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Biographies
Hardingham Family
Clement Hardingham was born in Horsham Victoria in 1856. It is not known where he met
his wife to be, Mary Collopy, but they married at St Johns Church of England, Horsham on
17th January 1880. He was then listed as a licenced victualler (food).
Mary Collopy was born in Limerick Ireland, the daughter of Thomas and Johanna (nee
McNamara) Collopy. It appears that the family arrived in two lots, Thomas 35 and Johanna
35 with children Michael 10, John 9, Margaret 6 and Thomas Infant arrived per
'Shakespeare' on 21st December 1857 from Liverpool (names spelt Collophoy on Shipping
list) All are listed as Irish.
Children Johanna 6, Terrence 4, and Mary 8 arrived per 'Chariot of Fame' on 3rd January
1862 from Liverpool in the care of Johanna Dwyer (may have been O'Dwyer). All are listed
as Irish. It seems unbelievable to think that they left half their family behind, but
things must have been desperate in Ireland at the time. Johanna Collopy's father was
Michael McNamara and his mother Johanna Hines. Johanna Collopy died in 1865 in Sandhurst
(now called Bendigo) Victoria. The family lived at Brookong Station near Lockhart in
Southern NSW.
The is a difference in Mary's year of birth from the records to when our family believed
she was born. (Four years difference) It is thought that she may have changed her age as
women in those days did not marry men younger than themselves or maybe she just forgot
those four years when she was not with her family. Our family had very sketchy information
about the Collopy family and much of it has been proved to be incorrect.
Clement and Mary's children were as follows:
Miriam Lillimur - 1881
Cecilia Rose - 1883
John - 1884
Gladys Mabel - 1886
Arthur Edward - 1888
James - 1890
Lane Ernest - 1892
Elizabeth - 1993
Robert - 1894
Clem built Nhill's first Hotel in 1879, which must have been before his marriage. Clem and
Mary lived in the Horsham area for some years. They moved from Victoria between 1886-88
and lived in the Pooncarie - Menindee area. Clem was a fencing contractor and also trapped
rabbits to help to feed the family. James Hardingham was born at Tolarno Station near
Menindee in 1890. Tolarno is known to have been a small township of two to three hundred
people in those days. Lane Ernest and Elizabeth were born and passed away in Pooncarie in
1892-93 and are believed to be buried in the Pooncarie Cemetery. The family went to
Menindee in 1893-94. They lived in an old house on the eastern side of the Darling River
opposite Maidens Hotel. Clem was one of the Punt Keepers. Their last child Robert was born
there.
The children attended Menindee Central School and James and Arthur have their names on the
First World War Honour Roll which hangs in the School. It is thought that Robert attended
the school for a short time but the family moved to Broken Hill where they lived at 368
Chloride Street. Clem continued to work around the local properties.
Clem was granted 15600 acres which was a part of Netley Station, now known as Sunny Dale
in 1910. He continued living there until his death in 1927. It was then taken over by his
youngest son Robert. Clems's wife Mary had a life interest until her death.
Robert Hardingham or Bob as he was known to his friends was born in Menindee N.S.W. on
13-10-1894 to Clement and Mary Hardingham. (nee Collopy.) He was the youngest child of a
large family. He was born in an old house opposite Maidens Hotel on the eastern side of
the Darling River. His father Clem was one of the punt keepers, the punt being near where
they lived. Bob was Baptised in Holy Trinity Church of England Church in Menindee on
November 25th 1894.
The family lived in Menindee for a number of years and it is thought that Bob along with
his brothers and sisters attended Menindee Central School.
It is not known the exact date that the family moved to Broken Hill where they lived at
368 Chloride St. Bob passed the Junior Public Examination - University of Sydney in June
1909 and commenced work at the Silverton Tramway in July 1909, where he worked until 6th
March 1913. During this time he also attended the Technical College in 1911-12.
When his father Clem was allotted Sunny Dale he set about to fence, water and stock the
place and the rest of the family spent as much time as possible with him. Bob wanted to
stay with his father as soon as he left school but his mother insisted that he had a
Government job, which he held until 1913.
Bob and his father developed the property and was later allotted more land nearby. He met
Minnie Bright of Kimberley Station who was thirteen years younger than he. They were to be
married on February 1st 1927 but his father passed away so they were married on the next
Saturday 7th February.
Bob and Min lived at Sunny Dale all their married life. They went through many hard times
during droughts but made a success of the property. They had one child Mary Elizabeth -
Born 28-2-1942.
Bob's mother, Mary passed away in August 1942 and Bob and Min took over the place as
partners in the following October.
Bob was devoted to his wife Min, daughter Mary and her two children, Mignonne and Robert.
He was well respected in the district and made many friends. He was also very close to the
nieces and nephews and was greatly missed by them all when he passed away.
Bob lived at Sunny Dale until he became ill and spent the last year of his life in
hospital and in St Anne's Nursing Home, Broken Hill until his death on 12th March 1974.
Min continued to run the property, later helped by her grandson Robert.
Min was born Minnie Ethel Bright in Patton St Broken Hill on 11-12-1907. She was the only
daughter of Elmy Harold Bright and Eliza Elizabeth Nielsen. She had four brothers, Ted of
Kimberley Stn and Darby of Adelaide, Fred of Broken Hill and Arthur (now all dec)
As a young child Min lived at Buckalow Stn where her father was an overseer for Mr W.F.
Parker. Her mother taught the children by correspondence and later Min boarded at the
Convent of Mercy in Lane St. She left school at 14 years of age and the family then lived
at Kimberley Station. She spent a lot of time helping to care for the children in the
district including the Mudge children who's mother had passed away.
After marriage she again spent much of her time caring for her nieces and nephews and
niece Monica lived with them for 5 years after her mother passed away. Mon has always
thought of her as her mother and have remained very close. She also helped to care for her
late brother Freddy's children. Min also cared for her mother Eliza for 14 years before
she passed away in 1954.
Min loved her two grandchildren, Mignonne and Robert dearly and they spent weekends and
school holidays with her. When Robert left school he lived and worked at Sunny Dale. He
later took the place over in 1989.
Min became ill in 1989 and after a time in hospitial, spent her remaining years at St
Annes Nursing Home. She passed away on 2nd March 1995. At that time she had three great
grandchildren, Bronte, Jake and Riley. Lachlan (dec) was born in 1996 and Emily Isobel was
born in October 1997.
Submitted by Mary Wilson
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Last updated on 28 February 2003