Larry's given name was often given as Lawrence but I have decided to accept, as the correct version, the spelling inscribed on the two adjacent gravestones at Dromana Cemetery.

I have stated countless times that Laurence was a coach proprietor before running the Arthurs Seat Hotel (formerly Scurfield's) at Dromana and then the Dromana Hotel. I couldn't remember where this information came from, and when I discovered that it hadn't been mentioned in Victoria and Its Metropolis, I suspected that it must have been in an obituary. I was looking for confirmation that his first wife, Annie, was actually buried at Dromana, and although I haven't found it, it seems that she was. The memorial stones actually indicate the graves of Lawrence in 1911 and Annie in 1899. A memorial does not always indicate that a person was buried there as in the case of 7 year old Ronnie Hipwell and, probably, the son of Judge Henry Bournes Higgins who was killed in W.W.1; his memorial being far more grand than that of his famous father. It has taken me hours to find the obituary, during which time I have discovered that he had married again, his second wife's name being Ann. The death of Lawrence in 1911 does not appear in the Victora death index; perhaps his name was recorded as Larry! His second wife died in 1918 and I have been unable to confirm the maiden name of Larry's first or second wives. Perhaps LARRY might be the golden search term, as KIRKPATRICK'S was in finding the obituary.

The obituary was included in one of my journals years ago, but goodness knows which one. Larry deserves a journal of his own!

OBITUARY.
MORNINGTON'S GREAT LOSS.
SUDDEN DEATH OF MR L.MURPHY.
It is with profound regret we record the death of one of Mornington's most popular citizens, in the person of
Mr Larry Murphy. The sad event took place at his late residence, Kirkpatrick's Hotel, Mornington, on Friday
night, May 26th, after one day's illness,the cause of death being heart failure.His demise came as a great shock to the whole community, as Mr Murphy was about as usual the day before. As the sad news spread, great sorrow was
expressed everywhere, as his kind and genial manner had made him many friends,and he died as peacefully as he lived, at the age of 62 years.

The late Mr Murphy was born at Ballinatona, County of Wicklow, Ireland, and arrived in Australia 35 years ago. He took up farming at Benalla, and afterwards ran Cobb and Co's.coaches at Kilmore, and was then transferred to Mornington. In 1886 he went into partnership with Mr.Rooke, and ran vehicles from Mornington to Frankston and Dromana.

In 1892 he took over the Arthurs Seat Hotel at Dromana, and four and a half years later assumed possession of the Dromana Hotel, where he remained until 18 months ago, when he came to Kirkpatrick's Hotel, Mornington.
While at Dromana the late gentleman always took a lively interest in sport and the advancement of the
place generally. He was the chief one in the erection of the Catholic Church, and gave half an acre of land,
upon which it is built. He was also a great supporter of the church at Mornington, and his loss there will be
deeply felt.

On Sunday the body, which was encased in a massive oak coffin, was conveyed to the Dromana Church,where service was held previous to the funeral which took place at 2.30, the remains being interred in the Dromana cemetery. The cortege was a lengthy one, and representative of the whole of the district. Several drag loads came from Mornington, including representatives from the Mornington Football and Athletic Sports Clubs, of which
the deceased was vice-president, the Mornington Racing Club, of which he was a patron, and a large number of
citizens.
The coffin-bearers were Mr Hazledine (Dromana), Messrs Austin,Cooper, and W. Hurley (Sorrento),and Messrs J. Conroy, M. Daley, E.Burne (Byrne?) (Mornington). The Rev. Father O'Hagan officiated at the grave, and the mortuary arrangements were carried out most satisfactorily by Mr Summerland, of Mornington.Amongst the floral tributes was a magnificent wreath, sent by the Mornington Football Club. (P.2, Mornington Standard, 3-6-1911.)

FIRST WIFE.
MURPHY.— On the 5th March, at the Dromana Hotel, Dromana, Annie, beloved wife of Laurence Murphy. R.I.P.
(P.1, The Age, 6-3-1899.) There was no funeral notice and an obituary does not name the cemetery in which she was interred.

