Historical information

Francis Box was born in Withyham, Sussex and came to Australia with his parents George and Mary Box and siblings in 1856. He was assigned to work in Beaufort and had various jobs including ‘gold miner’ at Heathcoat where he married Eliza Jane Thompson. Francis decided to return to market gardening after the death of his 1st child Francis George Box in 1875 aged 13months. The child was buried in Brighton Cemetery and Francis then rent/leased the land on the corner of Tucker Road and Elizabeth Street East Brighton ( now Bentleigh) owned by his brother Henry who with another brother John helped Francis clear the land, and establish a market garden. They had 4 children and began to prosper until in 1882 their 2year old child Lena Caroline Box was killed in a fire that destroyed their house. Francis was burned trying to rescue the child. The local community raised money to assist the family. The land boom brought prosperity again and Francis bought more land around Tucker Road which was bequeathed to his children. Francis and Eliza Jane had four more children but one died in infancy and another aged 2 years. Only 5 of their 9 children survived
Two boys William Henry George Box 1876 -1957, Charles Francis Box 1882 – 1947.
Three girls Mable (May) Alma Box 1878 – 1969, Jessie Melinda Box 1888 – 1975, Edith ( Eadie ) Florence Box 1890 - 1976
.Francis and Eliza Jane, who died in 1922, are also buried in Brighton Cemetery

Significance

Box Cottage Museum, a reconstruction of an early settler hut, is named after the Box family who resided there 1865 -1913 . William Box who with his wife Elizabeth Avis Box and 13 children lived and farmed on the block of land in Jasper Road, East Brighton ( now McKinnon / Ormond) that was part of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841 . Francis Box, a brother of William Box, was born in Withyham, Sussex and came to Australia with his parents George and Mary Box and siblings in 1856. Francis and his wife Eliza jane Thompson box had 9 children but only 5 survived. They established market gardens in Tucker Road Bentleigh.

Inscribed in Album
“ The early photos in this album were found by Mr (Laurie) Lewis when he was demolishing the Old Box Cottage. He gave them to Mrs Avis Box Eldridge who in turn gave them to me. They were not identified. I believe they rightly belong in the Cottage. I have attempted to identify them and present them in a way they can be preserved as a historical record of the era.” A B Leigh

Physical description

A black and white photograph of a) Francis Box 1836-1912 and his wife Eliza Jane Thompson Box 1852 - 1922
Two black and white photos b) Francis Box ,Eliza and grandchildren Dorothy, Francis baby George - children of Francis and Emily Jane Thompson c1900
c) William Henry Box and Emily Jane McCurry with children Dorothy, Francis, George and Joan c1900

Inscriptions & markings

a) YEOMAN & Co 47 Chapel Street PRAHRAN
b) Kodak Film Handwritten - Francis Box / Ellizabeth Jane Thompson / children of William Henry Box & Emily Jane McCurry / Girl standing Dorothy / Boy Francis / Baby George.
c) William Henry Box m Emily Jane McCurry with children, Dorothy, Francis, George and baby Joan