Hi Lizzi James Munro (1832-1908) born 7 January 1832 in Sutherlandshire Scotland, son of Donald Munro and his wife Georgina nee Mackey. Educated at Armadale village school he was apprenticed in 1848 to the Edinburgh printing house of Constable & Co and soon joined the total abstinence movement. In December 1853 he married Jane Macdonald and in 1858 with his wife and 3 children migrated to Melbourne, arriving 7 November 1858. Munro was described as a rough tyke in his early years. He was quick tempered and authoritarian but always easy to get on with if you let him have his own way. With a strong voice and pronounced accent he was known for his invective when roused and a tendency to dance with rage, habits which endured and must have contrasted with his patriarchal appearance of tall, broad figure, massive head and flowing beard. (this book goes on for quite a bit. Was there anything in particular you wanted to know? He died on 25th February 1908 and was buried in the St Kilda Cemetery beside his wife who had died in 1904. He was survived by 4 sons and 3 daughters of his 8 children. From another book written 1888 The Hon James Munro MLA Melbourne, was born in Sutherlandshire Scotland and was educated at the local school at Armadale village. He left Edinburgh for Victoria in the ship Champion of the Seas in 1858 and first turned his attention to printing but left that work to found and conduct the Victorian Permanent Building Society which he had started in 1865. After 17 years service as secretary, he started (1882) the Federal Banking Company and conducted the operation of the bank as managing director for 3 years and is still a director. The Real Estate Bank, a most successful institution, of which he is the managing director was founded by him in 1887. Mr Munro stood for Parliament in 1863 for Dundas but was unsuccessful. In 1873 he was elected member for North Melbourne and was afterwards representative for Carlton until 1881. In 1882 he was elected for North Melbourne and sat for about 2 years and in 1887 was elected member for Geelong. Having held the position of Minister of Education, Mr Munro is an Executive Councillor for Victoria. During his whole life Mr Munro has taken the warmest interest in the Temperance movement and is the acknowledged leader of the Temperance forces in Parliament. He is President of the Victorian Alliance and the Melbourne Total Abstinence Society and at the present time is Chief Officer of the Rechabite Order, a friendly society on a temperance basis numbering over 12,000 members in Victoria. As one of the executive commissioners for the Exhibition of the 1880-1881 and 1888-1889 Mr Munro has devoted himself with characteristic energy to ensuring their success and has also held a similar position on the Commission for the Philadelphia, Sydney and Paris Exhibitions. Sounds like a fun bloke!!! Let me know if you need anything else Lori -----Original Message----- From: lizzi bell [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Saturday, October 12, 2002 5:37 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [SUT] Melbourne Exhibition Building Does anyone have more background on James MUNRO b. Sutherland? Lizzi ----- Original Message ----- From: Ian Cook <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, October 12, 2002 5:35 PM Subject: [SUT] Melbourne Exhibition Building > Melbournes Exhibition buildinghas been nominated for world heritage > listing. It was built because of the input of James Munro(ex Sitherland) > and built by his neighbour Mitchell > -- > > > Elizabeth Cook > > Melbourne, Australia > > > > ==== SCT-SUTHERLAND Mailing List ==== > To check out previous messages > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/SCT-SUTHERLAND-L/ >