Dear Clan Hunter Australia

The National Library is preparing a publication on the life and art of John Hunter 1737-1821, Admiral and Governor of New South Wales. The Library is privileged to hold Hunter’s First Fleet sketchbook. The publication will be one of three in a series about the Library’s great treasures.

In preparing the text for the publication I came across the booklet that Albert S.J. Hunter prepared and which documents the unveiling of three busts of Hunter in 1993 and 1994. It is a very useful compendium of modern views of Hunter’s contribution to early Australia.

As part of my research I am trying to trace anyone who may be related to a Commander John Moore, a Mr James Moore Kelly and a Miss Elizabeth Allen Kelly. These three people consigned items of Admiral Hunter memorabilia to auction at Leonard Joel’s in Melbourne in 1932. I believe they may have been related to Admiral Hunter through Hunter’s sister Mrs Janet Maule, and thence by descent through a number of intervening generations with the surname Kerr.

If the Hunter Clan Association in Australia is able to publicise my quest through including this letter in an Association newsletter or assist with any other information, I would be very grateful.



Thanks very much



Linda Groom
Director, Hunter Research Project
lgroom@nla.gov.au