Historical information

James Dearing was the head gardener for Benjamin Nathan, who owned Rippon Lea between 1909-1935. Dearing is believed to have worked for the Nathan Family at their previous home in High St., Armadale. He is understood to have left the employment of the Nathan's in about 1914-1915.

Physical description

Decorative prize certificate awarded to Mr James Dearing, head gardener to Benjamin Nathan, by the Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria on the 11th February 1909, for "1 new or rare Plant". Certificate is made of white paper mounted on to cardboard. Decoration and text are very similar to RL 0448- the certificate is a cream coloured cardboard with printed text and decoration in green ink. The decorations consist of: a shield with a lion and a horse on either side, at the top of the certificate; a sheild with a kangaroo and an emu on either side, with advance Australia below, on the bottom of the certificate. On either side of this are two circles, the right circle consists of flowers, the left circle consists of fruit. Surrounding all this are various flowers and foliage filling up the space inside the border decoration.

Inscriptions & markings

Handwritten in ink: Mr James Dearing Head Gardener to/ Mr Ben Nathan Armadale/ 1 new and rare plant/ Dendrobium Nobile .........../ WR.............. Vice/ James R a Milligan/ 11' February 1909