Shep's Place Family Tree

“Lewis, H.J.R., Fitzroy. The present business of Henry J.R. Lewis was established by his father, Richard Lewis, who arrived in this colony from England in 1840, and commenced business in 1843 as a builder, contractor, and undertaker on a site which is now in Young-street, near Johnston- street, Fitzroy. He continued there carrying on the business until his death in 1875. His widow, the mother of the subject of this sketch, is still living, aged seventy-six, and is one of the oldest residents in the district. After his father’s death Henry took up the business, which has increased so much that the present larger and more commodious premises were erected in Johnston-street, Northcote, and at Lygon-street, East Brunswick. This business is the only one in Melbourne or its suburbs that has been carried on under the same name for forty-five years, and is the second oldest undertaker’s business in the colony, the first established being that of Mr Alfred A. Sleight, which was, however, originally founded by Mr Crook a short time before Mr Richard Lewis arrived in the colony�.