Teasey, William Thomas, 1871-1950 (Person)

SummaryA Tauranga businessman whose career reflects the town’s transition from a small port settlement to an established commercial centre in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Born in County Tyrone, Ireland, he arrived in Tauranga as a young man to work for his uncle, J. Wright, in a drapery on The Strand.

By 1899 Teasey had purchased his own drapery business and established premises in central Tauranga, expaning to bicycles in 1908, later operating from Devonport Road as the commercial focus of the town shifted inland from the waterfront. From the early 1920s he worked as a land and estate agent (through Maxwell & Teasey from 1921), maintaining offices in Devonport Road and commissioning the construction of Teaseys Building in 1939.

He was active in civic and social life—including service as secretary of the Tauranga Domain Board and appointment as a Justice of the Peace—and participated in sporting, church, and commercial organisations. He married Ada Brain, daughter of boat builder Joseph D. Brain. His sons continued the family’s commercial presence through adjacent motor and clothing businesses, extending the Teasey name within Tauranga well into the twentieth century.SourcesArabin, Shirley, "Teasey’s Building & Garage" in Taruanga Historical Society Blog (23 April 2021)Postcard showing a group of firemen, adults, children and two dogs standing in front of what appears to be the aftermath of a fire (Tauranga Heritage Collection 0308/10)

Photographs

Our Places (authority)

Portion of group photo in either 1911 or 1916, see "Postcard" in sources for original. Restored with original portion inset.

Usage

Kaitiakitanga StatementWe ask that, in addition to normal copyright and privacy considerations, users of our heritage resources uphold the mana and dignity of the people, communities and places depicted within.CopyrightTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City LibrariesLicenseCC BY 4.0AcknowledgementTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries, Teasey, William Thomas, 1871-1950 (Person)

Personal Information

First Name(s)William ThomasSurnameTeaseyDate of Birth5 May, 1871Place of BirthCaledon, County Tyrone, Northern IrelandDate of Death22 November, 1950Place of DeathTaurangaOccupationDraperLand AgentBusinessman

Whānau

MotherTeasey née Wilson, Matilda, 1844-1911FatherTeasey, Robert, c.1828-1876SiblingsTeasey, Sarah Jane, 1868-1942Teasey, Anne Elizabeth, 1869-unknownTeasey, Robert James Jackson (Rev), 1873-1958ChildrenTeasey, Harry Joseph, 1903-1999Teasey, William Wilson, 1907-1980

Partner

PartnerTeasey née Brain, Ada Kate, 1874-1950Date Married1888

Admin

AuthorTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City LibrariesType of ContributionLibrary authorityTaxonomyStories | People

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Teasey, William Thomas, 1871-1950 (Person)