J.H. Davies

Conference Room (J.H. Davies)

Joseph H Davies

Reverend Davies was a missionary, an educator and founder of Caulfield Grammar School in Elsternwick, Victoria. He was commissioned by the Scots' Church in Melbourne to go to Korea as a missionary in 1889. He lived zealously, making the journey from Seoul to Busan on foot to spread the Gospel. He died in 1890 the day after he arrived in Busan due to illnesses contracted on the journey, only six months after arriving in Korea.

Rev. Davies' death united the whole Victorian church by sparking both interest and missionary urge for Korea. Uniting them together, the Presbyterian Church of Victoria decided to 'do everything possible to establish the Korean Mission'. The following year a new missionary team with Rev. J H Mackay was formed and sent to Korea.

Initially buried in Busan, his grave was lost during the wars. A new tombstone was erected at Masan Memorial Park on the 120 years anniversary in 2009 alongside 7 other missionaries who died on Korean land.

What was the end for Davies, became the beginning of many new lives; marking the start of Australian missionary to Korea.