24 January 1872 Canning Street Launceston Tasmania Australia Alice Louisa Elizabeth Langdon Helen Eugene, Albert Llewellyn, Mary & Marjory Alice

Llewellyn (Lew) Thurstun was born on 24 Jan 1872 in Kent, England, the eldest son of Albert Thurstun (1848-1914) and Annie Eliza Bates (1847-1933) who were married on 3 May 1871. He arrived in Melbourne on the Kent on 9 Jan 1880, with his parents, four brothers Albert Lionel, Robert, Ernest and Charlie, sisters Edith and Mary, and other members of the extended Thurstun family. They came to Launceston on 13 Jan but moved to Springfield the following month. Llewellyn's mother kept a fascinating diary from 6 Nov 1879, eleven days before they sailed for Australia, until 26 Aug 1888. She relates tales of everyday life in the backblocks; by Aug 1887 they had moved back to Launceston where Albert set up a business in York Street with Charles Fry as produce and commission agents.

Llewellyn commenced singing lessons in Feb 1888. He was a bass in the Tasmanian Exhibition Choir in 1891-92 along with his cousin George Thurstun. By 1903 Llewellyn was working as a builder in New Norfolk, lodging at the Star and Garter Hotel. He married Alice Louisa Elizabeth Langdon of Hamilton on 12 Oct 1907 at 193 Harrington Street, Hobart. They had four children, all born in Hobart: Helen in 1908, Albert who died aged 13 days in 1910, Mary who died after one month in 1912 and Marjory who was born in 1914. Llewellyn continued to work as a builder and died on 24 Apr 1934 aged 62. He was buried at Cornelian Bay. His wife Alice died 10 years later on 13 Nov 1944 aged 68.

Llewellyn's first cousin George Bates Thurstun and uncle Frank Thurstun are also pictured in the Family Album. The surname is sometimes spelt Thurston or Thurstan.

Marion Sargent Feb 2009