Vidler, Edward Alexander   (1863 - 1943)

He was was born on 13 August 1863 in London, UK; died on 28 October 1942 at Surrey Hills, Melbourne.

He was the son of Thomas Collins Vidler, surgeon dentist, and his wife Amelia Gould.

Educated at a private school at Gravesend, at 17 Edward was employed by Cassell & Co., publishers, where he was largely responsible for the publication of R. L. Stevenson's Treasure Island in volume form.

Migrating to Melbourne in 1888, Vidler worked as a freelance journalist and critic.

Moving to Geelong as part-proprietor and editor of the Evening News, he was founder and secretary of the Geelong Progress League, a founder and life member of the Geelong Art Gallery and a life member of the Geelong Public Library.

His involvement in regional affairs extended to Warrnambool where he was secretary of the chamber of commerce and the progress league. He published commemorative volumes on Geelong (1897) and Warrnambool (1907).

In Melbourne by 1897, he edited the Tatler, a weekly magazine of art, literature, music and drama. His poetic play, The Rose of Ravenna, was published by George Robertson & Co., booksellers, who in 1908 appointed him head of their publishing department.

A keen naturalist, Vidler wrote and published books on Australian flora and fauna.

In 1932,he was appointed an honorary joint curator of the Maranoa Gardens at Balwyn, where he helped to design the structure of native plantings.

He was essentially a man of ideas, rather than practicalities, whose lack of organizational ability appears to have prevented him from achieving financial success, but his consistent support of Australian art and letters was recognized by the award in 1939 of a pension from the Commonwealth Literary Fund.

Vidler died on 28 October 1942 at Surrey Hills, Melbourne. Survived by his wife, son and daughter, he was buried in Box Hill cemetery.

Source: Extracted from:
https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/vidler-edward-alexander-8921
Portrait Photo: none known.