Morris Brandt

(1869- 1946)

Niels Mauris ‘Morris or Morrie’ Brandt was a founding member of Winter, Brandt & Co very successful fishmongers in Fremantle, Albany, Geraldton and Kalgoorlie. He was a larger than life character who helped establish the fishing industry in WA.

Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Marius came to Australia at the age of 18, in 1887. 

In 1900 he married Wilhelmina Hulda Laurens (1889-1919) in Perth. The couple suffered two stillborn children in 1900 and 1902 and had no more children.

They lived at 118 Sewell st (changed to 56 Sewell St in 1939), East Fremantle from 1903 until 1916.

Mauris or Morris was a founding member of Winter, Brandt & Co fishmongers- a business formed between Frederick George Winter and Frederick John Tremayne Smith (in Kalgoorlie), Bertie Winter in Perth, Charles Nelson in Geraldton and Morris Brandt in Perth and Fremantle.

1903 AN INTRICATE PARTNERSHIP- THE SHARE SYSTEM AMONG FISHERMEN. Before Mr Justice McMillan yesterday, in No. 2 Supreme Court. the hearing of the case of C. Kiel v. B. Winter and M. Brandt was commenced. This was a partnership claim. It went into how the shares of the catch from various fishing ‘smacks- the Magnolia, the Queen and the Ada were to be distributed given the partnership dissolution... (reference)

At a large public meeting in Fremantle in November 1905 - the state of the fishing industry was discussed and the suggestion for a fish market was suggested.  It was said by Mr Duncan Sinclair:

‘’three men brought the fish here, but Messrs. Morris Brandt ruled the market. They brought fish from Geraldton to swamp the local fishermen, and stored it until any other fish except their own was on the market, when they rushed it in to reduce the price of the local fish. As they controlled the Greek fish shops, they could do as they liked.”’ (reference)

12 Dec 1905 FISH ADD FISTS Tale of a Fisherman Who Would Sooner Fight Than go to Law But The other Man Went to Law And they Appeared On Opposite Sides of the Court. At the Fremantle Police Court this morning Duncan Sinclair, a fisherman, was charged with having used abusive language to one Morris Brandt. Morris Brandt said that he was a dealer, and had come down to Fremantle on November 26 to see a doctor. Afterwards he drove down to the wharf, where the fishing boats were. Defendant was in his boat. He came ashore and asked witness if he was going to pay him 25/ which he owed him. Complainant denied the debt. Defendant then referred to several matters which had been brought up at a fishermen's meeting the day before. He then invited witness to get out of his buggy and fight, calling him a ---. Witness declined to fight, whereupon defendant called him a liar and a thief…After repeated questions, witness admitted that there had been a tiff over a fish deal about month before and also that witness had not paid defendant the price he had asked for the fish, and the amount of difference was 25/....The meeting held the day before referred to by Sinclair was a meeting of fishermen, at which it was decided that only natural born or naturalised British subjects should be licensed. Witness said he was not a natural born British subject. (reference)

1904 To Let; Three-roomed house, bath, shed, garden, Hubble-st., East Fremantle. M. Brandt, "Dana," Sewell-st., East Fremantle. (reference)

1905 Lost, Fox Terrier Dog, black and white, Tuesday. East Fremantle; reward returning to M. Brandt, Sewell-st., East Fremantle. (reference)

1908 Price wanted for painting, etc. to house. Apply M. Brandt. "Dana," Sewell-street, East Fremantle. (reference)

1909 Fatal Fall. Death at East Fremantle. Shortly after midday Friday a telephone message was received at the East Fremantle police station to the effect that a man, afterwards identified as John Kenny, well-known in the early days in Boulder, had fallen from the high-level bridge at East Fremantle, and was lying on the road at the mouth of the archway which traverses the approach to the bridge on the East Fremantle side… He was a wheelwright by trade, and of late had been very despondent owing to his inability to secure work. At Katanning his wife became much concerned for his personal safety. He was under medical treatment during their stay at that township, and three weeks ago, with his wife came to the Port to stay with his brother-in-law (Morris Brandt) at East Fremantle. (reference) Morris Brandt identified the body ( reference)

