People of East Melbourne

This is a list of biographies of residents of East Melbourne.

This project started to commemorate the soldiers and nurses who went to Europe to serve in World War 1. But it has grown from there to cover biographies of any and all residents of note.

Along with many of their fellow Australians people from East Melbourne flocked to enlist. Many were heroes. Many lost their lives or suffered horrific physical or mental injuries. At home family and friends worked, endured and suffered consequences that were sometimes terrible and persisted long after the war.

Major-General Michael O'Brien gave us a starting point with a list of East Melbourne people who served in WW1. He spoke to the Society in April 2013 to give us some context to the period and to help the EMHS prepare for its own commemorations of this most devastating period in our history.

Everyone can participate by gathering or documenting information:

  • Photos, memorabilia and family records
  • Stories in books, newspapers and on-line
  • Memorial plaques in churches and public places
  • War memorial, church, national and state archives

You can refine the list by applying the various filter criteria and go to a particular detailed biography by click on the title.

SMITH, Winifred Jane

Date of birth: 
1876
Biographical notes: 

Winifred Jane Smith and her younger sister Elsie Dora Smith joined the Australian Army Nursing Service together and sailed from Australia on active service together on 7 July 1915.

Winifred Jane Smith (nurses.ww1anzac.com)
AANS England 1915 (WJSmith front far right; EDSmith behind her) AWM PO3968.002
Massage ward 1AAH Harefield (AWM HO3583)
Nursing sisters' mess 1AAH Harefield (AWM HO3605)
Nursing sisters' sitting room 1AAH Harefield (AWM HO3064)
Grave of Winifred Watson nee Smith) and husband William Abbott Watson
  • 3610 reads

QUARTERMAN, Rosa Elizabeth Kate

Date of birth: 
1872
Biographical notes: 

Rosa Elizabeth Kate Quarterman (1872–1940) served in the Australian Army Nursing Service from 1914 to 1920. She worked initially in hospitals in Egypt until early 1916 when she returned to Australia with invalided and repatriated troops.

Martha Quarterman (Guy Quarterman)
Rosa Quarterman jewellery box (Guy Quarterman)
Rosa Quarterman (front left) at Melbourne Hospital (Punch 5.02.1903)
Rosa Quarterman (Table Talk, 10.12.1914, p22)
Quarterman was matron at Helouan Convalescent Hospital (AWM P00156.019)
Nurses on transport duty (AWM A0343)
Rosa Quarterman commemorated at St Peter's Church Eastern Hill, Melbourne
  • 3307 reads

ROSS, Clara Louisa

Date of birth: 
1874
Biographical notes: 

Clara Louisa Ross

Clara Ross (Table Talk, 10.12.1914 p22)
Matron Clara Ross and staff 1AAH, London 1918 (AWM D00037)
Clara Ross, Honour Board, St Peter's Church, Eastern Hill, East Melbourne
  • 2247 reads

LAWRENCE, Helen Ruth

Date of birth: 
1883
Biographical notes: 

Helen Ruth Lawrence

(1883–1964)

Helen Ruth Lawrence is one of the nurses from St Peter’s Church Eastern Hill, East Melbourne named on the honour boards commemorating parishioners who served in the Great War of 1914–18.

2AGH in Gezirah Palace, Cairo 1915 (AWM A02725)
Lawrence nursed under fire (Extract 1ACCS War Diary (AWM))
Laurence Howie's depiction of 3AGH Abbeville (AWM ART93081)
Helen Lawrence commemorated at St Peter's Eastern Hill, East Melbourne
  • 2253 reads

MILLER, Edith Caroline Munckton

Date of birth: 
1879
Biographical notes: 

Edith Miller's connection with East Melbourne was as a parishioner of St Peter's Church, Eastern hill, East Melbourne. Her name appears on an Honour Board there commemorating parishioners who served overseas in the Great War. 

