FatherLaust Larsen b. 13 Jan 1843, d. 23 Jan 1917
MotherAnna Margaretha Naugardt b. 26 Jun 1848, d. 24 Sep 1904
Pedigree

Birth, Death, Marriage

Albert Frederick Larsen was born on 24 March 1888 in Shepparton, Victoria.1,2,3 
He married Doris Wisely in 1926 in Tallygaroopna, Victoria.4,5 
He died on 30 May 1971 in Numurkah, Victoria, at age 83.6,2,7 

Family

Doris Wisely b. 29 Dec 1901, d. 8 Oct 1999
Children
ChartsLarsen, Laust, descendant chart

Story

All the Larsen children attended the Congupna township school.8
 
Death of Anna Margaretha 
Anna Margaretha suffered for several years from tuberculosis, known at the time as consumption or phthisis.

Anna Margaretha Larsen died of tuberculosis in Congupna on the morning of Saturday 24th November 1904, aged 56. She was buried at the Shepparton cemetery on 26 November.9,10,11
 
Most of the family was still in the family homestead; only the married Anna Carolina had moved out. Meta was the youngest at 13 years old. Eldest remaining daughter, Carnie became house-keeper and carer for her father and the younger family members.12
 
Laust, Denmark Visit 1906
In 1906, two years after mother Anna Margaretha died, father Laust returned to visit family in Denmark.13,9
 
Two family photos were taken beforehand to take to Denmark. One was a family portrait of Laust with his nine children. The other was taken in front of his 'Fairfield' homestead and included spouses and grandchildren.9,13
Bill (William Magnus), Mary, Deas (Andreas), Carnie (Karen), Bert (Albert), Mag (Margaret Elizabeth), Annie (Anna Caroline), The Pater (Laust), Dora, Meta (in front) Larsen, 'Fairfield', Congupna, 1906
Image: Margaret Pell, Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Margaret Elizabeth Larsen, Dora Larsen, Annie Thelma Williams, Laust Larsen, Dora May Williams, Anna Caroline Williams (Larsen), Albert Frederick Larsen, Meta Alvina Larsen, Richard Cornelius Williams, Karen Larsen on horse, Andreas Laust Larsen, Mary Larsen, Cecil Roy Williams on Kit, 'Fairfield' homestead, Congupna, 1906
Image: Margaret Pell
When Bert left school he worked for family friends at Trawool hotel 'for 2/6 a week' - a fact he often recalled.12
 
Up until the beginning of the First World War in 1914, brothers Bert and Billy Larsen played tennis and football at the Congupna Recreation Ground.14
 
Property
Shepparton rate records show Bert Larsen had many properties in Congupna and Tallygaroopna between 1910 and 1941 (end of accessible records). The property types include farming, residential and business.

Ten different farming properties range from 67 to 643 acres. Most are owned, though some early ones are leased, including with brother William. From 1910, the aging Laust started selling or leasing property, mostly to his sons Deas (Andreas), Bert and William.15
 
When his father died in 1917, Bert returned from Trawool to help run the family properties. There were several property exchanges within the family over the following five years, culminating in 1921 with a clearing sale:
Clearing Sale account Mr Bert Larsen, Congupna Town, and sale of 520 acres of land and stock, implements, etc., in the estate of L Larsen

On the same page in the newspaper, Bert's brother-in-law Richard Williams is attempting to sell his own late father's property in preparation for a move into the Tallygaroopna butcher shop.16,12,15
 
One of Bert's properties was 320 acres on the northern edge of the Tallygaroopna township (lot 16, section B on the Congupna Parish map.)17,18,15
 
In 1921, Bert bought the Tallygaroopna butcher shop from his brother-in-law Richard Williams. He also bought the slaughter yards.12,15
 
R Williams & Son
Butchers, Tallygaroopna, In thanking customers for past support, desire to notify that they have sold their business to Mr AF Larsen, who hopes for a continuance of the business entrusted to his predecessors and to meet new cuslomers, whose satisfaction will be his objective.19

 
Bert sometimes ran the shop himself but mostly leased it to other butchers, including brother-in-law Matt Hannan. Bert still owned it at the time of his death.20
Tallygaroopna butcher shop, heritage listed
Image: Tallygaroopna Times & Tales 1990
After Rennick's store in Tallygaroopna burnt down (December 1925), Bert started a shoe store, employing E Brown as a boot repairer.21
 
From 1922-1926 Bert also owned nine town lots in Tallygaroopna in addition to his own place.15
 
When Bert returned to the family home after Laust died, sisters Carnie (Karen), Margaret and Meta were still living there.

