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| Edmund Biddulph Henning 1834-1928 | Rachel Henning's letters |

Introduction

Edmund Biddulph Henning (1834-1928) is most famous as the brother of Rachel Henning (1826-1914), whose Norman Lindsay illustrated letters were a sensation when first published in Sydney during 1954. However, as the chronology below reveals, Edmund - more commonly known as Biddulph - had an extremely successful career in Australia between 1853 and his death in 1928, acquiring a substantial fortune as a pastoralist, company director and land owner. The following is a brief chronological biography comprising events in his life.

England

1825 - Reverend Charles Wansbrough Henning (b.1797) marries Rachel Lydia Biddulph (b.1797). These are the parents of Biddulph and Rachel Henning, along with Henrietta, Anne and Amelia.

1826 - 29 April - Rachel Henning born.

1827 - 18 October - Henrietta Henning born.

1830 - 3 March - Anne Henning born.

1832 - 24 March - Amelia Henning born.

1834 - Edmund Biddulph Henning born. Son of the Reverend Charles Wansbrough Henning and Rachel Lydia Biddulph.

1840 - Charles Wansbrough Henning (father) dies.

1846 – Rachel Lydia Henning (mother) dies.

Australia

1853 - Biddulph arrives in Australia on the Great Britain with his sister Annie and a cousin.

Appin

1853 – Biddulph resides in Appin at Elladale Cottage, leasing a farm from the Reverend Sparling.

1854 – Biddulph's sisters Rachel (b.1826) and Amelia (Amy) arrive from England and stay in Sydney, then with him at Appin.

Bulli Mountain

1855 - Biddulph erects a cottage on 180 acres of land at the edge of the Illawarra escarpment near Rixon's Pass, purchased for 25/- an acre. He clears some land and pastures cattle.

Locations of Biddulph's property, Bulli Mountain, 1855-57.

Location of Biddulph Henning's cottage, Illawarra mountain.

Present location - Google maps, 2016.

1855 – sister Amy marries Thomas Sloman of Bathurst.

1856 – Rachel returns briefly to England.

1857 - 6 July Illawarra Mercury: Wanted immediately - a goat in full milk. Apply, stating terms, to Biddulph Henning, Post Office, Wollongong.

1857 - 5 August, Sydney Morning Herald: list of local boards attached to Church of England schools in the Sydney dioceses - Wollongong.—Rev. M. D. Meares, Mr. Thomas Hale, Mr. Biddulph Henning, Mr. Henry Fry, Mr. Joseph Wheeler.

1857 - Biddulph sells the land at Illawarra to Henry Osborne who wants to use it for a coal mine. 

1857 - Biddulph considers buying a property in Queensland. "The Jessop Brothers held Marlborough station for some time. They probably bought it from Biddulph Henning, who, with Captain Tucker, first, stocked the property in 1857." Biddulph purchases the Queensland property the following year (see below).

Queensland 

1858 - 19 October, Sydney Morning Herald: 

To the Editor of the Sydney Morning Herald. Sir,- The following case which was heard in the George-street Police Office, on Tuesday last, appears to me such an extraordinary one, that I am going to ask the favour of your publishing the particulars as follows :- Andrew Turnbull was hired by my brother-in-law, Mr. Biddulph Henning, a squatter on the Fitzroy, for a period of two years, as a general farm servant, and to take charge of some horses from Sydney to the Fitzroy. Mr. Henning advanced him on account of wages, paid his expenses from Illawarra to Sydney, and his expenses in Sydney whilst waiting for the vessel to sail; his passage-money on board the Regia brig was also paid by Mr. Henning. On Saturday last, just as the vessel was pushing off from the wharf to be towed to sea, Turnbull, under pretence of a quarrel with his mate, jumped ashore sad refused to proceed with her. Every means was used by Mr. Henning, by the constable, and others to induce him to rejoin the ship, but without avail; he having evidently made up his mind not to go on. He was consequently given in charge for what appeared to me a very flagrant breach of agreement, and Mr. Henning had to pull after the vessel, which was now going down the harbour, to save his own passage, and do the best he could with his seven or eight head of horses, which I expect to hear a Flemish account of, as it blew hard the same night. When the case came on for hearing, Turnbull admitted the breach of agreement (in fact, told the bench that his own copy of it had gone on in the ship with his luggage), acknowledged the receipt of the £6, &c., &c, ; in fact, pleads guilty to all the charges, and had no complaint against his master, but because in the confusion of the moment, it never occurred to Mr. Henning to leave the agreement, nor to me to ask him for it, the magistrates dismissed the case, Mr. Kettle observing that he considered it a very loosely got up case, and that, in his opinion, if either party was aggrieved, the defendant had most cause for complaint. Sow, I have been accustomed for many years to sit as a juror in a higher Court, where, if a prisoner pleads guilty, he is supposed to be guilty, and is sentenced accordingly. Here the process is reversed, for the man admits5 everything to the fullest extent, and is discharged, to enjoy himself with the balance of £ which he had in his pocket, and if need be, probably, to try the same mode of raising the wind at the expense of some other unfortunate victim. I say again it does appear to me a most extraordinary decision, and a bad precedent I cannot believe this is the law of the case, and I am sure there is no justice in it. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, P.M. Sloman.

