East Matthew Henry

Fast Facts

Type of person	Individual
Date of birth	"{{{Date approximate}}}" is not recognized as a Boolean (true/false) value. 1861
Place of birth	England
Date of arrival	"{{{Date approximate2}}}" is not recognized as a Boolean (true/false) value. "{{{Date approximate}}}" is not recognized as a Boolean (true/false) value. 1886
Principal occupation	Blacksmith, Founder of East Brothers Manufacturing
Date of death	"{{{Date approximate4}}}" is not recognized as a Boolean (true/false) value. "{{{Date approximate2}}}" is not recognized as a Boolean (true/false) value. "{{{Date approximate}}}" is not recognized as a Boolean (true/false) value. 1940
Place of decease	Mallala

Matthew Henry East, who came out from England with his parents, was the founder of East Bros. & Co. of Mallala. His father, Mr East Snr. came to South Australia in 1861, for the Moonta Mining Co., to manage and work the old Parramatta Copper Mines between Wallaroo and Kadina. At 15, Matthew obtained employment in the Moonta Mines Blacksmith Shop, thereby gaining his knowledge of the Blacksmithing trade.

In 1886 he came to Mallala, and with one of his brothers, opened up a general blacksmithing business in the town. After about 12 months he bought his partner's interest and continued business on his own. The chief line of manufacture at this time was the heavy type 3 wheel S.J. Plow. In conjunction with two local farmers, Messrs H.B Moody and G. Bischoff, he patented the prong mould board plough (skeleton board), which was proved to be a gigantic success in heavy sticky soil. M.H. East was among the first of the plough makers to make the stump plow of 4 wheels. The plant in the factory was rather crude, as most of the machinery was designed by M.H. East himself, and to drive the plant a horseworks was necessary. These conditions of manufacture continued for several years, and was eventually replaced by an oil engine.

In 1906 two sons, Messrs R.C. East and R.R. East joined their father in the business, and the trade name was altered to East Bros & Co. From 1906 until the out break of World War I, the seasons were prosperous, and trading in farm implements made rapid strides. 1914-18, the World War I period, manufacturing was somewhat slowed down, because of scarcity of materials. In 1933 East Bros. became East Bros. & Co. Ltd. Mathew Henry East died on the 7th. October 1940, just short of his eightieth birthday. The business he had started continued to operate for a further 30 years, until it's closure on August 7, 1970.

Mathew East was recognised by the Commonwealth for his contribution to South Australia, by the naming on 13 April 1976, of East Place, in Kambah, ACT . In the notes accompanying the dedication of the name, Matthew East was described as a pioneer of Mallala and founder of East Brothers (machinery construction firm), one of the first to make a stump-jump plough; patented a prong-mould board plough and designed early reaper-thresher.

References

• Notes from Mrs Catherine East, Mallala Museum Collection