The Shire Hall/offices were completed in the mid 1860s. Dating the photograph: The photograph is thought to have been taken c.1880. An earlier photograph of the Town Hall in the LDHS collection, in which the trees are smaller, is dated 1875. Thomas Austin, who ran a draper's shop next to the Shire offices, left Linton in 1882.Original sepia photograph showing the Grenville Shire Offices (Linton Town Hall). A group of men, thought to be Grenville Shire Councillors, are standing in the street in front of the building, which has several trees growing in front of it, and a low front fence. To the right, a shop has signs on its verandah: "TAILOR & DRAPER" and "TAILOR & T. A. . . ." (thought to read T. Austin). To the left, a higher picket fence or gate separates the Shire Hall from the two-storey building next door. This building is 'Criterion House', built in 1862/1863 by Samuel Steele. The words "Linton Shire Hall" have been inscribed in ink across the top of the photograph.Handwritten in ink across top of photograph: "Linton Shire Hall".grenville shire offices, linton town hall, thomas austin [tailor & drapery store], shire of grenville councillors, linton shire hall

Thomas Austin was born in Tunbridge Wells, England, in about 1822. He married Charity Ford (or Foord) in England and they migrated to Australia with their first three children in 1849. They had eight more children in Australia. The Austins lived in Linton from about 1861, where Thomas Austin ran first a post office, newsagent and stationery shop, and afterwards a tailor's shop, in Sussex St Linton next to the Grenville Shire offices. Thomas Austin moved to Kyneton in 1882. He died in Melbourne in 1888, and is buried at Linton. Photograph is part of Old Lintonian collection ; No. 1.Portrait of a bearded man wearing jacket collar and tie."Arrived in the year 1854" (part of message on back)thomas austin snr., old lintonian collection

Part of S E Surman collection (album) page 46 top right. Charity Austin, née Ford or Foord was the wife of Thomas Austin, who ran a post office and stationery shop, afterwards a tailor's shop, next to the Grenville Shire offices in Sussex Street, Linton. Charity Austin acted as a nurse and midwife in the Linton district.Sepia portrait of a lady wearing decorated top lace fichu at throat.charity austin, mrs thomas austin, surman collection