bourke attended maritzburg college. after learning accounting from messrs. a. fass & co. bourke left natal for the transvaal in 1877 and accepted the management of mr. henry russell's business (one of the oldest in pretoria), in january of that year. in 1878, bourke was recalled to natal to take temporary charge of messrs. a. fass and co's business in durban. he returned finally to the transvaal early in 1879. shortly after his return, the well—known general merchant firm of bourke & co. was established.