Old Hong Kong-5 — Page 47

Old Hong Kong 昔日香港 All AI Reviewed

BLACKHEAD. E. (1)

The small elevation where the time-ball tower now stands known as Signal Hill is just above what is still called Blackhead's Point. The origin of that name is interesting; it was derived from the surname of Mr. F. Blackhead, a local merchant who founded a firm of shipchandlers, sailmakers, coal dealers, auctioneers, and so forth, known as F. Blackhead and Co., which flourished up to about thirty years ago, when it occupied premises next to the old Hongkong Hotel on the sea front in a three-storeyed building standing on part of the site of the present Gloucester Building.

The firm was a very old one, well established in the late Fifties. An early record (dated 1860) gives Mr. F. Blackhead as absent at the time, with his headquarters in London. The premises occupied were then in Queen's Road West, the central site referred to above having been taken later. There was a branch establishment in the old days at Whampoa.

But perhaps the most interesting thing about Blackhead's Point is that it is called after a German, for the gentleman concerned was of German nationality. An old record shows that Mr. B. Schwartzkopf changed his name to F. Blackhead on becoming anglicised. Evidently he proved a most desirable and loyal addition to the list of business men in the Colony, identifying himself with much of the trade and shipping expansion of those early years. His anglicised name is, of course, a direct translation from the German, and while the man himself is probably forgotten, his memory is preserved in the point, since become an inland hillock through reclamation, which was named after him.

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BLACKHEAD. E. (1) The small elevation where the time-ball tower now stands known as Signal Hill is just above what is still called Blackhead's Point. The origin of that name is interesting; it was derived from the surname of Mr. F. Blackhead, a local merchant who founded a firm of shipchandlers, sailmakers, coal dealers, auctioneers, and so forth, known as F. Blackhead and Co., which flourished up to about thirty years ago, when it occupied premises next to the old Hongkong Hotel on the sea front in a three-storeyed building standing on part of the site of the present Gloucester Building. The firm was a very old one, well established in the late Fifties. An early record (dated 1860) gives Mr. F. Blackhead as absent at the time, with his headquarters in London. The premises occupied were then in Queen's Road West, the central site referred to above having been taken later. There was a branch establishment in the old days at Whampoa. But perhaps the most interesting thing about Blackhead's Point is that it is called after a German, for the gentleman concerned was of German nationality. An old record shows that Mr. B. Schwartzkopf changed his name to F. Blackhead on becoming anglicised. Evidently he proved a most desirable and loyal addition to the list of business men in the Colony, identifying himself with much of the trade and shipping expansion of those early years. His anglicised name is, of course, a direct translation from the German, and while the man himself is probably forgotten, his memory is preserved in the point, since become an inland hillock through reclamation, which was named after him. Page 46 Page 46 Page 46

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BLACKHEAD. E. ( 1 ) The small elevation where the time-ball Bower now stands known as Signal Hill is just above what is still called Blackhead's Point. The origin of that name is interesting it was derived from the surname of Mr. F. Blackhead, a local merchant who founded a firm of shipchandlers sailmakers, coal dealers, auctioneers, and so forth, known as F. Blac khead and Co. Which flou- rished up to about thirty years ago, when it occupied premises next to the old Hongkong Hotel on the sea font in a three storeyed building standing on part of the site of the present Gloucester Building. The firm was avery old one, well established in the late Fifties. An early record ( dated 1860) gives Mr. F. Blackhead as absent at the time, with his head- quarters in London. The premises occupied were then in Queen's Road West, the central site referred to above ha- ving been taken låter. There was a brach establishment in the old days at Whampao. But perhaps the most interesting thing about Blackhead's Point is that it is called after a German for the Gentleman concerned was of a German nationality An old record shows that Mr. B. Schwartzkopf changed his name to F. Blackheadon becoming anglicised. Evidently he proved a most desirable and loyal addition to the list of business men in the Colony identifting himself with much of the trade and shipping expansion of those early years. His anglicised name is, of course, a direct translation from the German and while the man himself is probably forgotten his memory is preserved in the point since become an inland hillock through reclamation which was named after him. 46

2026-05-02 13:01:18 · Baseline

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BLACKHEAD. E. ( 1 )

The small elevation where the time-ball Bower now stands known as Signal Hill is just above what is still called Blackhead's Point. The origin of that name is interesting it was derived from the surname of Mr. F. Blackhead, a local merchant who founded a firm of shipchandlers sailmakers, coal dealers, auctioneers, and so forth, known as F. Blac khead and Co. Which flou- rished up to about thirty years ago, when it occupied premises next to the old Hongkong Hotel on the sea font in a three storeyed building standing on part of the site of the present Gloucester Building.

The firm was avery old one, well established in the late Fifties. An early record ( dated 1860) gives Mr. F. Blackhead as absent at the time, with his head- quarters in London. The premises occupied were then in Queen's Road West, the central site referred to above ha- ving been taken låter. There was a brach establishment in the old days at Whampao.

But perhaps the most interesting thing about Blackhead's Point is that it is called after a German for the Gentleman concerned was of a German nationality An old record shows that Mr. B. Schwartzkopf changed his name to F. Blackheadon becoming anglicised. Evidently

he proved a most desirable and loyal addition to the list of business men in the Colony identifting himself with much of the trade and shipping expansion of those early years. His anglicised name is, of course, a direct translation from the German and while the man himself is probably forgotten his memory is preserved in the point since become an inland hillock through reclamation which was named after him.

Old Hong Kong-5 — Page 47

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