People of East Melbourne

This is a list of biographies of residents of East Melbourne.

This project started to commemorate the soldiers and nurses who went to Europe to serve in World War 1. But it has grown from there to cover biographies of any and all residents of note.

Along with many of their fellow Australians people from East Melbourne flocked to enlist. Many were heroes. Many lost their lives or suffered horrific physical or mental injuries. At home family and friends worked, endured and suffered consequences that were sometimes terrible and persisted long after the war.

Major-General Michael O'Brien gave us a starting point with a list of East Melbourne people who served in WW1. He spoke to the Society in April 2013 to give us some context to the period and to help the EMHS prepare for its own commemorations of this most devastating period in our history.

Everyone can participate by gathering or documenting information:

  • Photos, memorabilia and family records
  • Stories in books, newspapers and on-line
  • Memorial plaques in churches and public places
  • War memorial, church, national and state archives

You can refine the list by applying the various filter criteria and go to a particular detailed biography by click on the title.

SALTER, Charles Joshua

Date of birth: 
1879
Biographical notes: 

Charles Joshua Salter was born on 8 September 1879 in Brunswick.  He was the eldest son of Charles James Salter and his wife, Josephine, nee Le Sueur.  He had nine younger siblings.  He married Carol Beatrice Brenchley (subsequently known as Beatrice Caroline) in 1902.  Beatrice was the daughter of Garrison Sergeant-Major William Henry Brenchley of Victoria Barracks, St.

  • 3455 reads

SAMSON, Eric James

Date of birth: 
1889
Biographical notes: 

Eric James Samson was the son of Henry Augustus Samson and his wife, Helen/Ellen Mary or Mary Helen/Ellen nee Savage.  Henry was a doctor, graduating from Melbourne University in 1880.  In 1883 he was appointed health officer for the Shire of Omeo.

  • 3656 reads

SAMSON, John Vernon

Date of birth: 
1883
Biographical notes: 

John Vernon Samson, was the son of Henry Augustus Samson and his wife, Helen/Ellen Mary or Mary Helen/Ellen nee Savage.  Henry was a doctor, graduating from Melbourne University in 1880.  In 1883 he was appointed health officer for the Shire of Omeo.  At the time of his death in 1905 he was medical superintendent of the Hospital for the Insane, Beechworth.

  • 4097 reads

SANDERS, Algernon Benjamin

Date of birth: 
1884
Biographical notes: 

Algernon Benjamin Sanders was born in 1884 at Burlington Terrace, 52 [now 404] Albert Street, East Melbourne. He was the third son in the large family of Lewis Sanders and his wife Miriam, nee Benjamin. The Sanders and their first child had moved into the newly built Burlington Terrace in 1867.

  • 4209 reads

SANDERS, Frederic Roy

Date of birth: 
1887
Biographical notes: 

Frederic Roy Sanders was born on 2 January 1887 at Burlington Terrace, 52 [now 404] Albert Street, East Melbourne.  He was a son of Lewis Sanders and his wife, Miriam nee Benjamin.  The Sanders and their first child had moved into the newly built Burlington Terrace in 1867.

  • 4037 reads

SCHULER, Phillip Frederick Edward

Date of birth: 
1889
Biographical notes: 

Phillip Frederick Edward Schuler (often known as Peter) was born c. 1889 in East Melbourne.  At this time his father was living at Brentani Terrace, Grey Street, East Melbourne, now part of the site on which the Mercy Private Hospital stands.

Schuler c.1911 in his intelligence officer's uniform
  • 5992 reads

SCHULTZ, Johann George

Date of birth: 
1899
Biographical notes: 

Johann George Schultz was born in Geelong on 28 June 1899. He was the second son of Ernest Schultz and his wife, Pauline (nee Hartwich).  Ernest was an engineer with a specal interest in developing a process of producing a cheap, fine grade motor oil from crude oil extracted from shale.  He took out a patent in 1927 but a series of companies with which he was associated failed.