1858 - November - purchases Marlborough Station in Queensland, 64,000 acres, for £900.

1859 - 26 May, Illawarra Mercury - a deputation visits Henning's cottage on the mountain top overhanging Bellambi to discuss a new road route from Appin to the Illawarra. The house is located near Rixon's Pass road.

1861 - 29 January, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph offer for sale his Queensland property.

Station for Sale, Queensland - For Sale, within sixty miles of Rockhampton, a first-class Sheep and Cattle station, together with 8000 sheep. Capabilities of run, very large. Apply to E. Biddulph Henning, at Messrs. Tucker and Co., 288 George-street, Sydney.

1861 - 9 March, Moreton Bay Courier: 

Station for Sale. A first class sheep and cattle station, within 70 miles of Rockhampton, estimated to carry 14,000 Sheep and 3000 head of Cattle, together with 8000 good Sheep, principally Ewes. Apply to E. Biddulph Henning, Esq, Marlborough Station, Rockhampton ; or to A. J. Hockings, Brisbane.

1861 – Rachel returns from England and lives with her sister Amelia in Bathurst through to September 1862, when she travels to Queensland to live with Biddulph and her sister Annie.

1862 - 11 January - Biddulph Henning of Marlborough Station offers for sale bullocks plus draught and saddle horses.

1862 - Biddulph moves north to Exmore Station, on the Bowen River near Port Denison.

1863 - 27 February, Sydney Morning Herald: Notice re Biddulph's purchase of sheep etc. through Tucker & Co.

1863 - 9 April Sydney Morning Herald: Pastoral runs in the Kennedy District of Queensland transferred from Philip Frederick Selheim (Narrah, Sand Downs, Topton, Fan Fan.) and George Henry Pinchard (Bulli, Glen Arthur, Appin, Mount Lawson, Wallagy, Marlborough, Stocklon, Terara) to Edmund Biddulph Henning.

1863 - 16 May, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph is an applicant for a run at Emu Plains, Kennedy, 50 square miles, for £25.

1865 – Rachel leaves Biddulph in September and joins fiancé Deighton Taylor in Sydney. They travel to Wollongong to look at farms, purchasing one at American Creek, Figtree. The couple eventually build a house known as Springfield, near the present day Figtree High School.

1866 – 3 March - Rachel marries Deighton Taylor. They initially live in the Myall River area of northern New South Wales, and later at Stroud to the west. 

1868 - 11 April, The Queenslander: Biddulph appointed director for sheep district, Kennedy.

1868 - 22 April, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph listed as a new partner in the firm of J.C. Tucker and W.D. Stewart (Tucker & Co.).

Sydney

1870 – Biddulph moves to a new residence at Ermington Park, a mansion on the Parramatta River in Ryde.

1871 - 3 November, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph given as Wine Merchant and a trustee in the transfer of assignment re the estate of Solomon Meyer of Carcoar.

1871 - 15 November, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph working at 379 George Street, Sydney.

1872 - Rachel and Deighton move to the Illawarra. 

1872 - 26 November - Biddulph marries Emily Thornton Tucker.

1872 - November - Biddulph photographed by J.H. Newman.

1873 - 29 July, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph is a candidate for office of director of the Great Western Copper Company, Icely. E. Biddulph Henning.

1875 - 2 August, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph is a candidate for the board of the Great Western Copper Company, Icely.

1876 - 2 May - Edmund Tregenna Henning is born to Biddulph and his wife Emily at Linton, North Shore.

1876 - 7 October - Australian Town and Country Journal: Biddulph is listed as a new magistrate. Address - Linton, North Shore.

1881 - 3 March, Sydney Morning Herald: a daughter – Hilda Margaret Biddulph Henning – is born to Biddulph and Emily at their residence Avoca, Bondi.

