eHive Object Details

Name/TitleEdward Curr, his widow and two sons: Old Melbourne Cemetery, c. 1920

About this objectPhotograph of a light-coloured stone with a round top and curved shoulders, marking the burial of Edward Curr, two of his sons, and his widow. The grave, in the Roman Catholic section, is bordered by a low iron railing. Long grass and trees fill the blurred background.

The inscription reads: (398, in Selby's grave index, p. 397, OPMHoM)
(Small cross with I. H. S.)
In Your Charity
Pray for the Soul of
EDWARD CURR
of St Heliers
Who Departed This Life Nov 16, 1850
Aged 52 Years

Also for
WILLIAM TALBOT
Second Son of the above
Who Died May 12, 1847 [actually died 1846]
Aged 24 Years

Also for
ARTHUR
Sixth Son of the above
Who Died Dec 2, 1854
Aged 24 Years

Also for
ELIZABETH Widow of EDWARD CURR
Who Departed This Life Oct 18, 1866
In Her 69th Year

Requiescant In Pace (carved towards the bottom of the stone)

Selby tells us (p. 107) that Curr "was an English Roman Catholic with an Irish spirit", advocating for separation from the government of NSW. He was a "successful squatter" introducing special breeds of cattle and sheep, and becoming known as "the potentate of the north." Unfortunately he died the year before Victoria was declared an independent colony.

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. The date 1918 is written on the border of the slide.

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 KeywordsCurr, Edward, 1798-1850.

Subject and Association KeywordsSeparation Act

Subject and Association KeywordsWomen

Subject and Association KeywordsMonuments and memorials

Named CollectionImages collection

Object numberGS-TM-54

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved