A photograph of Robert Morton's draper and outfitter business in Drouin in the 1880s.
Robert Arthur Morton took over the Main St business in 1883 from Joseph Toole, who had run a grocery store. Mr Morton came from Hawthorn where he had a drapery shop in Burwood Rd.
Located at what is now 61 Princes Way, Mr Morton ran the business until 1888 when he moved back to the city to run a grocery shop in Richmond.
Mr Morton was born in Ireland in 1842. In March, 1853, his parents and eight siblings boarded the ship "Earl of Charlemont" in Liverpool bound for Australia.
The plan was to land in Port Phillip Bay to disembark the passengers bound for Victoria, then on to Sydney where most of the passengers were bound for.
The 97-day voyage was uneventful until the vessel ran onto a reef about two and half kilometres off Barwon Heads. The crew tried to launch boats but the surf was too rough.
A passenger - Mr Savage - swam to shore with a light rope, then a stronger rope was tied between the ship and the shore. The rope then helped guide a boat to ferry the 366 passengers and 37-person crew to safety.
Nothing was salvaged from the ship; all passengers had only what they were wearing.
Photograph and information courtesy of Drouin History Group.
The group's volunteers collect, document, research, preserve and exhibit items that reflect life in Drouin and surrounding districts to preserve artefacts and share knowledge of the past.
To find out more, visit drouinhistorygroup.org.au