Historical information

Born Highbury College London 1834, died Melbourne June 19, 1910. Ordained in Pitt Street Sydney Congregational Church 21/3/1860. Ministry: Bush Mission, Lower Darling River 1860–61; Maryborough 1861–64; Dawson St Ballarat 1864–72; Williamstown/Secretary CUV 1872–84; Secretary CUV 1884–1908. Chairman CUV 1871–72 & 1908–09. Son of Rev. Dr Robert Halley, Principal of Highbury College. Arrived Sydney c. 1853. Had a holiday home at Queescliff/Point Lonsdale and tried to establish a Congregational Church there. Obituary read: "For 37 years in the office of Union Secretary he had proved himself a faithful preacher of the Gospel, a leader of the general interest of the churches of peculiar force, knowledge and devotion, and an earnest and high principled citizen of the State, devoting hmself to the social amelioration of the people and the extension of the Kingdom of God. Our late Secretary was a man of vigorous intellectual power. His early life had given him a bent in the direction of the study of natural history. He was a keen observer, a lover of counry life, and the science and art of gardening, in which he occupied the leisure moments of a busy life."

Physical description

Portrait of Halley c. 1850–1869.

Inscriptions & markings

"C. 1850–1869 Rev. J. J. Halley, Cong. Union"