Tovey, James Richard   (1873 - 1922)

Born in 1873, in Taradale, Victoria, Australia; died 30 December 1922 in Melbourne.

James Tovey was chief assistant at the National Herbarium of Victoria after joining at the age of 16 under Mueller. In 1907 he worked with A. J. Ewart on weeds, poisonous plants and naturalised alien plants of Victoria.

The following notes are based on recollections of his daughter, Elizabeth Renouf at age 92:

James Tovey dedicated his life to botany. He had a complete knowledge of Australian plants and, through Herbarium specimens, of the wider world of plants.

He was the last person trained by Mueller - training that stood by him during the 33 years he spent at the Herbarium.

Elizabeth Renouf recalls that her father was considered unsuitable for the position of Government Botanist, not having a degree. He did not teach at the University, but often led students on excursions; vacant ground with plentiful native flora on what is now the Old Cheltenham Cemetery was a favourite site for lessons. He also took students to the Grampians, she remembers.

Eventually, Tovey was forced by illness to leave the Herbarium.

Elizabeth recalls that as a very tough time for her parents, with three to be supported in the family, and no welfare of any sort in those days. After two years, during which the Herbarium had been unable to find a replacement for Tovey, he was invited to return.

He was happy to do so, even though the wages were low and the conditions poor.

Although paralysed, he still had a wonderfully clear brain and a remarkable memory of the placement of specimens and folios in the Herbarium.

Elizabeth's older sister Anastasia wheeled her father to his duties every day, and did any physical work necessary for him. The authorities never paid her. 'Father rather looked upon it that she was his assistant and he was responsible for her help', Elizabeth said.

Both daughters sometimes helped Tovey by typing documents for him, without payment.

He spent four years at the Herbarium under these difficult circumstances, working until the Christmas break in 1922. Just days later, on 30 December, he died.

Source: Extracted from:
ELIZABETH RENOUF, whose recollections enrich this article, was the younger daughter of James Tovey, Chief Assistant at the National Herbarium. An article in The Age in May 1994 about the Gardens' Oral History project elicited a response from her niece, Pat Sutton, and this previously unknown surviving link with the Herbarium's past proved to be a rich source of information. At the age of 92, Elizabeth Renouf sent two typewritten letters to the Gardens, describing the institution as being part of her growing-up years until her early twenties.
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https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/GS74-G5H/james-richard-tovey-1873-1922
Portrait Photo: https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/GS74-G5H/james-richard-tovey-1873-1922

Collecting localities for 'Tovey, J.R.' from AVH (2025)

Data from 417 specimens