Before the war

Edith Miller's appointment to the AANS, 1915 (family collection)
Edith Miller commemorated at St Peter's Church, Eastern Hill, East Melbourne
Norman Griffiths (front, slouch hat)
Edith Miller (front 2nd right), ?ANZAC Day, New Zealand (nd) (family collection)
Fannie Munckton, Norman and Edith Miller, NZ, c1930 (family collection)
  • 3022 reads

RUNDELL, Ada Sophia

Date of birth: 
1876
Biographical notes: 

Ada Sophia Rundell was in the first contingent of masseuses (physiotherapists) sent overseas with the AIF. From 1915–1918, she worked in hospitals in England, France and England. Ada returned to Australia in 1919, working in Queensland where she married a terminally ill ex soldier in 1921. She ran her own masseur establishment in Ipswich and later in northern NSW.

Ada Sophia Rundell (TableTalk, 16.9.1915, p26)
Rundell treated amputees at 2AAH (Southall) (AWM D00572)
Massage ward Rosemount Repatriation Hospital Brisbane c1918 (AWM H02258)
Ada Rundell, Honour Board, St Peter's Church Eastern Hill, East Melbourne
  • 2691 reads

EDGCUMBE, Erica Valletort

Date of birth: 
1889
Biographical notes: 

Erica Valletort Edgcumbe (1889-1955)

EVEdgcumbe at Repatriation Hospital Caulfield (Weekly Times 1.5.1946, p7)
Erica Edgcumbe commemorated at St Peter's Eastern Hill, East Melbourne
  • 2247 reads

OUSLEY, Marguerite

Date of birth: 
1881
Biographical notes: 

Marguerite Ousley 1881-1971

Marguerite Ousley commemorated by St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne
Ousley reference 1913 (St Vincent's & Mercy Hospital Archives)
Royal Victoria Hospital Netley during WW1
Ousley's resignation (extract from Ousley, Service Record [National Archives])
Ousley headstone Aberdeen (BillionGraves)
  • 2365 reads

DILNOT, Emily

Date of birth: 
1887
Biographical notes: 

Emily Dilnot (1887­–1984) worked at Mena House Hospital, Simpson St, East Melbourne from 1912 until 1916 when she travelled to England and enlisted in the Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve. She attended nearby St Peter’s Eastern Hill Church of England, where she is commemorated on an honour board as a parishioner on active service during the 1914–18 war.

Emily Dilnot: brought up Herne Bay South Parade (kenthistoryforum)
Emily Dilnot: Honour Board St Peter's Eastern Hill East Melbourne
  • 2042 reads

NEWTON, Eileen Catherine Kearney

Date of birth: 
1889
Biographical notes: 

Eileen Catherine Kearney Newton (1889-1937)

Eileen Newton was associated with East Melbourne as a parishioner of St Peter's Church, Eastern Hill on Gisborne St. Born in 1889, she was brought up in Numurkah, before leaving the town and training as a nurse in Melbourne.

Deccan War Hospital Poona (pinterest)
Convalescents parading at Deccan War Hospital, Poona c1917 (AWM P00562.075)
ExtractCullenInquest (Argus, 1.12.1937).jpg
  • 2370 reads

GIDDINGS, Ethel May

Date of birth: 
1877
Biographical notes: 

Introduction

Ethel Giddings at Mena House, East Melbourne 1912 (family collection)
Cumballa War Hospital
Giddings nursed at 66 General Hospital ('x'), Salonika (AWM H15764)
Nurses on Salonika in in anti mosquito wear (AWM H15761)
Ethel Giddings obituary (?Sunraysia Daily, 1968) (family collection)
Giddings (billiongraves.com/grave/person/13421701)
Ethel Giddings on the Honour Board, St Peter's Eastern Hill East Melbourne
  • 3438 reads

ROBERTS, Annie Florence

Date of birth: 
1879
Biographical notes: 

Annie Florence Roberts (1879–1958)

Introduction

Roberts (back row, left) & Melb District Nurses (Weekly Times 20.7.1907, p25)
Roberts (back row, fourth) & Melb District Nurses (Punch 11.7.1907, p13)
Annie F Roberts (Punch, 29.7.1915, p21)
Roberts (2nd row, 2nd left) with AANS London 1915 (AWM A03989)
Annie Roberts commemorated at St Peter's Eastern Hill, East Melbourne
  • 2660 reads

CRAMER, Winifred Mary

Date of birth: 
1877
Biographical notes: 

Winifred Mary Cramer (1877–1965)

Winifred Mary Cramer is commemorated on the Honour Board at St Peter’s Eastern Hill, East Melbourne, with other nurses from the parish who served in the Great War of 1914–18.

