Walter POWELL

POWELL, WALTER (b. Tottenham, England May 1822, d. London, England, 21 Jan 1868). Businessman and philanthropist.

Powell's parents travelled to VDL on a free passage and settled at Macquarie Plains, but struggled, suffering from the depredations of the bushranger Mosquito and his band. Powell began work aged 12 in Launceston as a clerk for Mr Bell an auctioneer, whose daughter he was to marry on 4 March 1845. Mrs Bell was a devoted Wesleyan, who helped to awaken the young Anglican who had little or no contact with the church in his childhood, to Christianity. In 1844 a mission led by the Revs W Butters and J Eggleston led to his conversion. He began tithing, as well as keeping a very detailed journal from 7 Jan 1844 to 13 Nov 1867, which is a valuable source of information about the life of Wesleyans and his own personal struggles. Actively involved in all Wesleyan activities, he nevertheless began reading widely to make up for his defective education and was an earnest advocate of self-improvement for the rest of his life. Moving to Melbourne, his hardware business prospered greatly during the gold rush from 1851. A shrewd buyer and careful manager, he was extraordinarily generous with time and money for Wesleyan causes. He gave seed money for the Immigrants Home, the Ministers' Pension Fund, the Book Depot, for many church buildings, for church extension and especially for the grammar school which became Wesley College in 1866. Active in Sunday school, as organist and mentor to many young men, he also supported interdenominational groups and civic causes. Powell returned to London in 1860 for health reasons where he was a partner with Henry Reed, formerly of Launceston and a supporter of the Salvation Army. Powell is a fascinating example of the intersection of Christian virtue and diligence in business.

ADB 5

IAN BREWARD