Hi
The State Library of Victoria had shelves and shelves of them in the La Trobe library in the 1980s. I believe they may have been transferred to microfilm or even on line. I am sure either the State Library f Victoria or the Genealogical Society of Victoria would have copies along with places such as Kew municipal Library, Melbourne University, Vic state Archives and many regional libraries and interstate State Libraries.
A look at the catalogue of the SLV on-line should show its holdings. I think there were several different publishers including "Sands and McDougal". Remember some current Melbourne Suburbs may have counted as country back when. Parramatta in Sydney counted as country for a long time.
If the directories are electronic, the catalogue will tell you how to access. The librarians at the genealogical room at the SLV were always helpful in person and on the phone and I assume that they now have an internet presence of some kind.
I believe the SLV has reopened now that covid numbers are declining.
There my even be early electoral rolls of businessmen and male landholders in that period for both State and Municipal elections.
Remember too to search for him using the advanced search in the newspapers held in the National Library of Australia via Trove which is free.
Also see if the Victoria State Archives hold anything and if the name appears in the catalogue of the Genealogical Society of Victoria.
Regards
pH
