(Material researched & presented by Barbara Armstrong)

[1850 - 1928]

Robert Joseph Poulton, born in Geelong in 1850, was the first son of Benjamin Poulton and his wife, Ann Jackson.

It is likely that in 1869 he started work as an apprentice in his father's homœopathic pharmacy business in Collins Street, when he was about 19 years of age. This assumption is based on one of Robert's advertisements in 1879 where he stated that he had 10 years' experience in preparing and dispensing homœopathic medicines.

By 1873 Robert had established his own business as a homœopathic chemist, in Bendigo (at that time called Sandhurst).

By 1879 Robert had returned to Melbourne where established a pharmacy business, first in Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, then in Bourke Street. Like many people of his time, he was drawn to the idea of the potential curative nature of electricity, establishing 'electro-chemical baths', as well as 'magneto-electric bands' to be worn by patients.

He attracted the attention of the law on several occasions, partly for obtaining money from people 'under pretence of curing them', and another time for breaches of the Poisons Act.

In 1881 Robert married Susan Ingram (1852 - 1902). They had five daughters. Robert died on 11 October, 1928 at his home at 125 Hambleton Street, Middle Park. The death notice in The Argus ended with the words: 'A beautiful life given in service of others'.

(For more details see the document on Homœopathic Pharmacies, Dispensaries & Manufacturers)

© Barbara Armstrong