Melbourne, Australia · 1827–1908
Robert Lewis John Ellery
Partially verifiedAstronomical and time-keeping instrument superintendent
Life & work
Robert Lewis John Ellery was born in England and initially practiced as a medical surgeon before relocating to Victoria, Australia, in 1851.
In 1853, the government appointed him to establish an observatory at Gellibrand's Point to provide precise timekeeping services for shipping. He applied his mechanical aptitude to address issues with astronomical equipment while managing the facility and its associated telegraph lines. Beyond his work as a government astronomer, Ellery contributed to geodetic surveys and presided over professional institutions.
The fuller biography summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.
Training, contributions & innovations
- He provided essential time-correction services to navigators during the Victorian Gold Rush era.
Collecting significance
The catalogued pieces listed on this page show the kinds of objects auction houses, dealers and museums attribute to this maker; each attribution is the source's own.
Firms, key models & movements
No firm, model or movement in this encyclopedia is yet recorded under this maker's name.
In the object catalogue
2 catalogued objects are recorded under Robert Lewis John Ellery. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.
- Chronograph - R. Ellery Design, Melbourne Observatory WorkshopDrum chronograph · 1860s-1870s
- Regulator Clock by Robert ElleryRegulator clock · 1888
Diagram
Sources & references
- Robert L. J. Ellery, Wikipedia (English), retrieved 2026-11-03 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.