Winifred Cramer, WW1 Honour Board, St Peter's Eastern Hill, East Melbourne
  • 1971 reads

BONNIN, Irene Gertrude Hiller

Date of birth: 
1884
Biographical notes: 

Irene Gertrude Hiller Bonnin (1874–1971)

Irene Bonnin is commemorated on an honour board at St Peter’s Eastern Hill, East Melbourne commemorating parishioners who served overseas in the Great War.

Extract from Irene Bonnin's diary (PRG 621/21, State Library of SA)
Irene Bonnin at 1AGH, Heliopolis, Egypt (PRG 621/23, State Library of SA)
Irene Bonnin commemorated at St Peter's Eastern Hill, East Melbourne
  • 2299 reads

MACARTNEY, Dora Lynette

Date of birth: 
1882
Biographical notes: 

Dora Lynette Macartney

Dora Lynette Macartney (c1881–1934) is one of twenty five nurses commemorated on honour boards at St Peter’s Church Eastern Hill, East Melbourne, for their service in the Great War of 1914. Her family had a long connection with the parish.

Composite image of amputees at 2AAH (AWM_P10776_014_001)
Limb fitting at 2AAH where Dora Macartney nursed (AWM D00572)
Dora Macartney commemorated at St Peter's Eastern Hill, East Melbourne
  • 1673 reads

DICKINSON, Ruby Droma

Date of birth: 
1878
Biographical notes: 

Ruby Droma Dickinson

Ruby Droma Dickinson (1885–1945) served with the Australian Army Nursing Service in Egypt and later in Greece at Salonika. (She is not to be confused with Ruby Dickinson, AANS, from NSW, who died of pneumonia in hospital in Southwell Gardens, London in June 1918.)

21 General Hospital, Alexandria where Dickinson nursed
Sisters' quarters at 60 General Hospital in the vardar (AWM C04339)
Ruby Droma Dickinson's grave, Hobart (courtesy Faithe Jones)
Plaque commemorating Ruby Droma Dickinson (courtesy Faithe Jones)
Ruth Droma Dickinson commemorated at St Peter's Eastern Hill, East Melbourne
  • 2843 reads

KEPPEL, Beatrice Emma

Date of birth: 
1890
Biographical notes: 

Beatrice Emma Keppel (1890–1932)

Beatrice Emma Keppel is named on the honour board at St Peter’s Church, Eastern Hill, East Melbourne commemorating parishioners who served as nurses in the Great War of 1914–1918.

Sister TW Keppel [sic] (second left), 2AAH, May 1919 (AWM D00549)
Beatrice Keppel commemorated at St Peter's Church, Eastern Hill, East Melbourne
  • 1893 reads

HORNSEY, Ruby Millie

Date of birth: 
1885
Biographical notes: 

Ruby Millie Hornsey

Ruby Millie Hornsey (1885–1969) is commemorated on the honour board of Great War nurses who were parishioners at St Peter’s Church Eastern Hill East Melbourne.

Ward at 2 Australian General Hospital, Cairo 1916 (AWM J06130)
Patients at 2 Australian General Hospital, Cairo 1916 (AWM J06829)
Limb fitting at 2 Australian Auxiliary Hospital London (AWM D00545)
Ruby Hornsey commemorated at St Peter's Church Eastern Hill, East Melbourne
Ruby Connell (nee Hornsey) plaque (Faithe Jones)
  • 2066 reads

AINSLIE, Margaret

Biographical notes: 

The Ainslie family were natives of Gladsmuir, East Lothian, Scotland.

