Historical information

From EDHS Newsletter No. 135 - November 2000
Marion and Russell Yeoman have had a letter from Margaret Taylor of Eltham England which includes the following:-

"John Kennett went on a tour of West Norwood cemetery with the 'Edith Nesbit Society" and his eye was accidentally drawn to a mention of John Edmond SCHLOTEL 1838-1905 who was buried in ELTHAM VICTORIA. His mother was an Eltham girl."

"Sophia (Sophie) Rowley, 1802-1870 was the daughter of James Rowley of Eltham (U.K.) who was an assistant teacher and married to Ann, maiden surname Tyhurst. She had older brothers and sisters baptised in Eltham 1795- 1801, namely Charity, Maria, Arthur Partridge, James Union and then Sophie, born 9th October and baptised 31st October 1802."

"We have no idea where or when (not Eltham we think) but she apparently married Mr Charles Schlotel, who was possibly three years younger than herself. Their offspring included John Edmond SCHLOTEL 1839-1905 who was buried in your Eltham, Victoria. "

This seemed like a bit of challenge to Marion who paid a visit to the Eltham Cemetery and almost immediately located the grave of Edmund John Schlötel who died on 12th May 1905 and was buried there on 14th May. The headstone says he was late of Brixton England. This is a double grave with no indication of who else is buried there. Cemetery records show that Elizabeth Schlötel was buried there in 1917. The records say that Edmund Schlötel came from Brighton England but a hand written version of Brixton or Brighton could easily be confused. Death records in the La Trobe Library record the death at Eltham in 1905 of Edward John Schlötel, son of Charles Bartholemew Schlötel and Sophia Ann Rowley. There appears to be nothing in the Evelyn Observer about Schlötel's death.

SCHLOTEL.—On the 12th May, at his residence, Eltham, Edmund John Schlotel, late of Brixton, England, in his 66th year.
Family Notices (1905, May 20). The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), p. 60. Retrieved May 10, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139806588

A Google search in 2026 revealed additional information:
E. J. Schlötel. (2026, May 10). Retrieved from https://nzhistory.govt.nz/suffragist/e-j-schlotel

Elizabeth Salmon married Edmund John Schlötel, an accountant, on 17 October 1881 in Dunedin. Edmund had arrived on the Sebastian into Port Chalmers on 8 October 1859. He lived at Spylaw station in Otago before moving to Dunedin. In 1878 Edmund was the only candidate for the office of Mayor of North-East Valley and so was declared duly elected. Three years before this petition was signed Elizabeth and Edmund’s five roomed house in the North-East Valley was destroyed by fire. It was insured for £610 (about $109,000 in today’s money).

(Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley.)

Elizabeth Salmon was born about 1851.

She had a daughter, Nina, who was born about 1876 and was an accomplished violinist.

The fire that destroyed their home was in 1890 - in the mid 1890’s the family moved to Victoria, Australia.

Edmund died at their home in Eltham on 12 May 1905 and Elizabeth died in December 1917 – they are buried together in the Eltham Cemetery.

Eltham Cemetery transcription details of the headstone recorded in November 1984:
SCHLOTEL
In loving memorry of Edmund John Schlotel
late of Brixton, England, died 12 July 1905
aged 63
(Broken stone)

Physical description

Colour Negative Film - Kodak GC 400-6, 6 strips; 2 of 24 frames