnership to their young partner Keith Draffin.

At the New Plymouth in February 1906 Alfred married Marianne Houghton Warren. She was born in Wagga Wagga, Australia 17 Feb 1883. She attended school in Hawera before coming to Auckland to train in nursing at the Mater Hospital in Epsom. [5]

Employment took a new turn, as the twentieth century began. Alfred began a new career as a land agent with Cowpermore-Jones.  He also worked with Hancock and Co around the time of the lifting of Prohibition. Hotels, previously run as boarding houses were undergoing conversion back to licensed premises. He travelled widely supervising alterations to his plans.[6]

Alfred died in Pentlands Hospital, Devonport on 1 May 1926. He is interred at O’Neill’s Point Cemetery.[7]

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[1] Daily Southern Cross 28 February 1866 page 7

[2] Electoral Roll 1883 Eden. Resident Devonport Draughtsman. 1889 witness at wedding of cousin Ernest Queree, occupation draughtsman. Cert on file.

[3] Observer 26 July 1890

[4] NZRBDM 1894/2585

[5] Steven Family research

[6] Steven family research

[7] Probate 323/29. Burial May 1929 Cemetery Records O’Neill’s Point