William T. Lewis, undertaker, Gulgong

1872
Glass photonegative

The establishment of William Thomas Lewis, Undertaker and Carpenter, was primitive, but his funerals were said to be carried out ‘with his usual taste and completeness’. In 1871, Gulgong lacked a suitable place for burials, despite the considerable mortality rate among the young. In April 1871 alone, nine children died in a fortnight. In January 1872, there were 37 deaths in Gulgong (including 21 children under five years) and 17 births.