John Kenyon – Farmer of Loy Yang

Buried in the Old Bluff Cemetery a well known vegetable farmer and gardener of Loy Yang

Buried in the historical position of NSM-A016

From the Morwell Advertiser Friday 8th June 1894 pg 2: “Obituary- On Thursday evening last Sir. John Kenyon, an old and respected resident of Gippsland died at his residence, Loy Yang. Mr. Kenyon came to the colony in the early fifties, and for a number of years worked at Tanjil. After the death of his wife he went to Queensland, where he remained for about nine years. Coming back in 1884, he took up land at Loy Yang, where he resided up to the time of his death. He was a strong, hardy man, but, there is little doubt that while wading through the water on the river flats, killing the vermin which destroyed his garden, he contracted asthma and rheumatics, from which he has been a terrible sufferer, ailing the last few years. Mr. Kenyon was much respected by all who knew him for his sterling and upright qualities. His remains were interred in the Bluff Cemetery on Sunday afternoon, the Rev. Mr. Carrington reading the burial service. Remains were interred in the bluff cemetery on Sunday afternoon”.

And why you may ask was Mr. Kenyon so keen to rid his fields of vermin?

……Traralgon record Friday 26^th Feb 1892: “It will be remembered that Mr. John Kenyon, of Loy Yang, last year competed in the inter-colonial vegetable and root competition against all the colonies for the prize given by A. Yates and Co., seed-merchants, of Sydney, for onions, and was successful in winning the first prize of £10. The 24 brown Spanish onions sent in by Mr. Kenyon on that occasion weighed 43lbs., or nearly 2lbs. each, which was not a bad weight for so many to average. There is now on view at the store of Messrs. Woodyatt and Co., agents for Yates and Co., 24 onions entered by Mr. Kenyon for the prize this year, which will be hard to beat, as that successful grower has topped his last year’s average, the 24 bulbs weighing 50lbs. The largest onion turns the scale at 2lb., 9oz. and the whole give an average of over 2lb. each. This speaks well not only for the grower, but the splendid soil at Loy Yang”