Robert Frederick Whitten MLC (1872 - 1937)

Born 1872 in Lambeth, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Isobel Mary (Clark) Whitten — married 27 Feb 1934 (to 1937) in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Died 16 Apr 1937 at about age 65 in Samarai, Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea

Biography

Robert Frederick "Bob" Whitten was born in 1872. He was the son of Robert Jackson Whitten and Mary Jane Jackson.

He married Minnie Elizabeth Melville in Queensland on the 28th of February, 1901.^[1] They had one daughter, Elsie.

Minnie died at Samarai on 6 October, 1912.^[2]

His second marriage was to Isobel Mary Clark at St Stephen's, Sydney, on 27 February, 1934.^[3][4]

He died suddenly at Samarai in 1937.^[5][6]

Obituary

ROBERT FREDERICK WHITTEN^[6]

With great regret we announce the death of R. F. Whitten at Samarai on Friday, night last, the 16th. On the previous day, Thursday, he was apparently in perfect health and was down to the "Macdhui" according to his usual custom to see his friends leave for the South. On the Friday night he died suddenly. He was talking to friends at the gate of his house about 9 p.m. when he suddenly collapsed. The doctor was summoned but had to pronounce that life was extinct; his diagnosis was heart failure. The funeral was held on Saturday at 4.30 p.m. from his late residence and was attended by practically the whole population, the service being conducted by the Rev. R. Leck.

The late R. F. Whitten was born in London and in his early years was in the postal service. His eldest brother William had wandered far from London, ultimately reaching British New Guinea and about 1890 was storekeeping in Samarai. He sent for his young brother "Bob" about 1892 and the firm of Whitten Brothers was founded. The new firm prospered and soon had branches on every gold field in the country. They owned vessels of all kinds. The "Bulldog" running from Port Moresby to the Lakekamu was perhaps the best known ship of their fleet. They were the Bankers of the possession and practically all the trade of British. New. Guinea was in their hands. William Whitten (Bill) was a man of ability and took a leading part in the affairs of the community and was in the Legislative Council for years. He died about 25 years ago.

After the death of "Bill," his young brother, who was always known as Bob -took charge of the business and for many years ran it in the interests of himself and his brother's widow. The firm became Whitten Bros. Limited. About ten years ago- he acquired the shares of Mrs. Whitten and has since been the sole owner. He followed his brother into the Legislative Council in 1915 and resigned in 1921. The usual residence of R. F. Whitten was in Samarai and his tall figure was a familiar sight in the streets of that town; but for many years be kept the Port Moresby branch under his personal direction and lived at Port Moresby. He became well known and liked at both ends of the Territory and probably was the best known man in this part of the world for many years. He always kept steadily at work and rarely left the country. Two short visits to Sydney represented his only holidays in the years since the war.

He was twice married; on the first occasion to Miss Melville of Cooktown. His daughter of that marriage, Miss Elsie Whitten, was married to the late Mr. R. M. Bunting: and is now Mrs. T. Edgell of New Guinea. The second wife was Miss Clark, of Sydney, who survives her husband. Mrs. Whitten has been away for a month or so on a short visit to Australia.

Everyone who knew Bob Whitten will be sorry that he is gone. Many of us will feel that something that was really part of Papua has been torn away. He was a man of fine presence and commanding stature and always looked well. He could not have been a young man at the end, he was probably about 65, but there was no hint of age when one looked at him. He has looked the same for the past twenty years. The real man was as big as his frame, a quiet friend of the needy and the underdog, always ready to assist a prospector, a miner or anyone ready to venture into the unknown, always scrupulously fair and honest. His word was taken where the bonds of many might have been doubted. Quiet and reserved but a genial host when hospitality was offered by him. That was Bob Whitten. There is many an old miner, possibly all of the survivors of the old prospectors of British New Guinea, who will feel that an old friend has gone. And that is how everyone today in Papua feels about it. We have lost an old friend. All we can do now is to offer the great sympathy of the people of Papua to his widow and daughter.

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage Registration Index, The State of Queensland, Department of Justice and Attorney-General, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages; index entry for Robert Frederick Whitten and Minnie Melville, Marriage date: 28 Feb 1901 Registration Number: 1901/C/2239; Link to Record : accessed 24 Apr 2022
2. ↑ Family Notices (1912, October 23). Papuan Times (Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea : 1911 - 1916), p. 2. Retrieved April 24, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article251071213
   DEATH. WHITTEN.—On the 6th October, at Samarai, Mary Elizabeth, wife of Robert Frederick Whitten, aged 38 years. RETURN THANKS. R. F. Whitten desires to return his sincere thanks for the kind expressions of sympathy during his recent bereavement.
3. ↑ Marriage Index (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 24 Apr 2022), Index entry for ROBERT F WHITTEN and ISOBEL M CLARK; District: SYDNEY; Registration Number: 440/1934
4. ↑ Family Notices (1934, March 10). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 14. Retrieved April 24, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17060465
   WHITTEN-CLARK -February 27 1934 at St Stephen's, Phillip-street, by the Rev J. McLeod, Robert F. Whitten, of Samarai, Papua, to Isobel Mary Clark, eldest daughter of Mrs M M Clark Bannerman-street, Cremorne.
5. ↑ Family Notices (1937, April 23). Papuan Courier (Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea : 1917 - 1942), p. 7. Retrieved April 24, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article250516888
   DEATH WHITTEN. April 16, 1937, at his residence, Samarai, suddenly, Robert Frederick Whitten.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} OBITUARY (1937, April 23). Papuan Courier (Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea : 1917 - 1942), p. 7. Retrieved April 24, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article250516871