Secrets contained in found 'carte de visite'

FEBRUARY 8, 2012 4:13am

Heathcote residents are being asked to dust off their old photo albums to see if they can help identify the faces in a submitted family portrait.

By Nikala Dixon

Found in the personal items of the Lewis and Townsend family of Melbourne, the small card — known as a ‘carte de visite’ or ‘visiting card’ — features the portraits of members of the Lewis family, or possibly a church group from Heathcote from around 1870.

The carte de visite is unusual because it features a woman’s portrait at the top of the montage rather than a man.

The woman has yet to be identified, but to her right lies a portrait of a man believed to be former Heathcote grocery store owner Robert Scott Hamilton.

The person to her left is thought to be Richard Rose I, while the person below Richard, to his left, is thought to be William Evan Lewis — the owner of Lewis Stores which was located at the High St building now occupied by A Gaggle of Geese.

The Lewis family is planning a reunion next year and family member Katy Court is hoping Heathcote residents can help identify some of the portraits in the carte de visite.

‘‘We really would love to obtain more information,’’ Mrs Court said.

An enlarged copy of the carte de visite will be kept at the McIvor Times to help people identify faces in the montage.

Anyone with any information can phone Mrs Court on 98578683.