Margaret and Meta both married in 1919, and in 1921, when all of Laust's estate was sold, Bert and Carnie went to live at the butcher shop.12
 
The Tallygaroopna branch of the Victorian Farmers Union (later the Country Party, then National Party) was formed in 1919. Bert was a member since formation of the branch.22,23
 
When Margaret Larsen and George Berry married In November 1919, Roy Williams was best man and Bert Larsen gave Margaret away, as Laust had died by then.
 
Probably George Berry's sister (bridesmaid), Roy Williams (best man), Margaret Berry (Larsen, bride), George Berry (groom), Bert Larsen (gave Mag away), 1919
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
In 1924 at a special meeting of Mechanics Institute and Free Library the old committee resigned and Bert joined the committee of management for the new institution, the Tallygaroopna and District Soldiers Memorial Hall and Free Library. The new hall was opened in June by federal treasurer and acting Prime Minister Dr Earle Page. As one of the 'Queens' who raised the most money for the new hall, Miss Doris Wisely was seated at the guests' table.24,25,26
 
Marriage and Family
Bert Larsen and Doris Wisely married in Melbourne in July 1926.

St George’s Presbyterian Church, East St Kilda, was the scene of a quiet wedding on Wednesday, July 7, when Doris, only daughter of Mrs Rebecca Wisely, of Tallygaroopna West, became the wife of Albert F Larsen. Rev RJ Williams, of Wickliffe, performed the ceremony.

The bride, who was given away by her elder brother, was gowned in an ivory georgette frock, handbeaded. A train of white satin lined with silver tissue (lent by Mrs Swain, of Coburg), fell from her shoulders, and made a graceful finish to the frock. Over it was an oval embroidered veil, secured by a coronet or orange blossom on the left side. Her bouquet of azealeas and white chrysanthemums was relieved with touches of pink peach blossom.

Miss Linda Wisely, of Geelong, as the only bridesmaid, wore a silver tissue bandeaux to match her modish frock of torquoise blue crepe de chene and georgette, daintily trimmed with silver lace and designs of silver beading. She carried a posy of pink rose buds and peach blossom.

Mr Roy Williams, of Mooroopna, supported the bridegroom as best man.

After the ceremony the guests were entertained by Mrs Wisely at Wickliffe House on the Esplanade. When leaving for the honeymoon the bride wore an ensemble suit of brown repp and putty crepe de chene, with a bois de rose hat to match. Prior to her marriage Miss Wisely was entertained by the Tallygaroopna Ladies’ Guild in their church, and made the recipient of a handsome silver rose bowl suitably inscribed.5

 
Roy Williams, Linda Wisely, Doris (Wisely) & Bert Larsen, Doris & Bert's wedding, East St Kilda, Sep 1926
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Doris wrote about her early married life.

In 1926 I married Albert Larsen and we bought a house in the outskirts of the township. We continued to farm wheat and sheep in the area and operated a butcher shop in Tallygaroopna and Katandra West.

It was a busy life; irrigation was going through the area and there always seemed to be extra men to feed, channel construction workers, fencers, shearers, chaff cutters and numerous other contractors.27

 
Bert and Doris had two children, Margaret and Bill. When Bill married he took over their house and the farms, and they moved to a smaller house within the township. This meant they could enjoy time playing bowls, visiting friends and spending the winter months in Queensland.27
 
Recreation and Community Work
Bert and Doris were very active in their Tallygaroopna community.

Bert and I played tennis and lawn bowls and were actively involved with the church, school, public hall, recreation reserve, football and cricket club committees, CWA, Red Cross and other local community work. The children's playground 'The AF Larson Reserve' was built on land that was donated by Bert.27

 
At the inaugural meeting of the Tallygaroopna Progress Association in July 1939, elected office bearers included Bert, Doris and Carnie Larsen. Early projects included the children's playground (in cooperation with the CWA), and street improvements. It lapsed during the Second World War and when it reformed, Bert was Vice President.28
 
Larsens: Bill (Albert William), Doris (Wisely), Bert (Albert Frederick) & Margaret, c. 1950
Image: Tallygaroopna Times & Tales 1990
The first meeting to form the Tallygaroopna Bowling Club was late 1950. The block of land was donated by Bert and the area was later named the AF Larsen Reserve. Bert and Doris were life members.29
 
In 1968, Bert was made life member of the Tallygaroopna Football Club.30
 
Bert Larsen died in Numurkah in 1971 and is buried at the Shepparton cemetery. He was 83 years old.7,2,6
 

