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 identity of the woman in this 1920s studio portrait is as yet unidentified. The photograph 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
Oval convex portrait of an as yet unidentified member of the Henty family. The unsigned photograph mounted on a metal backing is sepia tinted. It shows a woman, photographed at an oblique angle, gazing at the photographer. Her dress and hairstyle allow us to date the portrait to the 1920s.
Subjects
References
- Bassett, Marnie. The Hentys: An Australian Colonial Tapestry. OUP, London, 1954
