Movember – some 19th Century Queensland Inspiration
Movember is the fundraising and awareness-raising campaign for men’s health and wellness initiatives. The name comes from the campaign for men to grow some facial hair and get some sponsorship in the month of November. For those seeking inspiration, or inspo or whatever the youngs call it, the 19th century provides some truly astonishing tonsorial achievements to consider.
Facial Topiary in Groups
Charles S Dicken and friends. Standing: HF Finch, A Henry, JB Nutting. Seated: C Thompson, GPM Murray, Charles S Dicken
What an admirable collection of facial hair. Mr Finch at top left is practically swamped with it. A shave would render him unrecognisable. A Henry (standing, centre) has a whisp of a moustache, but carries his relatively bare face with aplomb. JB Nutting at top right appears to have become rather unhinged, having been forcibly separated from his hat. Still, his admirable moustache and beard will keep him hidden. Mr Dicken, bottom right, has managed a drooping moustache, but looks pensive, surrounded as he is by unfettered bushiness. But it’s the gentleman at bottom centre, GPM Murray, who truly wins the day. What a magnificent accumulation of moustache and beard. Bald men must have cursed under their breath when they saw him approaching.
This unidentified group of men posed for a portrait photographer c. 1880. Judging by the similarity of facial features, they are a family group. A family who believed that razors were only to be employed for contouring purposes. Even the relatively clean-shaven young man at top left is working a sideburns/beard situation in progress. Perhaps he hopes to emulate the senior gentleman at bottom right, whose sideburns-moustache arrangement spills from his cheeks like a mighty waterfall.
Portrait Moustaches and Beards
George Poultney Malcolm Murray, 1865. (The gent from the Charles S Dicken photo). He was with the Police Service, who in those days clearly didn’t mind a bit of individuality in the grooming department. Somewhere under all that is a pleasant looking young man.
SDM Murray, a Police Magistrate. They’ve got to be related. The facial outgrowths are so similar – they must be a genetic gift.
An unidentified gentleman in 1862. He must have employed his piercing eyes to convey facial expressions, in much the same way as today’s mask wearers do. That lower face outcropping must have preceded him into rooms by several seconds.
A man before his time – Mr TV Williams is working the bushy moustache and beard of a hipster and the unashamed manspreading of a modern commuter.
William James Nash in a moment of fierce contemplation. His moustache and beard appear to have merged, which would make eating a tricky proposition.
Political Growths
The men in power set the tone for facial growths, setting and reflecting the tonsorial times. May you be inspired by their leadership.
Queensland Premier Arthur Macalister, CMG. Usually portrayed with a moustache and full sideburns, on the left the Premier is modelling a strange soul patch and under the chin beard arrangement that leads the eye directly to the chin or chins he is trying to conceal. At right is the more frequently used image of Macalister, wearing the much more flattering ‘stache and beard combo.
Premier Sir Thomas McIlwraith – portrait of the many-termed Premier as a young man. McIlwraith is trying to add years and gravitas to his young features with a drooping moustache and a sideburns/beard affair that sprouts wildly from the wide of his neck. It looks incredibly itchy.
George Harris, Member of the Legislative Council. Now these are some goals. Harris combines a thick, fairly neat moustache with a thick brushy undergrowth that is positively sub-tropical in its lushness.
Premier Sir Arthur Palmer. For the silver foxes who wish to support Movember, Sir Arthur is modelling the distinguished, well-kept white beard and matching moustache.
Premier Sir Samuel Walker Griffith, opting for gentle slopes of mustachios, tending towards a slightly grizzled beard. The best of both worlds, tonsorially speaking.
Premier John Douglas, CMG. For those not as silvery as Sir Arthur Palmer, here is the grey-growing-in look with white hair. Stately, if a little too untidy in the beard region, his look goes well with the dark brows and piercing eyes.
If you are a gentleman looking to acquire some Movember glory, please take the preceding into consideration. If you are the partner of a gentleman attempting the above, please try to be understanding, and know that November is one of the shorter months. Just pray that the 19th century look does not lead the gentleman in your life to consider keeping that look with a view to impersonating Father Christmas.
Moreton Bay and More 