Kate Alice Luck
Bluff Pioneer Cemetery Devonport
DEATH
LUCK – At the residence of her parents, West Devonport, on September 6, Kate Alice, the infant child of John and Isabel Luck
The North West Post 7th September 1893
FUNERAL
The funeral of Kate Alice Luck will leave her parents’ residence, Wenvoe Street, West Devonport, this day (Thursday), at 2 o’clock, for the Bluff Cemetery. H. Weller, undertaker
The North West Post 7th September 1893
A fatal case of inflammation of the brain following a severe attack of measles was reported yesterday, the victim being a child six months old, of Mr. John Luck, of West Devonport.
The North West Post 7th September 1893
Harry Luck
Bluff Pioneer Cemetery Devonport
FUNERAL
The funeral of the late Harry Luck will leave his grandfather’s (William Luck) residence, West Devonport, This Day (Monday) at 4.30 p.m., for the Bluff Cemetery
The North West Post 20 December 1909
Isabella Beatrice Luck
Bluff Pioneer Cemetery Devonport
Age 47 years
DEATH
LUCK
At West Devonport, on 8th July, Isabella Beatrice, beloved wife of John Luck, in her 47th year.
The North West Post 9th July 1914
FUNERAL
The funeral of the late Isabella Beatrice Luck will leave her late residence, Palace Hotel, West Devonport, on Friday, at 2.30 p.m., for the Bluff Cemetery. Friends kindly accept this intimation. Jeffrey, undertaker
The North West Post 9th July 1914
The death occurred at Devonport yesterday of Mrs. John Luck, wife of a respected townsman, the cause of death being glandular cancer. Mrs. Luck had suffered terribly from the disease for some considerable time past and despite all that medical and surgical attention could do it has been felt that her case was hopeless, the end coming yesterday afternoon, when she passed peacefully away, at the comparatively early age of 47 years. She leaves a family of five daughters (two of whom are married). In addition, two daughters and a son predeceased her. The sympathy of residents will be extended to Mr. Luck and the family in their bereavement. The funeral will take place at the Bluff Cemetery at 2.30 o’clock to-morrow afternoon. The deceased was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. Dimock, who were old and respected residents of Avoca. Some 28 years ago, she was married to Mr. Luck and they came to reside at Devonport, where they had lived until her death. By her genial disposition the deceased lady had made a large circle of friends, who deeply regret her demise.
The North West Post 9th July 1914
The funeral of the late Mrs. John Luck took place yesterday afternoon and the respect in which the deceased and her family are held was demonstrated by the exceptionally large attendance. Representatives were present from all parts of the Coast and even as far away as Launceston, while all sections of the Devonport community were represented including the Warden of Devonport (Cr. Curwen), the Master Warden of the Mersey Marine Board (Mr. Jas. Watt), Mr. H. Hays, M.H.A., Mr. A. K. Ellis (Ulverstone), Mr. F. P. Roche (Sassafras), Mr. G. W. Crooks (Wynyard), Mr. John Brown (Wesley Vale), Mr. J. Crooks (Burnie), Mr. Jacob Lehman (Wilmot) and Mr. B. McKenna (Ulverstone), as well as nearly every member of the Devonport council. The coffin was borne to the grave by four employees of the Municipal Council, Messrs. S. Burnie, A. Mannix, J. Lennigan and W. Morgan, while the pallbearers were Crs. W. G. Curwen, H. H. McFie, S. Beattie, C. J. Hiller, Jas. Leary and J. H. Henry. The burial service was read by the Rev. H. B.. Atkinson B.A. The coffin was covered with a profusion of floral tributes and included wreaths from the Devonport Council and Devonport Racing Club. The chief mourners were Messrs. John Luck (husband), A. M., H., W., F., Gordon, George and T. Luck (brothers-in-law) M. E. Dimock (brother), Messrs C. Coulter and N Reid (sons-in-law). The mortuary arrangements were carried out by Mr. W. Jeffrey
The North West Post 11th July 1914
IN MEMORIAM
LUCK – In loving memory of our dear wife and mother, Isabelle B Luck, who departed this life on July 8, 1914
Wearied of life’s long journey
Of battles with pain and strife,
Gone from this world of sorrow,
To a home of eternal life,
Gone where all pain is ended,
To that heavenly home above,
Where all are pure and holy,
In the realms of peace and love.
Inserted by her sorrowing husband and family.
The North West Post 8th July 1916
Hilton John Luck
Bluff Pioneer Cemetery Devonport
Age 5 weeks
DEATH
LUCK On February 5, at his parents’ residence, Wenvoe Street, Devonport. Hilton John, beloved and only son of John and Isabel Luck, aged five weeks.