Citations

  1. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, Albert Frederick Larsen entry, birth registration no. 15628, 1888.
  2. [S290] Outline Descendant Report for Laust Larsen, descendent report, unpublished, 15 March 2010.
  3. [S455] Full genealogical table for Laust Larsen, computer file, ancestor table, unpublished, 2010.
  4. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, 'Albt Fredk' Larsen and Doris Wisely entry, marriage registration no. 5747, 1926.
  5. [S201] 'Weddings: Larsen-Wisely', Shepparton Advertiser, 1914-1953, newspaper, Thomas Pettit and William Callender, 6 September 1926, p. 6, viewed 10 December 2017, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/179501428
  6. [S78] Shepparton Public Cemetery, cemetery and register.
  7. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, Albert Frederick Larsen entry, death registration no. 13243, 1971.
  8. [S79] The Centenary of Congupna Schools and District 1884-1984, Congupna Centenary Committee, 1984, p. 19.
  9. [S284] Laust Larsen detailed ancestor table, computer file, ancestor table, unpublished, 2010.
  10. [S116] Anna Margaretha Larsen, death registration no. 10704, 24 September 1904.
  11. [S18] '[Death Notice: Mrs Laust Larsen]', Shepparton News, 1877-, newspaper, Roy McPherson, 27 September 1904.
  12. [S17] Tallygaroopna and District Times and Tales: Published to mark the occasion of the centenary of Tallygaroopna primary school 3067, 1890-1990, Tallygaroopna school council, 1991, pp. 118-119.
  13. [S213] Geoff Larsen, personal communication, 12 March 2010.
  14. [S79] The Centenary of Congupna Schools and District 1884-1984, Congupna Centenary Committee, 1984, p. 55.
  15. [S233] Shepparton Shire & Town Rates Index, 1885-1939/1941, computer file, Shepparton Family History Group, Larsen entries.
  16. [S260] 'J McNamara & Co.: Sale fixtures', Goulburn Valley Stock and Property Journal, 1910-1963, newspaper, Horan & Simpson, 9 February 1921, p. 2, viewed 10 September 2017, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/215273540
  17. [S17] Tallygaroopna and District Times and Tales: Published to mark the occasion of the centenary of Tallygaroopna primary school 3067, 1890-1990, Tallygaroopna school council, 1991, p. 18.
  18. [S316] Congupna Parish Plan, Imperial measure 2423, VPRS 16171 Regional Land Office Parish and Township Plans Digitised Reference Set, plan no. 2423, map, 1881.
  19. [S260] 'Clearing sales, 1922', Goulburn Valley Stock and Property Journal, 1910-1963, newspaper, Horan & Simpson, 21 December 1921, p. 2, viewed 5 March 2019, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/215272981/…
  20. [S17] Tallygaroopna and District Times and Tales: Published to mark the occasion of the centenary of Tallygaroopna primary school 3067, 1890-1990, Tallygaroopna school council, 1991, p. 26.
  21. [S17] Tallygaroopna and District Times and Tales: Published to mark the occasion of the centenary of Tallygaroopna primary school 3067, 1890-1990, Tallygaroopna school council, 1991, pp. 22, 24.
  22. [S17] Tallygaroopna and District Times and Tales: Published to mark the occasion of the centenary of Tallygaroopna primary school 3067, 1890-1990, Tallygaroopna school council, 1991, p. 94.
  23. [S246] 'Victorian farmers' union', Wikipedia, online, Wikimedia Foundation, viewed 2 March 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_Farmers%27_Union
  24. [S17] Tallygaroopna and District Times and Tales: Published to mark the occasion of the centenary of Tallygaroopna primary school 3067, 1890-1990, Tallygaroopna school council, 1991, p. 91.
  25. [S201] 'Memorial Hall at Tallygaroopna: Opened by Federal Treasurer', Shepparton Advertiser, 1914-1953, newspaper, Thomas Pettit and William Callender, 12 June 1924, p. 6, viewed 6 March 2019, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/174032546
  26. [S425] 'Tallygaroopna soldiers' memorial hall: Opened by Federal Treasurer', Numurkah Leader, 1895-1948, newspaper, 18 June 1924, p. 4, viewed 6 March 2019, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/186427145
  27. [S119] 'The Eighteenth Child', Treasured Memoirs of Yesterday, pp. 22-23, booklet, Baringa Centre, 28 September 1999.
  28. [S17] Tallygaroopna and District Times and Tales: Published to mark the occasion of the centenary of Tallygaroopna primary school 3067, 1890-1990, Tallygaroopna school council, 1991, p. 95.
  29. [S17] Tallygaroopna and District Times and Tales: Published to mark the occasion of the centenary of Tallygaroopna primary school 3067, 1890-1990, Tallygaroopna school council, 1991, p. 105.
  30. [S17] Tallygaroopna and District Times and Tales: Published to mark the occasion of the centenary of Tallygaroopna primary school 3067, 1890-1990, Tallygaroopna school council, 1991, p. 104.