Albert Morris - Early Life

Early Life

Morris spent much of his life in Broken Hill. Early in life, Albert developed a keen interest in plant life. It is possible that a serious injury to his foot in his early childhood which prevented Morris from taking part in the bustle of childhood activity, contributed to his independence and self-containment, and to an increasing interest in botany. By the time he was undertaking technical school studies in metallurgy and assaying, Morris had developed a small garden and nursery, and contributed to the cost of his fees by selling plants (pepper trees) that he had grown. When he qualified, Morris took up work on the Central Mine at Broken Hill, eventually becoming chief assayer for the mine.

Morris was married at Broken Hill on 13 April 1909 to Ellen Margaret Sayce, a dressmaker. She was a forceful personality and a staunch member of the Society of Friends, (Quakers); in 1918 Morris also became a Quaker after an Anglican upbringing. They built a tiny cottage in Cornish Street, Railway Town (a suburb of Broken Hill). This was an area most exposed to soil erosion and drifting sand: trees had been cut for fuel and years of overstocking and the rabbit plague had denuded the land. Broken Hill was severely affected by drifting sand and dust, which in summer became major dust storms making work and domestic life difficult.