eHive Object Details

Name/TitleMelbourne General Cemetery : Hotham Memorial pedestal, c. 1930

About this objectPhotograph of the pedestal and inscription of the columnar memorial built over the remains of Sir Charles Hotham, naval officer, and lieutenant-governor of Victoria from 1853 to 1855. Hotham was interred in January 1856 and the memorial erected in 1858.

The very tall and slender granite monument was designed by George Gilbert Scott, who later designed Prince Albert's memorial commissioned by Queen Victoria, and sculptured in England by John Birney Philip.

Seen here is the front face of the square pedestal base of the memorial. The stepped pedestal is beautifully carved, especially the top band which is wreathed in flowers which meet the base of the column.

The inscription states:
+ To the memory of Sir Charles Hotham
Captain in the Royal Navy
And one of her majesty's naval aides de camp
Knight Commander of the most honorable military order of the bath
And the first Captain General and Governor in Chief of Victoria
Voted by the Legislative Council January 10 1856

The carved triangular shape in the foreground is the roof of the tomb which protrudes from the base of the monument.

((This image is attributed to Everard Studley Miller who photographed many graves and tombstones in the Old Melbourne Cemetery (established in 1837) in the 1920s as part of a project led by Isaac Selby to record and commemorate all aspects of Melbourne's second cemetery (the first being at Flagstaff Hill). The RHSV holds original glass negatives and albums of the photographs from this project.))

One of the many glass slides purchased from retailers or specifically made for illustrated lectures given by Isaac Selby between c. 1930 and c. 1955 to raise money for the Old Pioneers Memorial Fund. Selby numbered this slide #36.

For more information about this image contact Royal Historical Society of Victoria.

Measurements8.2 x 8.2 cm

Period1920-1930

Object TypePhotograph

Subject and Association KeywordsSelby, Isaac, 1859-1956

Subject and Association KeywordsMonuments and memorials

Subject and Association KeywordsMelbourne General Cemetery (Carlton, Vic.)

Subject and Association KeywordsHotham, Charles, Sir, 1806-1855.

Named CollectionImages collection

Object numberGS-TM-46

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved