Postle, Arthur
Biography
Arthur Postle migrated from England to work on the Victorian goldfields, and followed the gold to the Otago diggings. After operating a business in Dunedin, he and his wife settled in Christchurch, where he became a prominent Papanui businessman. Wises Street Directory describes him as "Postmaster, Papanui", between 1878 and 1881, and "Grocer, North Road" between 1883 and 1886.
On retirement he lived in St James Park Road, his home, Blofield, being named after the Norfolk village where he was born. He died on 31 December 1899 and is buried in Linwood Cemetery. Postle is described in his obituary as "a man of great literary taste" and he left his residuary estate, valued at about £1,500, to Canterbury College for the purchase of books for the Canterbury Public Library.
Although Postle allowed Canterbury College to purchase books for either reference or circulation, his money was used to buy works of reference. For a number of years after his death the annual revenue from the Postle estate was about £80.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Arthur Postle papers
Photocopies of papers relating to Arthur Postle including accounts from the settlement of the estate of Arthur Postle, biographical information and an article from The Star. Information compiled by Richard Greenaway.