eHive Object Details

Name/TitleWilliam Kerr : Old Melbourne Cemetery, c. 1920

About this objectPhotograph of a simple, round top, upright tombstone marking the burial place of William Kerr and two infant sons. Selby tells us that the grave is "surrounded by a rail", not seen in the image; and that "the geraniums are in bloom" as seen in the foreground. There is a pattern or lettering at the top edge of the stone but a growth of moss or mould has covered it up.

The inscription reads: (271 in Selby's grave index p. 390, OPMHoM)

IN (Gothic Script)
Memory Of
WILLIAM KERR
Born 16TH February 1812
Died 25TH May 1859
CHARLES MORELAND KERR
Born 2nd March 1849
Died 6th March 1851
JOHN CARDLISH KERR
Born 17th August 1850
Died 29th January 1851

William Kerr was a journalist who, after working for early newspapers in Sydney and Melbourne, started the Argus in 1846. He became its editor after selling the paper in 1848. He was also involved in local politics and was Melbourne's Town Clerk, but had to resign after some accounting abnormalities were discovered. He was the stationmaster at Sunbury when he died and was survived by his wife, Caroline Amelia, nee McCandlish, and four daughters. (Australian Dictionary of Biography)

This image is attributed to Everard Studley Miller who photographed many graves and tombstones in the Old Melbourne Cemetery (established in 1837) around 1920 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

Measurements8.2 x 8.2 cm

Period1910-1920

Object TypePhotograph

Subject and Association KeywordsSelby, Isaac, 1859-1956

Subject and Association KeywordsMiller, Everard Studley, 1886-1956.

Subject and Association KeywordsOld Melbourne Cemetery (Melbourne)

Subject and Association KeywordsKerr, William, 1812-1859

Subject and Association KeywordsMonuments and memorials

Named CollectionImages collection

Object numberGS-TM-32

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved