TULLOCH, David (1827?-1869) — Melbourne
Illustrator and engraver. Engraved Lady Bay, Warrnambool 1853, with James Davie Brown — “The map is beautifully executed, and proves that such kind of work can be performed in the colony quite as well as in the mother country” (The Banner, 9 May 1854); Albert Purchas, Map of the settled districts around Melbourne in the colony of Victoria 1854, with Brown; Map of the town & district of Geelong 1854, with Brown; James Kearney, Melbourne and its suburbs 1855, with Brown — “The best and most comprehensive map of this city and its environs which has yet been issued has just made its appearance. Mr. James Kearney being the draughtsman, and Messrs. James D. Tulloch [sic] and James Brown the engravers … The engraving is clearly, delicately and beautifully executed; and the whole of the bench-marks of an extensive series of levels are given in a marginal table, together with their descriptions, and the relative height of each above the datum of low water in the Yarra at the wharf” (The Argus, 26 Dec 1856); Tulloch & Brown’s map of the colony of Victoria 1856, again with Brown — “A new map of the colony has just been engraved and published, by Messrs Tulloch and Brown, Melbourne. From the profusion of promises made … we did expect something near perfection. The advertisement says:- The compilers and publishers of this work having long been sensible of the great want (felt both in commercial and private circles) of a good map of the colony, have been induced, at great expense and labor, to supply the deficiency … A very cursory glance at the map will show that none of the above promises have been fulfilled … The map is a failure, and the field is yet clear for any careful compiler and enterprising publisher” (Geelong Advertiser, 25 Feb 1856); the vignettes on Frederick Proeschel, General, agricultural & gold fields map of Victoria compiled and reduced from the government maps 1859, the map engraved by James Grieve; Frederick Proeschel, Most complete road map of the Snowy River and other newest diggings ca.1860, etc. Also known for illustrations, views, etc. Some early postage stamp designs by Tulloch are in BM.
Born in Edinburgh about 1827, the son of David Tulloch (1797-1851), a tailor, and his wife Frances Clouston (1797-1867), who had married in 1822. He arrived at Melbourne 3 Jan 1849 on the Martin Luther from Greenock. He initially worked for Thomas Ham, contributing to Ham’s Illustrated Australian Magazine from its inception in 1850. He visited the goldfields of Victoria in 1851, making sketches of the diggings, some of which were published by Ham as ‘Ham’s five views of the gold fields of Mount Alexander and Ballarat’ 1851. He married Maria Cromarty (1823-1867), with whom he had a number of children, at the Scots Church in Melbourne 17 Apr 1851. Set up on his own account in 1852, advertising himself as a “landscape, figure and ornamental engraver, draughtsman, copperplate printer, and lithographer … N.B. — Maps, plans, order forms, bill-heads &c. executed on the most reasonable terms, and on the shortest notice” (The Argus, 22 Nov 1852). He took James Davie Brown into partnership in Mar 1853, later naming a son James Davie Brown Tulloch. Their maps and engravings were awarded a bronze medal at the Melbourne Exhibition, and a silver medal at the Victorian Industrial Exhibition, both in 1854. In Nov 1855, the partners took two surveyors named McDonald and Garrard to court in a dispute over an unfinished six-sheet map of the Melbourne area (detailed report in The Age, 20 Nov 1855). The partnership was formally dissolved 23 Jul 1856, with William Slight (see BME 2011) as a witness. Tulloch then worked for a number of others, including ‘De Gruchy & Leigh’ and ‘Fergusson & Mitchell’. In 1860, Tulloch worked for the Geological Survey of Victoria for a short time. Thomas Ham was sending him work from Queensland in 1861, but his dilatory ways caused Ham great annoyance and Tulloch was declared bankrupt 24 Jan 1862, although no creditors appeared at the hearing 25 Feb 1862. In 1867, “David Tulloch, an engraver, was ordered by the Bench to pay 15s. per week for the support of bis three children in the Industrial Schools” (The Herald, 25 Mar 1867). Later that year, at “Emerald-Hill. The only case at this court on Saturday, was that of David Tulloch, who was summoned for the sum of £6, owing by him for the support of his three children at the Industrial School. On payment of the amount, the prisoner was discharged” (The Argus, 7 Oct 1867). A warrant for his arrest for ignoring a further summons was issued 25 Nov 1868 — “He is an engraver, aged 45 or 50, 5 feet 10 inches high, medium build, dark complexion, black hair turning grey, smooth face; wore dark-tweed suit, black felt hat, and Blucher boots. He is supposed to be about Melbourne” (Victoria Police Gazette). He died of phthisis in Melbourne Hospital 17 Sep 1869 and was buried at Melbourne General Cemetery.
At D. Urquhart’s Collins Street East, Melbourne — 1852-1853
109 Little Lonsdale Street East, Melbourne — 1853-1856
— and 65 Bourke Street West, Melbourne — 1854-1855
19 Collins Street, Melbourne — 1856
— 18 Curzon Street, North Melbourne (home) — 1856-1860
Cross Street, Melbourne — 1858
91 Cecil Street, Emerald Hill, South Melbourne — 1863-1866
BM. Census 1841. DAAO. LHD. NA. NLA. Tooley. Trove.