Remembering William Popple, a century of a family business comes to an end

William was the last member of the family business founded by his grandfather George Popple in 1896. George had migrated from Nottingham in England to Brisbane and established his first plumbing business in Surry Hills before moving his family to Kempsey.

The plumbing and tinsmith business he established in Kempsey on Smith St opposite the Woolworths car park. Following the death of George in 1917, the business was taken over by his only son William Popple Senior.

William Popple was born in Clyde St in 1921. His parents William Senior and Treasure Mowle lived where the pensioner hall is now located. William was the youngest son of eight children.

After completing his education at Kempsey East Public School in 1932 he joined his older brother George and father in the family business. The business name was changed to Wm Popple and Sons in 1944 and continued until 1967. From 1967 to 1985, William conducted a plumbing business from his residence in East Kempsey.

The early years of last century the Popple workshop was often referred to as 'Popples tinsmith works' as the business was able to produce water tanks, baths, buckets, strainers, funnels, garbage bins, letter boxes, vats, trays, milk cans and many others. All of the items were made to order and with all materials used in their manufacture being transported to Kempsey by coastal steamer. When the the Kempsey town sewer system was introduced in the early 1930s, William's brother George became a licensed master plumber and the business began undertaking sewer connections. Post World War 2, the busness also repaired radiators and installed metal roofing.

William always maintained a great interest in windmills, particularly the famous Australian made Southern Cross brand. Windmills were once a common sight on most farms on the lower and upper Macleay and William was considered an authority on their installation and maintenance. The family business was the local agent for Southern Cross for over 70 years and during this period dozens of windmills were installed on the Macleay, Hastings and Nambucca valleys. The last windmill William installed was at the Historical Society in South Kempsey.

In 1946 William married Dalma McLachlan from Grafton and they made their home in Central Kempsey before moving to Lord St in East Kempsey. William is survived by son Gordon Popple and his sisters Amber Blight and Chrystal Perry.

Stay ahead with local news by signing up for the Macleay Argus newsletter here.