Page 8 - Pharmacy History 32 July 2007

(Cont. from page 9)
Mr C.R.Blackett
After trying his luck as a gold digger, and narrowly escaping being buried by a great fall of earth in the claim in which he was working, he determined to quit mining and return to his business in Melbourne, which at that time was almost depleted of its male population.
The enormous stream of immigration which arrived from all parts of the globe during the years 1851-2 caused Melbourne and its surroundings to undergo a complete change, and a large addition was made to the ranks of pharmacy. Amongst these may
be mentioned the names of Messrs. Cooper, French, CR Blackett, Glover, Bosisto, Ford, Wragge, Kingsland, Bowen, and Watson.
In later years, Samuel Croad made the first attempt to inaugurate a society in Victoria to watch over the interests of pharmacists. He organised a meeting of chemists and druggists at his home on the 16th February, 1857 and it was resolved to establish a Society, to be called the Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria. Mr F Cooper being elected first president, Mr Croad, treasurer, and Mr Joseph Lewis, secretary.
The history and proceedings and early vicissitudes of the society are the fabric of the fascinating history of Pharmacy in Victoria. The formation of the Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria, which later changed its name for a period to the Pharmaceutical Society of Australasia form an interesting series of articles which were published in the
8 ■ Pharmacy History Australia
volume 3 ■ no 32 ■ JULY 2007
Australasian Journal of Pharmacy some years ago.
Croad suffered a great bereavement with the death of his two brothers, Alexander and Charles Croad, who were drowned at sea when on their return journey to Melbourne from England in the ship Ullonia. This and a severe accident he received from being thrown from a horse, together with the death of his wife, so affected his health that he decided to retire from active business life, and he sold his business in
1860 to Mr TO Dunstone, who shortly afterwards sold it to Henry Francis.
Croad was a man of high personal character and was respected and esteemed by a wide circle of friends. He left his mark in the history of his adopted country as a good citizen and a kindly and courteous gentleman. He died in 1882 at Emerald Hill in Victoria.
1. 1 Sharpe D, Sharpe K. Pharmacy Families
– Henry Francis in Australia. 1999 B. Cossar, Melbourne.