April 2025
Welcome to Butler News!
Are any of the Butlers mentioned in the articles posted on this site connected to your family?
One of the aims of the Southern Cross Region is to learn more about the lives and activities of Butler men and women and to recognise their achievements and the part they have played in the development of their community and/or country.
If you have a Butler story or information about a Butler family that you would like to share, please consider joining our Society. The “Membership” Section of this website shows how easy it is to join. By becoming part of our network, you can discover more information about Butler family history, and could even connect with a previously unknown cousin! Correspondence can be sent to the postal address on our Home Page, or to Alan Squires, squiresa@bigpond.net.au
Does anyone know who this Captain Butler was?
Article from the “Ballarat Star” Newspaper Monday 18 January 1886
The “Old Curiosity Shop” at Geelong which of late years has been occupied by “Professor” Spillman, is now being razed to the ground in order to make way for new and more commodious premises. The Geelong Times says …In “the good old times” these premises were in the occupation of Messrs Jas. McEwan and Co., iron merchants, Mr Cunningham, one of the Parliamentary representatives for Geelong, being in charge of the business.
Since those halcyon days there have been many tenants, including the celebrated Captain Butler, now of Ballarat. There is a good story told of this gentleman when he arrived in London after making his “pile” on the “diggins”. He was passing Tower Hill while a drayload of beer was being discharged at a public house. Captain Butler being in a merry mood, with his pockets overflowing with the spoils of Ballarat and Bendigo, asked the landlord of the house how much he would charge for the whole lot as he wanted to entertain his old friends. A bargain was made, the word was sent round that the gallant captain had arrived, and the whole drayload was soon drunk by the thirsty denizens of the thickly-populated district.
The “Old Curiosity Shop” stands in Moorabool Street, near the premises of the old-established firm of Messrs Olgivie and Robinson, auctioneers. In the olden times the place brought in a rental of 10 Pounds per week, but for years past the rent paid has not been much more than 10 Shillings weekly.
Source: “Trove” the database of the National Library of Australia, Newspapers & Gazettes section.
Article submitted by Abigail Butler
The story of Duncan Butler (1906 – 1987)
“MATES” by Duncan Butler 2/12th Field Ambulance
Alan Squires heard this poem recited at the Melton Anzac Day Service 2024
Alan’s research discovered that Duncan Harold Butler was born in Horsham Victoria in 1906, to parents Duncan John Butler and Mabel Blanche Pengelly. Other children, Alfred William (b 1902), Marnie Florence (b 1908) and Arthur Thomas (b 1910) were also born in Horsham. The family moved to NSW, and Duncan enlisted at Wagga on the 24th June 1940, aged 34. He was single and a Minister of the Church of Christ when he enlisted.
Corporal Butler was captured by the Japanese at Tjamplong in Timor in February 1942, was moved to Java in September 1942, then to Singapore in January 1943 and Changi, before being sent to Thailand to work on the railway. He was repatriated and returned to Australia in October 1945. Article submitted by Alan Squires.
Southern Cross National Gathering Brisbane 2019
Southern Cross National Gathering in Brisbane 30th August – 2nd September 2019
Southern Cross Newsletter June 2020
- Butlers and Previous Pandemics
- John Butler – An Unlikely Hero
- The Butler DNA Project
- Ren Butler, Whisky Specialist
Southern Cross Newsletter June 2020
Southern Cross Newsletter April 2022
- The 50th Anniversary Celebrations
- Alexander Bishop Butler, London Gunsmith
- Princess Shirley (Butler) of the Hutt River Province
- Edward Henry Butler, convicted of a crime he didn’t commit.
- Australian Butlers in WWI
- Descendants of Sir John Butler (d. 1285) who had sugar plantations in Antigua.
- Gamaliel Butler who established Australia’s oldest surviving law firm in 1824.
Southern Cross Newsletter April 2022
Southern Cross Newsletter September 2022
- Butlers and Maritime History in Australia
- Walter Butler – An Eventful Life
- Butler Place Names
Southern Cross Newsletter September 2022
Butler Jubilee Celebrations 2022
Southern Cross Butler Gathering Jubilee Celebration 1972 – 2022
