Walter Powell was born in England in May 1822. His family moved to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) in the 1823, and he grew up there. He was influenced to join the Wesleyan Church in Launceston by his employer, and gradually became more involved. His own education was limited, which perhaps led to him being so concerned that other young boys would not go through the limited education he had.
He became a successful merchant, selling hardware and other goods to miners during the Gold Rush in the early 1850s. He became a city Councillor, a founder of Wesley College, significant benefactor to individuals and organisations and lay preacher in the early Wesleyan churches of Melbourne. He contributed 1500 pounds to the initial building fund, and continued to support fund raising efforts after that. He and his small family moved back to London, where he died only 2 years after Wesley opened.
The image is of his shop front in the corner of Swanston and Collins Street Melbourne.