Letter requesting background check on Johann George Schultz
Character reference from local constable for Johann George Schultz
Character references from local vicar and teachers for Johann George Schultz
  • 3822 reads

SCOTLAND, James Alexander

Date of birth: 
1891
Biographical notes: 

James Alexander Scotland was born in Perthshire, Scotland c.1891.  When he enlisted on 17 January 1916 he gave his age as 25.  He was working as a carpenter and living at 34 Albert Street, East Melbourne.  However his parents,, John and Anna Maria, were still living in Scotland.

newspaper clipping courtesy Kevin Scotland
  • 3214 reads

SCOTT, Ernest Humphrey

Date of birth: 
1887
Biographical notes: 

Ernest Humphrey Scott enlisted on 25 January 1916 in Melbourne. He gave his next of kin as his wife, Jessie Gladys Scott of 43 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne. He gave his occupation as motor engineer. He had had a year's military experience with the Overseas Rifle Club, Melbourne. He was described as 5ft. 6ins. with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair.

Lcpl. Ernest Humphrey Scott
Ernest Humphrey Scott with early radio
Radio made by Ernest Humphrey Scott
Discharge in a Country other than Australia completed by Ernest Humphrey Scott
Mention in Army Routine Orders of Ernest Humphrey Scott, copy handwritten by him
  • 4715 reads

SEARL, Alice

Date of birth: 
1875
Biographical notes: 

Their working lives brought Alice Searl and several of her siblings to East Melbourne in the first decades of the twentieth century. Alice and her sisters Mary Ann and Louisa (1101 and 1109 Hoddle St) were all nurses, and Matthew their brother (108 Powlett St) was a law clerk. Louisa lived in East Melbourne for many years working as a nurse.

Alice Searl (7th from right, front), 1 AGH, Rouen 1918 (AWM E03440)
  • 5246 reads

SELLAR, Jack Marchant

Date of birth: 
1897
Biographical notes: 

John (Jack) Marchant Sellar was born in Richmond in 1897.  His parents were George Smythe (d. 1919) and Josephine Sellar.  When he enlisted on 15 January 1916 Jack was 18 years and 5 months..

  • 3216 reads

SERLE, Walter Henry

Date of birth: 
1873
Biographical notes: 

Walter Henry Serle was the son of Walter Henry Serle and his wife, Kate (nee Grocock).  He was born on 25 November 1873 at the family home in Powlett Street, East Melbourne.  They had moved into the house in 1870 and were to spend just over twenty years there.

  • 3722 reads

SHARPE, Walter

  • 2407 reads

SHAW, Charles Gordon

Date of birth: 
1885
Biographical notes: 

DSO, MID

  • 5338 reads

SHEPHERD, Victor Joseph

Date of birth: 
1892
Biographical notes: 

Victor Shepherd was one of ten children born to James and Mary Shepherd. Born in Bendigo, Victoria on 8 January, 1892, he enlisted at Black Boy Hill, Western Australia on 8 November, 1916. He gave his occupation as clerk and named as his next of kin his mother, Mary Shepherd, living at 99 Hotham St., East Melbourne.

  • 3009 reads

SHERLOCK, Harold Oscar

Date of birth: 
1892
Biographical notes: 

Harold Oscar Sherlock was 24 years old, married and living in Sydney when he enlisted in the AIF at the Showgrounds, Sydney. He had already tried to enlist once before, at Melbourne, but been rejected because of his weak heart. A note on his medical assessment says that 'his left lttle toe overlaps his fourth toe. Hs walked from Sydney to Melbourne - had no trouble'.

  • 2851 reads

SHORTIS, James

Date of birth: 
1887
Biographical notes: 

James Shortis was born in South Melbourne c.1887.  When he enlisted on 6 March 1916 he was 29, single and working as a horse-driver. He gave his address as 528 Albert Street, East Melbourne, on the corner of Nicholson Street and now the site of Orica House (ICI House).

  • 3100 reads