Life in Australia
On arrival in 1868, Roy had an uncle, James Haig Millar (1801-1882), already living in Victoria with his wife Penelope. Roy’s older sister, Margaret Caldom Millar (1842-1882), may also have also been in Australia by this time, working as an art teacher in Melbourne.
In the 1860s, Victoria experienced an economic boom, fuelled by gold and wool, and was known across the globe as “the working man’s paradise”. Workers’ wages were some of the highest in the world due to a huge labour shortage in the state – even despite the numbers of immigrants flooding in. [4] It is really no wonder then why Roy thought this might be a good place to start his new life in Australia.
It is not known what Roy first did for work on his arrival. I have often wondered where and how he picked up his trade as a photographer. In 1873 there is a ‘Millar’ listed as a photographer working in Hoddle Street, East Collingwood [5], however on his wedding certificate (1874) his occupation is listed as ‘Draper’.
How-ever Roy was making a living at this time, we know he travelled to Albury (New South Wales), as it is here he married Matilda Boyd (1853-1901) on 8 April 1874. [6] On their marriage certificate Roy lists his usual place of residence as Melbourne. Matilda lists hers as Chiltern (Regional Victoria).
The newlyweds must have settled near Wangaratta which is where the first of their six children, Annie Penelope Maria Millar, was born in 1874. Then came James Haig Roy (1876 in Rutherglen – 1903), Blanche Blythe (1878 in Geelong, lived only 9 months), Reginald Blythe Roy (1879 in Geelong – 1938), Ernest George Blythe (1884 in Chiltern – 1967) and Leonard Blythe (1886 in Hawthorn, lived to 1 year).
With his work as a photographer (and possibly due to his keen sense of adventure), Roy and family moved around quite a lot! Over his lifetime in Australia, he is recorded residing at addresses in Tasmania, Wangaratta (Vic), Rutherglen (Vic), Geelong (Vic), Queenscliffe (Vic), Ballarat (Vic), Chiltern (Vic), Hawthorn (Vic), Coolgardie (WA), Kalgoorlie (WA), Leonora (WA) and Ashfield (NSW).
of dust and glare 
Fabulous to read of William Roy Millar’s travels over the sands and seas, a story shared by many of the early goldfield prospectors and pioneers that “Roy Millar and Sons” document in their photographs. James R.
LikeLike