  • 747 reads

BROCKELBANK, Lilla

Date of birth: 
1883
Biographical notes: 

Lilla Brockebank, cricketer and architect, was the fifth of the six daughters of Duncan Brockelbank, actuary and accountant, and his wife Bessy Jemima, née Westmore .[1]  Lilla was born in Hackney, London in 1883.[2] The family left London for Australia in August 1885 aboard the Melbourne.  A month into the journey Duncan died of consumption.[3]

Miss Lilla Brockelbank, the 'Wilfred Rhodes' among Melbourne's lady cricketers,
Group portrait of Coldstream Ladies Cricket Club, Mr Gooley on left.
  • 714 reads

CHILDERS, Emily

Biographical notes: 

Emily Childers (1827-1875), Diarist

  • 581 reads

BERMAN, Margaret

Date of birth: 
1923
Biographical notes: 

Margaret (Peggy) Berman (1923-2002)

Margaret Berman. The Age
  • 937 reads

DAVITT, Ellen

Biographical notes: 

Ellen Davitt is best remembered as a pioneer educationalist in her role as the first superintendent of the Model School, East Melbourne, which once stood on the island site now occupied by the Royal College of Surgeons.  She and her husband, Arthur, who held the senior position of principal, resided and worked at the school from its foundation in 1854 until 1859. 
 

  • 628 reads

MOUCHETTE, Berthe

Biographical notes: 

Berthe Mouchette, nee Lion, was born in 1846 at Forcalquier, Provence-Alpes-Cotes d’Azur, France.  She studied painting, gained qualifications as an art teacher and developed into an admired artist in her own right, exhibiting regularly at the Salon.
  

  • 545 reads

MATHER, Esther

Biographical notes: 

Enid Esther Mather was born on 6 January 1910 in Queensland.  She was the daughter of William Mandeville Ellis L’Estrange and his wife, Mary Emmeline, nee Alder.  William was an electrical engineer and administrator who became managing director & chairman of directors of the City Electric Light Co., Brisbane.  Esther, as she was known, grew up in the now heritage listed famil

  • 396 reads

MURPHY, Agnes

Date of birth: 
1869
Biographical notes: 

Agnes Gillian Murphy was born in Ireland but that is as much as we know about her early life.  She appears to have arrived in Melbourne about 1884 on a visit to her sister, Elizabeth (Lily), who was already living here.  She was first employed transcribing legal documents but in 1885 managed to persuade Maurice Brodsky to take her on as a contributor to his new magazine, Table Tal

Agnes Murphy. Punch, 11 Mar 1909, p.19
Agnes Murphy and Aimee Moore. The Herald, 17 Jun 1929, p.22
  • 478 reads

BRAHE, May

Date of birth: 
1884
Biographical notes: 

Mary (May) Hannah Brahe (née Dickson) was born at 23 George Street, East Melbourne (now part of Georgian Court B & B) on 6 November 1884.  Her father was Richard Dickson, a Melbourne-born cordial manufacturer.  Her mother died when May was 12 years old.  She had, however already taught May to play the piano and May’s musical interests were further fostered at Stratherne Girls

  • 408 reads

CLARKE, Janet Marion

Biographical notes: 

Janet Marion Clarke was born on 4 June 1851 at Doogallook Station on the Goulburn River, Victoria, the eldest of nine children of the affluent landowner Peter Snodgrass and his wife Charlotte.

  • 430 reads

MAXWELL, May

Date of birth: 
1876
Biographical notes: 

From the time when Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India to the landing on Mars – this was the span of the interesting life of May Maxwell, who died at the age of 100 in 1977 at 157 Wellington Parade South Jolimont, which had been her home for sixty years.

A youthful May Maxwell. Australian Media Hall of Fame
May Maxwell. Australian Media Hall of Fame
  • 414 reads

LA TROBE, Sophie

Biographical notes: 

Born Sophia de Montmollin, in Neuchâtel, a French speaking town in Switzerland, Sophie was the eighth of sixteen children. Sophie grew up in an imposing town house and M. Montmollin was active in public affairs as befitted his noble birth, the family having been prominent citizens of Neuchâtel for two hundred years.

  • 570 reads

Larkins, Frank Lockwood

Date of birth: 
1899
Biographical notes: 

Frank Lockwood Larkins was the twin brother of Brian Lockwood Larkins. The twins were born to Margaret and Walter Larkins on 20 March 1899. They had four sisters, but these are un-named in records. Frank Larkins left school at the age of thirteen to attend the new Royal Australian Naval College at Jervis Bay, NSW, and was part of its first intake in 1912.

  • 80 reads