A photograph of Mounted Constable James Wellwood of Drouin c1900.
James Wellwood was born in Fitzroy in 1864 and joined the Victoria Police force on March 8, 1887.
Constable Wellwood worked in Fitzroy for three years before being transferred to Bena in South Gippsland.
In about August 1891, he was moved to the Drouin Police Station where he remained for the next 17 years.
James and his wife Eliza Ann had eight children, the last four of them being born in Drouin. His children attended the local school and his four sons all appear on the Drouin State School honour roll.
His wife Eliza Ann died in 1902, leaving him with eight children to raise ranging in age from 17 to only two-years-old.
In 1903, James married Annie Louise Payne, the sister of his deceased wife.
In December 1908, Constable Wellwood was transferred to the Sunshine station. He was promoted to senior constable in 1912 before another transfer to Yarram in 1913.
In 1914, he spent some time in hospital and on sick leave. In October of that year, he retired after 31 years on the force.
James followed in his father's footsteps. William Wellwood was also a member of the Victorian Police force, spending most of his nearly 20 years of service as a constable in Fitzroy. William retired in 1875.
Photograph and information courtesy of the Drouin History Group.
The group has a collection of historic photographs and objects and hold general meetings and history presentations on the third Thursday of the month at the Drouin Library.
To find out more, visit drouinhistorygroup.org.au