Rickman Penney Furmage (Snr) was born in 1863 in London, England. He trained as an apprentice draper before travelling to South Africa to commence storekeeping in Pretoria. In 1888 following success in South Africa, R P Furmage (Snr) migrated to Tasmania. In Ulverstone in November 188 he married Mary Ellen Greer (d.1939). He entered into partnership at Dunorlan under the name of Messrs Fair and Co. until 1894. After which he commenced business at Deloraine under his own name. This company became 'Limited' in 1919. R P Furmage (Snr) and his wife Mary Ellen lived at 'Kalulu' in Deloraine with their four children - Thomas Greer Furmage (the eldest who was killed in WWI), Rickman Penney Furmage (Jnr), Lyell Furmage (who served in WWI, and died in WWII), and Annie Furmage (later Mrs Clark). R P Furmage (Snr) died in 1919 at the Victorian Quarantine Station. R P Furmage (Jnr) was born in Deloraine 30 July 1892. He married Gladys Irene Alcock in 1915. R P Furmage (Jnr) carried on management of the business after his fathers death. Rickman (Jnr) and Gladys lived at 'Highfield' in Deloraine where they had several children including four sons - John Rickman, Derek Richard, Bruce, and Geoffrey Greer. R P Furmage (Jnr) went on to be a member of the Deloraine Council, President of the Deloraine Agricultural and Pastoral Society, the Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge, and was also a Liberal candidate for the House of Representatives seat of Wilmot. R P Furmage (Jnr) died in 1975.