Historical information

Ferdinand Von Mueller came to Australia at the age of 22 arriving 15/12/1847 with his two sisters in Adelaide. He started work as an assistant chemist and in his spare time investigated the local vegetation. In 1852 he moved to Melbourne. From 1853 - 1896 when he died, he was the Victorian Government Botanist and Director of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens. He went on a series of expeditions to parts of Victoria including Mount Buffalo and Wilson's Promontory. He travelled all over Australia in various expiditions. In 1863 he was engaged to Euphemia Henderson for 6 months. Euphemia was a wildflower artist and painted bunches of flowers for Mueller. They allocated specimens at Phillip Island (1863) - one named Nematolepis euphemiae F Muell was named for her. Euphemia's sister was Gergianna who married John David McHaffie of Phillip Island. Euphemia lived with the McHaffies on Phillip Island. Her Wildflower art has been adapted for a range of plates and mugs produced in partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens and Maxwell & Williams, called the Euphemia Henderson Collection.

Physical description

Large Black & White photograph of grave and monument of Ferdinand Von Mueller in St Kilda Cemetery.

Inscriptions & markings

Handwritten on the bottom of the photograph: "Grave/Monument St Kilda Cemetery. Ferdinand Von Mueller. Photographer: Alan West Oct. 1994.