Henry William Johnston (1870 to 1932) was a prominent Victorian philatelist, businessman, and community figure.

He was a founding member of the Prahran Philatelic Society (initially known as the Prahran Philatelic and Stamp Exchange Club) in 1905 with its inaugural meeting held in his shop at 298 Chapel Street, Prahran. Johnston was particularly renowned for his collection of early Australian and New Zealand stamps, especially the 'Sydney Views' series from New South Wales, and was described as a 'was described as 'a very advanced collector, seeking always condition, beauty, and rarity' ('Interesting People', Chronicle, 22 November 1934, p 14). In 1911 at the First Philatelic Congress of Australasia he was elected to an expert committee to help philatelists (stamp collectors) identify forgeries. Johnston's influence in the field was commemorated posthumously through the Johnston-Derrick Memorial Award, established by the Prahran Philatelic Society to honour outstanding contributions to philately.

Outside of philately, Johnston was a successful leather merchant, and an enthusiastic member of several bowling clubs, including Melbourne, Toorak and Prahran - where he pioneered winter bowling trips to Fiji. He was known for his sociable nature and store of anecdotes of early Australian history, possibly due to his being a descendant of Lieutenant-Colonel George Johnston as well as a member of the Australian Historical Society.

Johnston passed away on 4 January 1932 at his home 'Philatelia' in Dandenong Road, Armadale. He left behind a widow, Margaret, five adult children, Margaret (Mrs. Hansen), Robert, Janet, Donald and David, and five grandchildren Robert, Warwick and Margaret Johnston, Norman Hansen and Lois Johnston. His stamp collection-valued at £10,000- was donated to the Melbourne Public Library and Museum in 1933, going on display in the Macarthur room of the National Museum in 1934.

References

Family Notices, The Sun News-Pictorial, 9 Jan 1932, p.27 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article276270721
PHILATELIC CONGRESS, The Sydney Morning Herald, 17 Oct 1911, Page 10 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15282080
DEATH OF MR. H. W. JOHNSTON. The Age, 7 Jan 1932, p.4 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203188787
The Stamp Collector, Sunday Times, 28 Jan 1934, p.8 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article58713395
£10,000 IN STAMPS, News (Adelaide), 29 Dec 1934, p.7 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128465545
STAMPS COLLECTION, The Townsville Daily Bulletin, 2 Feb 1932, p.6 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article61356649
The Old Stamps, The Daily News, 15 Feb 1908, p.10 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77335674
PERSONAL, The Australasian, 9 Jan 1932, p.10 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article142420619
INTERESTING PEOPLE, Chronicle, 22 Nov 1934, p.14 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91075198

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