The North West Post 6th February 1906
Sympathy is expressed with Mr. and Mrs. Luck in the loss of their infant son, aged five weeks, which occurred at Devonport yesterday.
The North West Post 6th February 1906
John Luck
Bluff Pioneer Cemetery Devonport
DEATH
LUCK – On February 11, at the Formby Hotel, West Devonport, John, beloved husband of the late I. B. Luck, in his 75th year. No mourning (by request). Melbourne and Sydney papers please copy.
The Advocate 12th February 1924
FUNERAL
LUCK – The funeral of the late John Luck will leave the Formby Hotel, West Devonport, to-morrow (Wednesday), at 3 p.m. for the Bluff Cemetery. Friends please accept this intimation. Jeffrey, Undertaker
The Advocate 12th February 1924
Mr. Luck’s Funeral
The funeral of the late Mr. John Luck will leave his late residence, Formby Hotel, at 3 o’clock this afternoon for the Bluff Cemetery. The Warden (Cr. Geo. M. Spilsbury) requests that all business places close from 2.30 till 5 p.m. as a mark of respect.
The Advocate 13th February 1924
DEATH OF MR. JOHN LUCK
Honored and Useful Citizen
A man of sterling character.
The death took place last evening of Mr. John Luck, who suffered a paralytic stroke some months ago. While still an invalid he developed pneumonia, which proved fatal and he passed away quietly about 6 p.m. yesterday.
It would be impossible to write the life story of the late Cr. John Luck without writing also a history of the development of Devonport. No citizen was animated with more patriotic fervor for serving his adopted town. His energy was restless, his vision farseeing, his ideas large and broad in their outlook and his executive faculties daring and well judged. He was the type of man that given a good education in his youth and wider scope for the exercise of his talents and his name might not be merely associated with provincial progress, but with the advancement of the nation. Born 74 years ago last June at Hagley he was one of a numerous family. He was not born in the purple and had to rough it in a rough period of the early history of the colony. He used to relate how he had to get up early as a boy, milk the cows and trudge five miles to school. School-masters were not any more indulgent than to-day, probably much less so and boys of school age then were not always without a fault. In any case young Luck was “kept in” on numerous occasions and often completed his five-mile tramp home in the dark, but after that came the attention to animals before he could hope for any supper.
The growing youth was put to a trade and became a mechanical engineer and as a young man he built the Avoca bridge. That was over 50 years ago. His next big work was undertaking the construction of the Table Cape lighthouse, which will stand for centuries as a monument to his skill. Some 35 years ago he came to Formby and there he has resided over since in the Devonport he loved so well and worked so hard for. He built the well known flour mill which has been associated with his name ever since. For years the milling industry gave good profits, but as is well known, it was an unfortunate enterprise. Tasmania cannot compete with the mills on the mainland, or rather with the mainland flour and one after another they have been closed down with very few exceptions. Mr. Luck lost a lot of money in the milling business. A few years back it was revived by his brother, Mr. Alf Luck and under the title of Luck Bros. The business is still being conducted.
In the prosperous days of the milling industry Mr. John Luck was one of the largest employers of labor in Devonport. A hard worker himself he saw that his men did their work also. But he found time for various forms of public activities and in what ever he entered he was a forceful personality, a man of quick judgment and indomitable will. He was associated with the town board in the early days and in conjunction with Cr. H. H. McFie he did much to advance Devonport. It might be said that these two worked in double harness for the progress of the place. Mr. Luck used to recall with pride his part in securing the Spreyton road entrance to Devonport. At the time, over 30 years ago, there was no direct road to the town. The main road led to Don, the one time centre and to make Devonport or Formby as it was called one had to take a circuitous route. Mr. Luck with his quick eye for the future needs saw that it was essential to secure a direct road from the back country along the riverside and it was largely owing to his persistence that it was secured and it is now the main highway into town leading from Spreyton, Latrobe and Barrington. He took a leading part in securing a water supply for the town and his name is inscribed on the foundation stone of the Town Hall, which was opened by the Hon. B. S. Bird as Treasurer in 1900. Mr. Luck was for many years on the town board and on several occasions he occupied the position of chairman.
When the present system of municipal government was inaugurated he retired from local affairs, but several years ago he was persuaded to again enter the field and was a councilor for a further considerable period. In civic affairs, as in other activities, he made his mark. He was a man with an opinion and did not fail to express it and his judgment was usually sound. Determined to the point of stubbornness, he took his own course, but oftener than not he gained his point.
His interest in the town did not stop with the municipal activities. He was the proposer of the resolution to found the North Western Tourist Association. He was a member of the first chamber of commerce in Devonport and was also a representative on the fire brigade board and a justice of the peace. Not only does the Town Hall foundation stone bear his name but the extension of the Victoria Parade towards the Bluff is known as Luck’s Parade, a tribute to the energy of the man in promoting and popularizing the well-known Devonport seaside resort at the Bluff.