1881 - 31 October, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph is listed as a provisional director of the new Castlemaine Brewing, Malting and Wine and Spirit Company.

1884 - 31 July, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph is re-elected as director of the Castlemaine Brewing, Malting and Wine and Spirit Company.

1884 - 25 November, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph is fined for non appearance as a juror.

1885 - 21 August, Sydney Morning Herald: 8th meeting of the Great Central Copper Mining Company. Biddulph is director alongside Ebenezer Vickery.

1885 - 9 October, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph is a creditor as Tucker & Co. in the estate of Patrick Matthews, Wine merchant.

1887 - 23 August, Glenn Innes Examiner: Biddulph has title to land as part of Tucker & Co.

1888 - 31 August, Sydney Morning Herald: 13th meeting of the Great Central Copper Mining Company. Biddulph in the chair.

1891 – Biddulph’s son Edmund and daughter Hilda reside in Sidmouth, Devon. Biddulph later names his house at Austinmer after this location.

1893 - 8 April, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph is a clergyman's church warden at Burwood and Concord.

1893 - 30 December, Sydney Morning Herald: Church warden at St. Luke's, Burwoon and Concord.

1894 30 March, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph elected clergyman's church warden at St. Luke's.

1895 - 24 August, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulphelected vice-president of the Yaralla Cricket Club, Concord.

1895 - 2 November, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph listed as clergyman's church warden and chairman of a meeting in connection with St. Luke's, Burwood and Concord.

1896 - 29 August, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph present at half yearly meeting of North Nymagee Copper-mining company.

1896 – Rachel Henning Taylor leaves Figtree and moves to Ryde. 

1897 - 14 August, Sydney Morning Herald: Notice re appointment of E. Biddulph Henning as one of the first directors of the North Nymagee Copper-mining company.

1898 - 26 February, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph appointed to the board of the Girilambone Copper Company.

1899 - 26 August, Sydney Morning Herald : notice re re-appointment of E. Biddulph Henning as director of the North Nymagee Copper-mining company.

1900 22 February, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph elected director of the Associated Gold Dredging Company, Macquarie River.

1900 - 20 September, Sydney Morning Herald: 1st meeting of Araluen Valley Consolidated Gold-dredging Company, Biddulph director.

1900 - Drayton Taylor dies.

1901 - 6 July, Sydney Morning Herald: meeting of Broadwater Tin Company. Biddulph a director.

1901 - 25 November - Biddulph attends funeral of the Hon. George Thornton MLC.

1902 - 7 March, Sydney Morning Herald:  Biddulphre-elected director of the Associated Gold Dredging Company, Macquarie River.

1902 - 3 September - death of Emily T. Henning, wife of Biddulph, at Euthella, Hunter's Hill.

1903 - 24 January, Goulburn Evening Penny Post: Biddulph elected director of the new Araluen Proprietary Gold-Dredging Company.

1903 - 5 May, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph presided at the fourth AGM of the Turon River Gold Dredging Company. A director.

1904 - 5 May, Sydney Morning Herald: 5th AGM Turon River Gold Dredging Company. EBH presiding.

1905 - 9 February, Sydney Morning Herald: report on success of Araluen Proprietary company at 2nd AGM.

1905 - 11 May, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph re-elected director of the Turon River Gold Dredging Company.

1906-7 - Biddulph purchases Passy House at Hunters Hill, a gothic sandstone mansion built in 1855-6. Rachel and Annie also live there.

1906 - 8 March, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph re-elected director of Associated Gold Dredging Company, Macquarie River.

1906 - 17 October, Sydney Morning Herald: 

Wedding. The marriage of Miss Hilda Margaret Biddulph Henning, only daughter of Mr. E. Biddulph Henning, Passy, Hunter's Hill, with Mr. Gerald Francis Dampney, youngest son of Mr. George Dampney, Docnbah, Hunter's Hill, took place on Wednesday, October 10, at All Saints' Church, Hunter's Hill. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a lovely gown of ivory chiffon glace, with Irish lace and silver embroideries, a bertha of the same lovely lace completing the bodice. The handsome lace veil was draped over a coronet ef orange blossoms, and her ornament was a pearl pendant, which was from the bride groom. The bridesmaids were Miss Frances Bulmer, Miss Effie Grant, Miss Eileen Sloman, Miss Mabel Dampney, Miss Gertrude Tucker, and Miss Alleyne Tucker. They wore pretty frocks of pink chiffon lace, embroidered in silver and trimmed with Valeucieunes Jace. Pink chiffon hats gave the finishing touches, and they carried bouquets of pink flowers. Those, with gold brooches; were the gifts of the bridegroom. Mr. Edmund Henning was best. man. while the groomsmen were Mr. Haywood. Mr. Dansey, Mr. C. Henning, and Dr.' George Dansey. After the ceremony a reception was held at Pasty, where Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Dampney received the congratulations of their friends. The bride travelled in turquoise-blue Sicilienne, the coat having revers of hydrangea-blue embroidery. A floral hat completed an attractive costume. 

