The following story was sent to me by an OFH reader Jean Bearda about her Grandmother, Edith Annie Bowe, who was born on 26th March 1891 in Sydney, Australia and died on 15th October, 1972 in Melbourne, Australia.
She has very kindly sent me the following brief history and some wonderful photographs taken in Kalgoorlie/Boulder which I am sure you will enjoy. Jean has sent a copy of her grandmother’s diary from 1913 to the Eastern Goldfields Historical Soc for their records. One interesting thing she told me was that her grandmother was the next-door neighbour to Detective Sergeant Alexander Pitman, (one of the gold-stealing detectives who were murdered) and was a friend of Mrs Pitman and with whom kept in touch with for many years after her husband’s murder. She has also given a photograph of Mrs Pitman to the Historical Soc and to the WA Police Historical Soc.
Edith Bowe, Boulder 1915
Edith and her sister Nellie spent their childhood years at La Perouse in Sydney where their parents had a small business and a troubled marriage. At about the age of 12 years Edith, her sister Nellie and their mother sailed to England and made their home at Broadstairs in Kent.
Brennans Picnic, Racecourse 29 Oct 1913
Around 1911 or early 1912 Edith became engaged to Walter Cliffen, a Canadian in England on holiday. She broke this engagement off as she felt that with her in Canada, her mother and sister in England and her father in Australia her family would be flung to the far corners of the world. She sent the engagement ring back to Walter and it went down on the ‘Titanic’.
Picnic at Coolgardie Park 1915
In January 1913 Edith returned to Australia alone to join her father in the Western Australian Goldfields. She subsequently bought a house to live in Boulder City and one to rent, and made her home there. Her mother and sister arrived in Western Australia to join her on board ‘Orontes’ in 1915. The two houses were 14 and 16 Davies Street, Boulder. Today number 14 looks like the original house but number 16 is a modern house.
Picnic at Bardoc (Edith marked with Cross with Lawrie next to her)
On 28th May, 1914 Edith met Albert Nuttall at a tea party at Mrs May’s home in Boulder City. Edith and Albert became engaged on 24th October, 1914. The engagement was broken off on 10th September, 1916. Albert had not enlisted which embarrassed Edith as the girls she worked with all had men away at the war. Hence the broken engagement.
Lawrie Wesson and Edie Bowe (Good Friends) at the Kalgoorlie Racecourse.
Edith lived in Boulder City for some further time until at least 1918 and the next we know of her she is in Melbourne. In 1919 Edith was asked by her cousin Annie in Sydney to meet Annie’s brother Matthew off the troop ship as Annie couldn’t get to Melbourne for its arrival. Edith met Matthew and they were subsequently married on 30th September, 1922.
From the Western Argus 31.10.1922
Matthew worked on the railways and his job took them to live in Foster, Gippsland and Ballarat before making their home at 59 Glengyle Street, East Coburg (Melbourne) in 1932 and where they stayed for the rest of their lives. Matthew died 5th February, 1965. They are buried together at Melbourne General Cemetery.
They had two living children, Douglas Herbert born 18th June, 1923 and Brenda Jessie born 5th April, 1916. Another child, Sydney Irwin was stillborn in August 1924.
Edith led a colourful and full life based on Victorian values. She was fun-loving, caring and a skilled seamstress, always conscious of her appearance.
Edith Annie Bowe 1915
George Bamford with sisters Edith and Nellie Bowe
Moya Sharp
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What a great piece of Australian History Congratulations
Fantastic photos with an interesting story – thank you Moya and Jean!