(Material researched & presented by Barbara Armstrong)

[1842-1879]

Henry Samuel Seelenmeyer was born on 18 February 1842 in London, and was baptised at St. Anne Soho, Westminster London on 6 December 1847.  He was one of the many children of Prussian-born George Samuel Seelenmeyer, bootmaker, and his wife, Sarah Needham.  He was also an older brother of Adolphe Frederick Seelenmeyer, who also migrated to Australia and later became a physician. 

According to the census for 1861, the family was living at Hammersmith in Middlesex, England.  Their mother had died in 1860.  George was a widower and invalid.  Henry was a shoemaker.  The youngest child, Adolphe, was only 5 years of age.  Their father died the following year on 16 November 1862. 

Henry arrived in Melbourne on 9 November 1869, having travelled from Gravesend in England aboard the Agamemnon.  According to the shipping list Henry's name was spelled "Seelemeyer", he was aged 25, and he was a "settler".

The first mention of Henry in Australia's newspapers was in September 1873.  According to the Post Office Directory he conducted the Bible Gospel Book Depot which was on the North side of Little Bourke Street East, corner of Caledonian Lane (now part of the location of David Jones department store).  The Bible Gospel Book Depot was also mentioned under references to the Bretheren holding meetings at St Patrick's Hall and the Rechabite Hall.  

In March 1874 he advertised his homœopathic pharmacy in Swanston Street, Melbourne.  When Henry moved ot Swanston Street, the Book Depot moved with him.

Henry married Sarah Hannah Hall [1855 - 1922] in 1875.  However their marriage was short-lived, as  Henry died on 10 February 1879, aged just 37 years.

©  Barbara Armstrong

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