Manallack, Thomas

Thomas Manallack is generally believed to be the first brick maker in Brunswick.  He was born in Sithney, Cornwall (where the name is recorded as Menallack) in 1808.  The parish of Sithney, (Cornish: Merthersydhni), is situated in the Deanery and Hundred of Kerrier,  bounded on the north by Crowan, on the east by Wendron and Helston and the Looe Pool which separates it from Gunwalloe, on the south by the sea, and on the west by Breage. It is named after the patron saint of the church, who chose to be the patron saint of mad dogs (in preference to young women).

The parish lies about three miles north west of the town of Helston in a mainly agricultural area. In the 19th century there were at least eight tin mines in the area, none of which are working today.  The Trevano mine was worked from 1840 to 1848 for copper and tin.  The mine had already been in operation in the late 18th century, yet few records exist about that working period.

Thomas arrived in Melbourne aboard the “Lysander” in January 1849, with wife Mary and their six children.  Shortly after his arrival, Thomas purchased a small parcel of land in Little Collins Street, Melbourne.  He also purchased land in the then outer suburb of Brunswick, then known as Phillipstown.  He began a pottery and brickworks there, operating for only two or three years until 1851 when he left for the goldfields with his son, also called Thomas. 

John Glew worked there for a short time in 1849.  It is mistakenly believed that Thomas taught John the skill of brick making.  This is incorrect as John was an accomplished brick maker when he arrived in Melbourne.  Gold was not as profitable as expected and Thomas returned to Brunswick where he became the licensee of the Cornish Arms Hotel.  The hotel first opened in 1854.  Thomas owned it until his death at age 82.

Thomas died in Victoria on the 9^th of January 1891 and is buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery.  Manallack Street in Brunswick was named in his honour.