The Melbourne funeral business (added in 1931)
The Bendigo Business continued to grow, and Michael was looking to expand further, so in 1931, an opportunity arose to purchase the Melbourne business of Chas. P. Frilay at 28 Blyth Street Brunswick (including Associated Branch Locations).
Chas. P Frilay (actually his name was Patrick Charles FRILAY – Born 1872 – Died in 1943, His Wife was Annie d. 1930)
The Frilay Business was Established in approx. 1907 and was originally known as Chas. P. Frilay changed in 1914 to Frilay and O’Byrne Undertakers, when he took in a partner Joseph Feagh O’Byrne. This partnership was dissolved in 1915, and reverted to Chas. P. Frilay until he sold to Michael in 1931.
(It is also interesting to note Chas. P. Frilay re-established himself almost immediately in Preston, later in Brunswick St. Nth Fitzroy about 1936 or 37 under the Charles P. Frilay name. In the period between 1931(the Sale) and 1937 he had been associated as manager with Raybold’s as Manager, Spencer Funeral Services and Frilay, Allison and Co. amongst others – Some anecdotal evidence in the family was that he was in some way unhappy with the sale to Michael Mulqueen but details on this is hard to determine. Michael Mulqueen took appropriate Legal action and there was a specific Legal case in 1931 over 99 Pounds (about $200) worth of equipment from a Hearse sold to Mulqueens that Frilay claimed. Frilay was awarded a Pall value at 4 Pounds and Mulqueen’s retained the balance).
Interestingly the Frilay South Melbourne Office was either occupied by the Parents of the Founding Brothers of TOBIN BROTHERS – EST 1934, or it was their home and Chas Frilay used it as his South Melbourne ‘Office’ with a phone number attached to his business.
EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK –
THE UNDERTAKERS MOTHER written by Denise Tobin Shine
Family anecdotes relate that Thomas and Alice worked for Charles P. Frilay. Apparently, Alice manned his phone and sewed the linings for coffins. An old newspaper funeral notice dated 27th June 1908 gives Frilay’s addresses in South Melbourne at 108 Clarendon Street (next to City Road) and 313 Clarendon Street. – 108 Clarendon St was also the address listed on Noel Tobin’s Birth Certificate.
Did the Tobin’s live in an undertaker’s residence or did Chas.P. Frilay use their home as an ‘office’ for his phone line?
Anyway, the Purchase proceeded on 1st May 1931 and the Business of Michael Mulqueen & Sons Undertakers was established and advertised. (See below)
Three years later on the 1st day of November 1934 the company Mulqueen & Sons Pty Ltd was registered and the Bendigo Business of Fizelle & Mulqueen (which was still tied up in the estate of Elizabeth Mulqueen) along with the Melbourne Business of Michael Mulqueen & Sons were brought together under one structure and one name, and one ownership MULQUEEN & SONS Pty. Ltd.
(Note: 1934 was the year the Tobin Brothers established their Business at Nth Melbourne).
Above are photos of 28 Blyth St as at Nov. 2021 and rear of Property which I expect was the original Stables
New Premises built in Sydney Road in 1935
Whilst Michael Snr and his family moved to Melbourne his eldest son John and (for a while) Patrick Joseph (Joe) stayed in Bendigo to run the Bendigo Office (along with Michael’s brother Andrew who had, since his arrival in 1901, been an integral member of staff) with the guidance of their father Michael who often returned to Bendigo.
Above: Funeral of Michael Cremean MP 1945 (Deputy Premier ALP).
In 1935 New Premises were built in Melbourne at 170 Sydney Road Brunswick They later moved to Sydney Rd Coburg in the Late 1970’s selling the Original Premises (A proposed redevelopment to an apartment block was put forward in 2021).
The Melbourne Business was sold in the 1980’s to LePine’s part of the Invocare Group.
In 1938 the Bendigo Premises were completely remodeled in the Art Deco Style of the era, shedding the Victorian veranda whilst rendering and painting the façade and introducing Metal widow Frames. The newly introduced Business name MULQUEEN & SONS FUNERAL DIRECTORS was emblazoned on side of the new building. It was, and is, one of the best examples of a commercial Art Deco building design in Bendigo.
In 1950 John Mulqueen passed away aged 51 years and the business entered a new era, John had been a Shareholder in the Family Company so it was decided that they would spit the businesses, John’s wife and family would take the original Bendigo Business and assets being representative of their shares in the company whilst the rest of the family were to retain the Melbourne Business and Assets.
The Bendigo Business changed its name and although only a minor change it proved significant, becoming Mulqueen & Sons (Bendigo).
Following John’s death his son Peter joined his mother Louisa Irene (Rene) Mulqueen (nee GERDSEN) in running the Business, John’s uncle and Michael’s brother Andrew Mulqueen was still involved having worked in the business for almost 50 Years.
Andrew Retired around the same time and passed away in 1956.
Living on the premises in Bridge Street all the family members were involved in some way in the business helping out with whatever needed to be done.
John Mulqueen had married Louisa Irene Gerdsen in 1925 and they had 4 Children.
- Francis Irene b. 22/4/1926 d. 19/09/2001 m. 19/4/1945 Michael Cain d.
- Mary Bernice b. 25/9/1927 d. 16/09/2012 Aged 85 m. 19/12/1950 Reginald Boromeo 15/7/1922- 9/7/2011
- Peter John b. 3/4/1930 d. 12/4/1999 Aged 69 m. 4/6/1954 Adele Lillian ‘Del’ Johnson 3/4/1933
- John Michael Fizelle b. 8/10/1934 m. 29/8/1955 Ruth McInerney