SECOND WIFE.
MURPHY. -On the 28th August at private hospital,South Yarra, Ann relict of the late Lawrence Murphy, late of Mornington, the loved mother of Sister Lawrence and Jack and Henry (on active service), and the beloved sister of Mrs Eliza O'Brien 8 Crown street Richmond and loved aunt of Jack O'Brien,aged 70 years. R.I P.(No flowers.)P.1, Argus, 29-8-1918.

The above makes it possible that Ann was the widow of a Mornington storekeeper (The Railway Store)whose son, one of the many Mornington footballers to drown in the 1892 was, strangely, buried in the DROMANA cemetery.
(24-5-1892. ALFRED HERBERT LAWRENCE, AGED 19.) However attempts to find a Jack/John or Henry Lawrence born at Mornington in the A.I.F. Project have been unsuccessful.

Larry would have been born in County Wicklow about 1849 and arrived about 1876 when he would have been about 27 years old. His first wife Annie was born in about 1855 and would have been about 21 in 1876 so she might have been already married to Larry or perhaps met him near Benalla. Annie's death notice,and gravestone, make no mention of children but her obituary does.

DROMANA
Quite a gloom was cast over the district when it became known that Mrs.Murphy, wife of Mr. L. Murphy, of
Dromana Hotel, had died suddenly. Some months ago she underwent a severe operation successfully, but it
apparently left her in a very weak state of health. However, it was not anticipated that her end was so near.

Last Saturday, whilst she was out mushrooming with her little daughter, she was seized with a fit. Dr. Somers was quickly called in attendance, but he gave up all hope and she passed away early on Sunday morning, never having regained consciousness.

The deceased lady was popular with everyone throughout the district, and was always ever ready to assist in any movement without any consideration for class or creed. Her many acts of kindness will long be remembered, and her demise is looked upon as an irreparable loss to the district. Great sympathy is evinced for her husband and family.

A large number of residents representing the whole of the peninsula, attended the funeral and the cortege was one of the longest ever seen in the district. The Rev. Father O'Hagan officiated at the grave, and delivered a most impressive service. (P.3, Mornington Standard,9-3-1899.)

Larry's second wife, Ann,would have been born in about 1848 and would have been about 51 years old when Larry's first wife died. It is unlikely that she and Larry would have had any children together, so Sister Lawrence, Jack and Henry must have been offspring from a previous marriage.

I had to include Larry's death notice (English version) here because it seems certain now that Jack and Henry, on active service in 1918, were sons of Larry's first wife and that the little daughter who was picking mushrooms with Larry's first wife in 1899 became a nun (not a nurse as I had first supposed) named Sister Lawrence. The second wife regarded the three children as being her children. That's why Larry's gravestone is inscribed "Erected by his loving wife and children.) Perhaps Anne had known and loved Annie's children for ages!

And here’s Larry’s death notice translated into English!
MURPHY.— On the 26th May, at Kirkpatrick's Hotel. Mornington, Lawrence, the dearly beloved
husband of Anne Murphy, and father of John, Henry and Annie, aged 63 years.
(P.13, Argus, 27-5-1911.) It would seem that Larry’s second wife had borne no children before her marriage to Larry and that Annie was the little daughter who was mushrooming with Annie, the first wife, in 1899 and became Sister Lawrence by 1918.

One of Annie's two sons (on active service by 1918) regarded as her own by his stepmother, Anne, was:
3878 MURPHY, John Lawrence National Trustees Company, 113 Queen Street, Melbourne, Victoria 23rd Battalion, 9th Reinforcement (details below.)

Regimental number 3878
Place of birth Mornington Victoria
Religion Roman Catholic
Occupation Barman
Address National Trustees Company, 113 Queen Street, Melbourne, Victoria
Marital status Single
Age at embarkation 28
Next of kin Step-Mother, Mrs A Murphy, 10* Crown Street, Richmond, Melbourne, Victoria
Enlistment date 14 July 1915
Rank on enlistment Private
Unit name 23rd Battalion, 9th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number 23/49/3
Embarkation details Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A69 Warilda on 8 February 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll Private
Unit from Nominal Roll 23rd Battalion
Fate Returned to Australia 6 November 1918
Place of burial Tidworth Military Cemetery (Row A, Grave No. 66), North Tidworth, Wiltshire
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
Australian War Memorial 99

*Next door to her sister, Eliza (Mrs O'Brien)of 8 Crown St.

Henry might have been married, his wife given as next of kin.