Studio portrait of Alfred Goddard in his postal worker’s uniform. Melbourne, circa 1885.

Albumen print photograph, cabinet card format, 164 x 108 mm (mount); recto of mount imprinted ‘A. W. Burman, 100 Chapel Street, Prahran – near Town Hall’; the print has a small mark at upper right, but is otherwise in good condition; the mount is very clean (verso blank).

This cabinet card came from a distressed album presented by Alfred William Goddard (Ballarat 1857-1910 Prahran) to his second wife Sarah Jane (Fountain) (Ballarat 1858-1925 Richmond), in 1887. It was taken in the  Prahran branch studio of A. W. Burman, where a woman, Annie Johnson, was studio operator between 1884 and 1889 (Davies & Stanbury, The Mechanical Eye in Australia).

Alfred Goddard’s first wife, Dorothy Gunther (also a native of Ballarat) had died some time prior to 1879. Alfred  married Sarah Fountain, daughter of Joseph Fountain of Canadian Gully, at St. Paul’s Ballarat East, on 9 April 1879. The couple then moved to Melbourne, where they resided at Bowen Villa, 13 Donald Street, Prahran, up until Alfred’s death in 1910. The couple had three children: George Herbert, who died in 1908, Steven (“Steve”), and Stephanie. An obituary for Alfred was published in the Malvern Standard, 15 October 1910:

‘Mr Alfred Goddard. It is with much regret that we have to record the death of Mr Alfred Goddard, of Donald street, Prahran, which took place on Thursday afternoon last at the Alfred Hospital. Mr Goddard was 52 years of age, and leaves a widow, who will receive the deepest sympathy in her sad bereavement. The deceased gentleman was some years ago connected with the Post Office, but for many years he was afterwards connected with Singer’s Sewing Machine Co, and by his ability and tact prove himself a very successful agent. He was one of the earliest members of the Prahran branch of the A N.A. and the Natives will feel the loss of a valued member, friend, and adviser. Mr Goddard, senr, is a resident of Ballarat.‘

After Alfred’s death, Sarah took another husband, Mr. J. David. She died in Richmond, Melbourne, in 1925.