Historical information

The Henty family and their descendants were notable settlers in Australia, initially in Western Australia, then in Launceston and finally in Victoria. While most family members settled in Victoria from 1834, others remained in England and in Tasmania. The daguerreotype was purchased by the Society as part of a small collection of Henty memorabilia and portraits from the owner of Moorabool Antiques, Geelong in 2021, which had in turn acquired the item from the estate of Dennis Alston of Alston's Antiques in Hamilton, Victoria.

Significance

Members of the extended Henty family were notable British settlers of southeastern and southwestern Australia. The connection to Kew (Vic.) is that members of the Henty family owned important mansions in Kew in the 19th century. Stephen George Henty's family lived at 'Findon', and Francis Henty of 'Merino Downs' in the Western District lived in his final years at 'Field Place', Kew. Numerous members of the Henty family are buried in the Boroondara General Cemetery.

Physical description

Three quarter length seated studio portrait of Elizabeth Margaret (Milligan) Gaunt, taken using the daguerreotype photographic process, and encased in a standard daguerreotype frame made of tooled leather, velvet and gilt metal. Margaret Gaunt is dressed in a pale silk dress, typical of the 1860s, with a buttoned bodice and wide sleeves. She appears to be holding a book in her right hand. The sitter was the half sister of Mary Ann Lawrence (1821-81), the wife of Francis Henty of 'Merino Downs' and 'Field Place', Kew. She married Charles Gaunt (1842-1916) at St John's Church of England, Launceston in 1868. Following her marriage, she was to have 11 children.