Mrs Eliza Jane Callander - Baker

519 High Street, Preston

Eliza Jane Anderson was born in Geelong 1857 to Plantagenet and Jane Anderson. She married Thomas Donaldson Callander a baker of Moorabool Street in 1881. In January of the following year Thomas' shop suffered damage as a result of a fire in the next door grain store.

The Callanders moved to Melbourne and set themselves up in Preston sometime around 1908. The couple may have parted company not long after as Thomas started a bakery in Murrumbeena/Oakleigh while Eliza founded her own at 519 High Street, Preston recruiting her boys to work with her. The Preston Callanders provided an expanding bread business with James living nearby in William Street and Thomas Donaldson jnr becoming a master baker after WWI while he was living in 'Rosswood', Spring Street. The youngest boy George Arthur was employed as a bread carter. Three girls Olive Irene, Vera and Flora also lived at home until they were married. 

By 1924 George and his mother were living in 'Hillside' in Hawdon Street, Heidelberg. Eliza celebrated her 80th birthday on 6 May 1937 and received praise for her determination as a local businesswoman. She retired to live with Flora at 201 Station Street, Carlton where she passed away in June 1944. The High Street shop remained a bakery and was taken over by Northern Bakeries in 1955.

Sands and McDougall’s Melbourne and Suburban Directory 1864- 1974. [Microfiche]. Melbourne, Australia:  Sands & McDougall.

SOCIAL NOTES. (1937, May 7). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1956), p.3.

OBITUARIES. (1944, June, 28). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic : 1848-1956), p.2.

GEELONG (FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT). (1882, January, 5). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic : 1848-1956), p.7.