William Madsen

William Madsen arrived in Victoria in 1878 and was a journeyman tanner before starting his own business in High Street Preston in 1882, possibly on the west side of High Street near Warr Avenue. Employing three staff his output of calf skins ranged between 70 and a 100 hides per week. In 1892 the directories indicated that Marinus Madsen was there but had gone by 1900. The site later became part of the substantial Howe tanneries. 

Great War Index 1914-1920 : index to births, deaths and marriages in Victoria [CD-ROM]. (1997). Melbourne, Australia: Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Sutherland, Andrew, Ellery, R. L. J… [et al.] (1888). Victoria and its metropolis : past and present. Melbourne: McCarron, Bird & Co.