eHive Object Details

Name/TitleHotham Memorial : Melbourne General Cemetery, 1930

About this objectPhotograph of the very grand and unique 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.

This very tall and slender 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.

At the foot, partially hidden by a surrounding stone curb and decorative ironwork railing, is a low, stepped granite chest tomb protruding forwards from the stepped, square pedestal base of the memorial. There is an inscription, which cannot be seen in this photograph, written above the tomb on the facing façade of the pedestal.

There are five sections of carved granite transforming the square of the pedestal to the round shape of the column. The column is made up of two equal sections divided by a decorated wreath in white stone. The surmounted cross is carved to reveal four niches in which the figures of Wisdom, Justice, Mercy and Fortitude are placed. A large, elaborate cross crowns the whole structure.

Unfortunately due to its height, over 15 metres, the monument became unstable in the 1990s, and the column and cross were removed and are awaiting repair.

The path and grassed areas in the foreground look well tended, and trees are seen behind the memorial. There are at least three other significant monuments surrounding the Hotham memorial in the image.

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.

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

MakerMiller, Everard Studley, 1886-1956.

Maker RolePhotographer

Inscription and MarksLabel on slide border : "1930 Aust Mlb Carlton Cemt Hotham Memorial"

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-48

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved