It is unknown when John Owen and his wife, Louisa Royal, first arrived in Victoria. However, it is known that nine of their children were born here, their first Australian children being born in 1852.  Eight of the children were born in Collingwood.  During the family's time in Collingwood they lived at 103 Johnston Street. His occupation at that time is unknown.

Walter Phillip Henry was born in Geelong in 1865, after the family moved there.  After Edward Gould (who had establlished the Geelong Homœopathic Pharmacy) returned to England, John Owen took over the Pharmacy.  In the book "Geelong & District 1838 - 1988", John Owen was called "the King of Homœopathic Chemists".

Two of his children became the owners of homœopathic pharmacies. Albert Thomas Owen took over the business at Geelong, while his brother, Edward George Owen, joined the firm established by Benjamin Poulton, and eventually took over that company.

John Owen died at his residence in Geelong on 7 October 1894, just a few weeks after the marriage of his third daughter, Louisa Jane.

(For more details see the document on Homœopathic Pharmacies, Dispensaries & Manufacturers)

© Barbara Armstrong