Sydney and Austinmer

1907 - Biddulph donates a bell to the new St. Martin's church at Austinmer.

1907 - 2 September, Sydney Morning Herald: Stanthorpe Tin-dredging Company 7th AGM, Biddulph chairman.

1908 - 1 August, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph donates £1 to Tramway Employees Loyalty Reward Fund.

1908 - 29 August, Sydney Morning Herald: 8th AGM Stanthorpe Propreitary Tin-dredging Company, Biddulph director.

1908 - 12 December, South Coast Times: Austinmer Church Bazaar, on Saturday, December 19th, at ' Sidmouth,' near station, to be opened at 3 p.m. by E. Biddulph Henning, Esq. Corrimal Town Band will give selections at intervals. Admission free.

1908 - 26 December, South Coast Times: 

Austinmer - The bazaar in aid of All Saints' Church, on Saturday last, in Mr. Henning' s grounds, passed off successfully, the weather being perfect. The attendance was not large, there being general counter attractions in the district. The result, £22, must be  considered highly satisfactory, considering there was no admission fee, and that the bazaar was only open for business for six. hours, and was the first bazaar ever held in Austinmer. The Corrimal Town Band was present during the afternoon, and their music was much appreciated by all. The visitors included E. Biddulph Henning, Esq., G. Dampney, Esq., Rev. P. W. and Mrs Dowe, Dr. F. W. Kane and Mrs. Kane, T. Farrell, Esq., J.P., and Mrs. Farrell, Mr. ami Mrs. H. Gibson. On Tuesday next, 29th inst., a lecture, illustrated by lantern views, will be given in Austinmer School room by a Sydney astronomer (Mr. McDonnell), at 8 p.m. The admission will be free; collection on behalf of All Saints' , Church extension fund.

1909 - 22 May, South Coast Times: 

Coledale - Austinmer - About 12 p.m. on Sunday night last, a fire broke out at premises occupied by Mr. F. H. Vernon (representative of the Citizens' Life Insurance Co.), at Austinmer. The house and, contents were completely demolished, all that was saved being a few articles of wearing apparel and a couple of chairs. The origin of the conflagration is unknown. Mr. Vernon states that he was doing some writing before retiring when awakened by his little boy tugging at him about the hour mentioned. Mrs. Vernon is away spending, a month's holiday with her relatives in Sydney. Mr. Vernon used every effort to quelch the flames with water from a tank near the house, but by the time this supply ran out the structure was in ruins, and water is a very scarce commodity at Austinmer just now. The property was owned by Mr. Biddulph Henning, of Hunter's Hill, and was insured for £55 in the South British Fire and Marine Insurance Co. The furniture was insured for £50 in the Royal Insurance Co. Mr. Vernon estimates his loss at about £75, but beyond this there were a number of articles in the way of ornaments, etc., belonging to Mrs. Vernon, that were highly prized.

1910 - 28 April, Sydney Morning Herald: meeting of the Illawarra and South Coast Steam Navigation Company, Biddulph a director.

1910 - 23 August, Sydney Morning Herald: 3rd AGM of Herding Yards Tin Dredging Company, Biddulph in the chair.

1911 - 11 March, Sydney Morning Herald: notice re transfer of title of large parcels of land from the estate of the late William Tucker (d.1888) to George Thornton, Biddulph and George Denton Hirst.

1911 - 25 May, Sydney Morning Herald: 12th AGM of Turon River Gold-dredging Company, Biddulph director.

1911 - 5 August, Sydney Morning Herald: 150 acres (portion 30 of parish) transferred to Biddulph under Real Property Act.

1911 - 8 December, South Coast Times: 

Austinmer - The visitors who arrived at Austinmer this week include E. Biddulph Henning Esq. of "Passy", Hunter's Hill; also Mrs. Dampney and family. The postponed anniversary services in connection with All Saint's Church dedication were held on Sunday last, the officiating clergyman at both services being the Ven. Archdeacon haviland, of Cobar, who in the morning took for his text Ephsians ....

