Charles Dempster was born on 19 Aug 1846 to Charles Dempster, innkeeper, and Jane Russell in Petworth, Sussex, England. He arrived in Melbourne on the Norfolk between Feb and May 1867. He married Elizabeth Jane Blackmore on 4 Nov 1876 in St Kilda, Victoria. After the birth of their fourth child in Nov 1882 the family moved to Launceston. In Jun 1882 Charles established the firm Dempster & Pearce in Brisbane Street called 'The Beehive'. The family lived in various houses in Welman Street; one was called 'Petworth' after his birthplace. The family moved to Sydney after 1913, where another business was established. Charles died in Neutral Bay, Sydney, on 2 Apr 1937 aged 90. Charles' wife Elizabeth and four daughters are also pictured in the Launceston Family Album. See The Examiner 22 Oct 2005, p. 32 and 29 Oct 2005, p. 33.
Thelma Grunnell & Rosemary Dempster Sep 2005