3 September 1869 132 Bathurst Street Launceston Tasmania Australia Mary French Henry Charles & Arthur George

Arthur Evelyn Padman was born in the Deloraine district on 3 Sep 1869. He was the youngest of nine children born to George Padman and his wife Priscilla Utting Tubby. After leaving school Arthur moved to Sydney and worked in drapery store Hordern Brothers.

On 17 Mar 1897, in Launceston, Arthur married Mary French. She was born on 16 Sep 1863, the daughter of James French and his wife Sarah Bushby. Arthur and Mary's sons, Henry Charles and Arthur George, were born in 1900 and 1903 respectively in Ashfield, New South Wales. In 1903 the family was living at 3 Bogan Street, Summer Hill, NSW.

A partnership in another drapery store proved unsuccessful and the family returned to Launceston where Arthur joined Ludbrooks Department Store as a floor walker. The family lived at 11 Reserve Street from about 1909. Arthur Padman died aged 53 on 4 Aug 1922 and was buried at the Carr Villa Cemetery. Mary lived to the age of 86 and was buried next to her husband when she died on 20 Feb 1950.

Arthur’s sons, Arthur and Henry were instrumental in the founding and running of Padman Optometrists.

Helen Tubby Feb 2006 & Bob Barnett Aug 2007