Biography

Philip Oakden (1784 - 1851) arrived in Van Diemen's Land in 1833, and soon established himself in business, particularly banking. He was involved in various religious and charitable organisations, and remembered as "scrupulously just, candid, truthful and sincere.

Philip was born in about 1784, son of Philip Oakden of Stydd, Derbyshire, England, and Mary, formerly Huerdd. Suitably educated, he became a merchant in London, and after a business failure he went to Hamburg in 1816, recouped his losses and in 1827 returned to England and paid off his creditors.

After further success in Hamburg he settled in Liverpool and there joined the Wesleyan Society. A few years later he emigrated to Van Diemen's Land and settled in Launceston. In 1834 he purchased several properties, including six acres on Windmill Hill with a house which he called 'Stydd House'. This property is now the site of the Queen Victoria Hospital. Other properties were at Kings Meadows and Dunedin on the North Esk River; at Mole Creek he discovered the now famous caves and for a time they were named after him.

In Launceston Philip Oakden was involved in the formation of a branch of the Bank of Van Diemen's Land as a director. Other banking interests concerned the Tamar Bank, the Union Bank, the Bank of Australasia and the Launceston Bank for Savings of which he was one of the founders in 1835.

In October 1839 he married Georgiana Cowie, daughter of George Cowie of London. They had six children, one of whom was Maria Jane who married George Parramore."

Philip contributed his time and money to many public and charitable organisations in Launceston. St. John's Hospital was one such concern. The introduction of the blackberry has been attributed to Philip Oakden. Having received a single plant from England, he gave cuttings to two friends who grew more plants.

During the late 1840s he was involved in the establishment of the Launceston Ship Building Co. at Blackwall. The first and only ship built was the 'Philip Oakden', launched on 20^th November 1849 with a bust of Philip as its figurehead. On its maiden voyage the barque carried a valuable cargo to England; on its return it hit the reef at the entrance to the Tamar River and stuck fast. All passengers and cargo were saved but the loss was ruin for the company.

Not long after this tragedy Philip died at Launceston on 31^st July 1851.

In his memory a large marble tablet was erected in the Wesleyan Chapel, Paterson Street. It commemorated his association with the chapel. In 1985 the old building was gutted by fire and the memorial tablet was broken beyond repair. The exact inscription is now not available.

Georgiana, his wife, died on 22^nd March 1899 aged 87. At St. John's Church a stained-glass window was erected in her memory. It features 'St. Mary' and has the following simple inscription:
GEORGIANA OAKDEN
MARCH 22ND 1899

Source

Extract from 'Engraved in Memory' by J.S.Gill. 1988

Australian Dictionary of Biography
https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/oakden-philip-2512