1910 A BOLTING HOUSE, AND A CHAIN FENCE, About 7.30 this morning a horse attached to a sulky, owned by Morris Brandt, a resident of East Fremantle, bolted from Bannister-street, Fremantle, into Market-street, and went about a furlong 'against time,' when it freed Itself from the vehicle. It then continued its career down Market-street, and ran into a chain fence, near the railway station— that was the end of the bolt. The horse pulled up immediately on coming In contact with the chain, and a bystander captured the runaway, which was unharmed. The shafts of the sulky and also the splash-board suffered as the result, but beyond this no further damage was done. (reference)

1916 Winter Brandt and Co opened a very modern aerated water factory in Mount Magnet. Read about the process...(reference)

1916 Mount Magnet-  WINTER, BRANDT MEDAL. A shoot for a gold medal presented by Messrs Winter, Brandt and Co. will take place on the local range to tomorrow, over 300 and 600 yards, 10 shots at each range... (reference)

In 1917 and 1918 the Brandt’s lived at 201 Canning Highway, East Fremantle.

Wilhelmina died in 1919:

August 1919 THE LATE MRS WILHELMENA HULDA BRANDT. The funeral of the late Mrs. Wilhelmena Hulda Brandt, wife of Mr. M. Brandt, late of Canning-road, East Fremantle. took place on Wednesday afternoon,the 13th,and was attended by many friends. The deceased, who was in her 40th year, was born at Melbourne, Victoria, but she had resided in this State for the last twenty years. The chief mourners were Mr. M. Brandt (husband), Mr. C. E. Laurens (brother), Mr. R. Kenny (nephew) (reference)

1919 THE GOVERNMENT SAVINGS BANK 1 ACT, 1906. Re WILHELMINA HULDA BRANDT, Deceased. Notice is hereby given that it is the intention of the Manager of the Government Savings Bank to pay an amount standing to the credit of the above-named deceased in the Government Savings Bank to the Lawful Widower of the said deceased, under Section 19 of The Government Savings Bank Act, 1906. (reference)

After the death of his wife- Mauris took up farming in partnership with Mr. Allan Coombs at Wyalkatchem.

1925 Mr Morris Brandt, of King-street, East Fremantle, last week bought a Fordson tractor from Messrs. Lawton Motor Co, the Fremantle Ford agents. (reference)

From 1931- 1934 Morris lived at lot 427 King St, East Fremantle (demolished to make way for Stirling Highway)

He was still a partner in the Winter Brandt firm in 1934 (reference).

On the 6 May 1946 Morrie Brandt died in Perth:

Prominent businessman and farmer, Neils Mauris Brandt, died in Fremantle Hospital on May 6, aged 77...A prominent member of Masonic Lodge, Mr.Brandt had many and varied interests, was well known in Fremantle business circles. Deceased was a popular identity in Wyalkatchem. Although not taking an active interest in public affairs, Morrie Brandts advice was always available, his genial personality endeared him to a host of friends. Mauris Brandt was interred in the Methodist portion of the Fremantle Cemetery, with late Mrs. Wilhelmina Hulda Brandt. See Photo (reference)

1946 Obituaries; BRANDT (Marius) at Fremantle, on May 6, late partner Winter, Brandt and Co. Inserted by D. Winter and family BRANDT (Marius) old and esteemed friend of Mr. and Mrs. G.Chadwick and family- One of the best. BRANDT (Morrle) In memory of Morrle. Inserted by J. Brookes and family- Always remembered as one of Nature's greatest gentlemen. (reference)

Possibly his brother? 1900 Inquest at Fremantle. The adjourned inquest concerning the death of Henry Brandt, which occurred at the Fremantle Public Hospital on Sunday afternoon last, was concluded yesterday morning at the local Coroner's Court, before the acting coroner, Mr. Jas. Lilly, and a jury of three.Dr. O'Meara, medical officer of the hospital, said that deceased was admitted to the hospital on Saturday night last suffering from shock, consequent on a fall into the river. On the following morning the deceased developed symptoms of pneumonia and inflammation of the lungs, which was the cause of death, accelerated by the man having been under the influence of intoxicants. The evidence of three seamen who assisted to rescue the deceased, and of the water police constable who conveyed him to the hospital was also taken. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony, and added riders commending the two seamen of the barque "Alexander Lawrence " for their prompt action in having rescued and attended to Brandt, and also drawing the attention of the Government to the unlighted condition of the eastern portion of the river wharf. (reference)