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1985 that headstone was lying on the ground in the vicinity of his last
residence in Milparinka.
The store opened by Cramsie Bowden and Company at Milparinka in 1881
could be considered to have ceased trading with the closure of E.C.
Chamber's store in 1893. But, as discussed below, it could also be
considered to have been transformed into the extensive storekeeping
business of William Baker.
5.1.3 William Baker
Baker's Store is shown in the background of Photograph 1 . The
photograph was taken in the early years of the 20th century, by which time
Milparinka was very clearly in decline.
William Baker appears to have been a somewhat controversial figure. The
records of the New South Wales Post Office indicate he was married to 'an
indian woman'(NSWPO), which was confirmed by Nel Barlow (personal
communication, 1988). He advertised lavishly in early issues of the Sturt
Recorder, and diversified his business interests with varying degrees of
success. An early diversifications was into pig-keeping, leading him to a
court appearance on Wednesday May 7, 1890. He was fined five shillings
with four and ten pence costs for allowing pigs to stray (Tibooburra
Telegraph, May 13, 1890:2). The experience perhaps influenced his later
efforts as in the first issue of the Sturt Recorder he was advertised:
'William Baker, Butcher, Milparinka - supplies first class meat at lowest
possible prices. Cart visits the surrounding neighbourhood three times a
week'(Sturt Recorder, June 2, 1893: 1).
The advertisement was surmounted by a picture of a pig.
Shortly after Ernest Chambers announced his withdrawal from business it
was reported that 'Mr. William Baker, who has been the lessee of the
Albert Hotel for some years past, has relinquished the hotel-keeping
business and we understand he now intends to embark in the business of
butcher and storekeeper' (Sturt Recorder, May 11, 1894:3). The possibility
exists that the business given up by Edward Chambers was acquired by
William Baker. The large advertisements which appeared in the Sturt
Recorder, Tibooburra and Mount Browne Advertiser may have been part of
the sale arrangements.
William Baker made news again in 1893, when the following item appeared
in the Sturt Recorder:
'Improvements at Milparinka
'We have not had many improvements to the town to chronicle of as late
and it is therefore all the more pleasure to notice one now going on in