Mrs Thomas Austin was Charity Ford (or Foord), born in Tunbridge Wells (England) about 1823. She married her husband Thomas Austin in England, and they migrated to Victoria with three children in 1849. They lived first in the Geelong area (at Ashby), but by the 1860s they were in the Linton district, where by 1868 they were running a stationery shop and post office in Sussex Street, next to the Grenville Shire offices. Charity and Thomas Austin had at least another eight children born in Victoria. The 1939 "Historic Souvenir of the LInton Centenary 1839-1939" says that Charity Austin "gave fine service as a nurse" to women in Linton. Charity Austin died at Caulfield in 1908. She is buried at Linton. Photograph is part of Old Lintonian collection ; No. 2.Black and white portrait photograph of a lady wearing gown with lace collar, and bandanna or cap to keep hair back from forehead. The photograph has been pasted onto a piece of cardboard.Backing card of photograph has written text on it, including the words "sewing machine"; the card has been cut so that only part of the text can be read, and it is not clear if it refers to Charity Austin.mrs thomas austin snr., old lintonian collection, charity austin, charity ford (foord)

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