Celebrating 100th birthday with a smoke and a drink

Living past 100 years was a rare feat in days gone by and even rarer for men. Charles Henry Streeton, however, was the exception to the rule, having died in his 103rd year in 1930.

Born in St Leonards, England on the coast near Hastings, on 16th November, 1828 to Thomas Streeton and Mary Ann Garling, Charles trained for the army. He ascribed his physical fitness to his army experience, perhaps explaining his long life.

Charles Henry Streeton. Photo Findagrave

When he joined the engineering firm of Sir Charles Fox and Henderson as paymaster, he helped work on the construction of the Paddington Railway Station in London.

He made the decision to migrate to Australia in 1845 when it was suggested he take part in an expedition being organised by Sir Thomas Mitchell to explore the western parts of Queensland. On the voyage to Australia he met his future wife, Mary Johnson. Together they would go on to have seven children, including famed landscape artist Arthur Streeton.

When Charles arrived in Sydney, the expedition had already set out, so he continued on to Melbourne where he joined the Victorian Education Department and where he remained for 30 years in differing capacities.

In 1869 the Streeton family had grown by five and Charles had been employed as a school teacher at Duneed School, no. 187. The family then moved to Queenscliff where he took on the role of headmaster at the local school.

When Arthur was only seven years old, Charles moved the family to the Melbourne suburb of Richmond in 1874. He left teaching to take up a clerical job with the Education Department in Melbourne until his retirement at the age of 65.

Charles and Mary made a number of trips back to England on the sailing ships Port Jackson and Medway. He took a great interest in the Church of England and would occasionally give sermons.

When Mary died, Charles moved to Sydney to live with his daughter in Randwick.

The Streeton grave at Randwick General Cemetery. Photo by Bel P.

At 100 years of age Charles was still enjoying good health, being able to walk about, albeit with the aid of a stick, smoked his pipe and enjoyed a glass of wine. He was even still healthy enough to chop wood for the fire. He had gone deaf and continued to read the newspaper with a magnifying glass.

On his 101st birthday a cake was presented to him with as many candles as his years. He died after his 102nd birthday on 16th December 1930 and is buried at Randwick General Cemetery, NSW alongside his wife.

References

• 'Charles Henry Streeton', Findagrave, accessed 8th October, 2024, Photos of Charles Henry Streeton - Find a Grave Memorial

• 'Arthur Streeton', Wikipedia, accessed 8th October, 2024, Arthur Streeton - Wikipedia

• 'Centenarian's Death: Mr Charles Henry Streeton', The Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday, 18th December, 1930, Page 12

• 'A Centenarian: Mr Charles Henry Streeton', The Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 17th November, 1928, Page 18

• 'Hundred and first birthday', Kalgoorlie Miner, Monday 18th November, 1929, Page 3