1912 - 29 March, South Coast Times: 

Bulli Shire Council - From E. Biddulph Henning, letter complaining of a drain on the Allen property at Austinmer being detrimental to his property; a trench 4ft deep and 8ft. wide had been commenced.— Referred to the engineer for report.

1912 - 12 April, Illawarra Mercury: 

Bulli Shire Council - With reference to complaint by Mr. Biddulph Henning, re drain along his fence at Austinmer, the engineer reported that the cause is that the drain has been cut too close to the corner post. Mr. Sowell informed him he intended putting in a post sufficiently long to insure the safety of the fence. The same applies to the school fence on the opposite side, and he thinks it would be advisable to have an understanding with Mr. Henning and the school authorities that they are satisfied with the manner in which the road has been left before the Council takes it over.— Adopted.

1912 - 5 July, South Coast Times: 

Bulli Shire Council - From E. Biddulph Henning, letter intimating he proposed to sell some of his land at Austinmer, and he asked if the Council would approve of a frontage road, of less width than 66ft. The proposal was to add 20ft. to an existing 20ft. lane.— Referred to engineer for report.

Sydney

1914 - 19 May - 15th AGM Turon River Gold Dredging Company, Biddulph director.

1914 – 23 August – Rachel Henning dies at Passy, Hunter’s Hill.

1914 - 2 September, Sydney Morning Herald: Biddulph donates 3 guineas to Patriotic Fund - Lord Mayor's List - Quirindi Patriotic Fund.

1918 - 24 May - Boyce.—May 24, 1918, at her residence, Clapham, London. Mrs H. W. Boyce, widow of the late Rev. T. W. Boyce M. A., Oxford rector of St. Werbergh's Bristol, daughter of the Rev. C. W. Henning, M.A. , Cambridge and sister of E. Biddulph Henning, and Mrs. A. S. Hedgeland, of Passy, Hunter's Hill, aged 91 years.

1920 - 27 May, Sydney Morning Herald: In a letter to the editor [re the visit of the Prince of Wales], Mr. E. Biddulph Henning suggests that stands for the accommodation of the public during the Royal progress should be erected at various points along the route, and that charges of 5/ to 10/ should form a fund for distribution amongst the hospitals. To the same end the authorities of banks and other large establishments might lend their windows.

1924 - 18 October, Brisbane Courier: Port Denison - Bowen - discovery and exploration, by Dr. Cumbrae Steward, No.III .... Higher up the Bowen were Exmoor and Blenheim, taken up, I believe by Edmund Biddulph Henning...

Death

Passy, Hunter's Hill.

1928 - 8 June. Biddulph dies at Passy, Hunter's Hill.

* Obituary, The Queenslander, 21 June 1928: Mr. Edmund Biddulph Henning, who died at his residence. Passy, Hunter's Hill, Sydney, on June 8, came to Australia in 1853 by the auxiliary sailing boat Great Britain, of 3800 tons, at that time the largest vessel afloat. Mr. Henning, who was 94 years of age, was a son of the Rev. Charles Wandsborough Henning, M.A., of Cambridge, and a cousin of General Lord Biddulph. After residing in Sydney for a time he took up land on the Bulli Mountain, South Coast. Subsequently he purchased station properties in Queensland, being one of the first white men to settle in the Gulf country. Later he came to Sydney, where he purchased a partnership in the firm of Tucker and Co., from which he retired in 1889. He married in 1872 Emily Thornton Tucker, the daughter of Mr. William Tucker, of North Sydney. He is survived by two sons—Messrs. E. T. Henning, of Newcastle, and C. B. Henning, of Hunter's Hill —and one daughter, Mrs. G. F. Dampney, of Turrramurra, Sydney.

* Obituary - Pioneer Grazier - Death Announced - At his home at Chester Hill, the death occurred recently, of Mr. Edmund Biddulph Henning, ath the age of 94. The late Mr. Henning was the son of Rev. C. Henning, grandson of Edmund Henning of Borwell, Dorset, and was born at Stogumber, Somerset, England in 1834. He came to Australia in 1853 and took up land on the South Coast. In later years he was associated with many pioneer grazing ventures.

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Reference

M1 Mount Ousley Road Climbing Lanes - Statement of Heritage Impacts, Report to Roads and Maritime Services, Artefact Heritage, Pyrmont, November 2016, 64p. Available URL: http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/projects/illawarra/m1-princes-motorway-picton-rd-bulli-tops/m1-stage-1-ref-vol-5-app-g.pdf.

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| Edmund Biddulph Henning 1834-1928 | Rachel Henning's letters |

Last updated: 3 February 2026

Michael Organ, Australia