Mr. Luck was a lover of good horses. A most capable horseman – in which his daughter followed his lead- he owned only the best and in other days was generally an exhibitor at the shows.
He took a very keen interest in agricultural exhibitions and was one of the leading officials at the Latrobe show. When the Devonport Agricultural society was founded he also took a keen interest in it. He occupied the position of treasurer and in fact was most closely associated with its striking progress.
But it was as secretary of the Devonport Racing Club that his name is best known of late years to the outside public. Though officially secretary he was more than secretary, it might also be said that he was the club, in a sense.
The club was started by him some 21 years ago and he had been responsible for carrying out the notable improvements to the ground. The fine grandstand which was built last year at a cost of 1500 pounds was designed by Mr. Luck, who was also the clerk of works. While the town will be the poorer for his demise his death is a calamity to the Racing Club, but seeing the position which the club occupies, of being the chief racing organization in the State outside of the cities and Deloraine, the hope may be expressed that the work will be efficiently carried on. The foundations have been well laid indeed. Mr. Luck was keenly interested in racing and at different times and was interested in others. The well-known hurdle racer Lighthouse will be remembered by many turfies.
Mr. Luck dabbled in mining to a considerable extent and was chairman of directors of the Mr. Cleveland and the Dreadnought-Boulder tin mines. He paid frequent visits to the mines and his skilled knowledge was often made available in plant erection and extension. It might also be said that his professional skill, perfected by years of practical work, made him a valuable municipal councilor and gave him a right to speak with an authority on many technical subjects before the appointment of an engineer at Devonport.
After the decline of the flour milling industry Mr. Luck, after an interval, went into the hotel-keeping business and seven years ago he became licensee of the Formby Hotel, the oldest hostelry in the town and with the aid of his capable daughters the place was run on excellent lines. He later purchased the Palace Hotel and also had other property interests in the town and district. He suffered the loss of his wife nine years ago and leaves a family of five daughters, Mrs. N. Reid (Devonport), Mrs. C. Coulter (Hobart), Mrs. J. Purcell (Devonport) and Misses Dulcie and Cora Luck, for whom sincere sympathy will be felt. Amongst his brothers are Mr. Alf Luck, who has been conducting with his sons the Devonport mill for some time and Mr. William Luck, who has been living retired in the town of recent years.
It can be said that by the death of Mr. Luck Devonport, is the poorer. A man of Sterling character, sturdy to being brusque, he had a kindly heart. He was a sincere friend an upright citizen and kindly parent and a man of wide sympathies. He made hosts of friends and very few enemies.
The Advocate 12th February 1924
FUNERAL of Late Mr. Luck
One of the most representative funerals seen in Devonport for some time was that which did honour to the memory of the late Mr. John Luck yesterday. The cortege was a very long one and contained practically every representative resident of the town, but of the district round, as well as representatives of various parts of the North-West Coast and Launceston. Out of respect the shops of Devonport were closed for an hour and as the cortege swung through the principal streets the corners were lined with respectful onlookers.
Included in the attendance was every member of the Municipal Council, of which deceased had been a member for many years, the Council Clerk and the majority of the municipal employees, the Master Warden and several members of the Marine Board, representatives from other municipal bodies on the Coast, the president and every member of the committee of the Devonport Racing Club, of which institution the deceased had been the founder and secretary ever since its formation, 21 years ago, representatives of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association, including the secretary, Mr. L. A. Bennett, of Launceston, also many prominent racing men from various parts of the Coast.
Amongst the mourners were eight brothers of the deceased, six hailing from Launceston, with Messrs. William and Frank Luck, of Devonport, also two sons-in-law, Messrs. Norman Reed and J. Purcell. The interment took place at the Bluff cemetery, beside the remains of the deceased’s wife, who died in 1914. Also interred in the plot are an infant son and daughter.
The last sad rites were conducted by the Rev C. H. Corvan. The coffin bearers were four municipal employees, Messrs. Sam Burnie, A. Holloway, R. Laycock and J. Henigan.
Amongst the wreaths placed on the grave were those from the Devonport Racing Club, Devonport Council, Deloraine Turf Club, Devonport Licensed Victuallers, Johnstone and Wilmot Pty. Ltd and staff, N. W. Coast Licensed Victuallers, Meander Club, Tasmanian Turf Club, Tasmanian L. V. Association, Messrs. Luck Bros.
The Devonport Agricultural and Pastoral Society was represented by the president (Mr. H. H. McFie) and the secretary (Mr. C. L. Richmond).
The Advocate 14th February 1924
William Luck
Bluff Pioneer Cemetery Devonport
26 Jun 1924
No Newspaper Copy