History of a Street Precinct
Biography - Woodruff Family
Woodruff, Michael Thomas
22 Derham Street occupier 
and resident 1917-1920; occupier and operator of business 1917-1954; also properties in Derham and Bridge Street roughly covering the area now occupied by Woodruff Terrace.
Michael Thomas Woodruff was born about 1886. In 1911 he married Catherine Harney. In 1916-17 he commenced the Royal Dairy at 22 Derham Street. As the business expanded he bought up other properties in Derham Street up to the lane and in Bridge Street. After he died the business was run by his sons. In 1956, when the law changed to require all milk to be pasturised the existing buildings were demolished and a new factory built on the site.
Several other members of the family were resident in the properties before that date and Michael jnr lived at 237 Bridge Street until 1956.
Michael Thomas and Catherine had the following children:
Mary Ellen born 7th August 1911 in Port Melbourne and died there in 1916.
Katherine Agatha born in Port Melbourne 14th December 1913
John Willliam born 26th May 1915 and died 3 August 1984. He married Winifred Prest 20th April 1940. They had children:
John Anthony born 21 April 1941
Judy
Mary
Francis
Josephine
Francis Michael born 2 January 1917 and baptised at St Joseph's 21 January 1917
Cecelia Mary born 13 August 1918
Stanislaus James born 24th January 1920 who married Eileen McFarlane 6th May 1943
Michael Thomas born 23 January 1921 who married Marguerita Goss 12 may 1945
Joan Teresa born 8th January 1923 who married Brian Thomas Clancy in 1952
Kevin Patrick born about 1927 who married patricia Lorraine Lewis 22 May 1948 at St Joseph's.
Michael Thomas snr and John William were both elected to Council and served as Mayor of the City. Michael Thomas on three occasions 1936-37, 1945-46 and 1949-50. John William was a Councillor for 28 years and was Mayor 1946-47.
(See Michael Thomas jnr interview
)
and resident 1917-1920; occupier and operator of business 1917-1954; also properties in Derham and Bridge Street roughly covering the area now occupied by Woodruff Terrace.
Michael Thomas Woodruff was born about 1886. In 1911 he married Catherine Harney. In 1916-17 he commenced the Royal Dairy at 22 Derham Street. As the business expanded he bought up other properties in Derham Street up to the lane and in Bridge Street. After he died the business was run by his sons. In 1956, when the law changed to require all milk to be pasturised the existing buildings were demolished and a new factory built on the site.
Several other members of the family were resident in the properties before that date and Michael jnr lived at 237 Bridge Street
until 1956.
Michael Thomas and Catherine had the following children:
Mary Ellen born 7th August 1911 in Port Melbourne and died there in 1916.
Katherine Agatha born in Port Melbourne 14th December 1913
John Willliam born 26th May 1915 and died 3 August 1984. He married Winifred Prest 20th April 1940. They had children:
John Anthony born 21 April 1941
Judy
Mary
Francis
Josephine
Francis Michael born 2 January 1917 and baptised at St Joseph's 21 January 1917
Cecelia Mary born 13 August 1918
Stanislaus James born 24th January 1920 who married Eileen McFarlane 6th May 1943
Michael Thomas born 23 January 1921 who married Marguerita Goss 12 may 1945
Joan Teresa born 8th January 1923 who married Brian Thomas Clancy in 1952
Kevin Patrick born about 1927 who married patricia Lorraine Lewis 22 May 1948 at St Joseph's.
Michael Thomas snr and John William were both elected to Council and served as Mayor of the City. Michael Thomas on three occasions 1936-37, 1945-46 and 1949-50. John William was a Councillor for 28 years and was Mayor 1946-47.
(See Michael Thomas jnr interview
)