Blanche Mitchell diary, 25 December 1865-29 April 1866, 9 September-12 December 1866

MLMSS 5278

fonds

1865-1866

932343

Microfilm : CY 2454

1 volume of textual material

Earlier diary of Blanche Mitchell, 28 January 1858-7 November 1859, 5 June 1860-27 February 1861 at MLMSS 1611, and typed transcript of diary at MLMSS 3738

Blanche Mitchell, born 4 January 1843 was the youngest child of Sir Thomas Livingston Mitchell, explorer and Surveyor General of New South Wales form 1828 to 1855. Mitchell's sudden death in 1855 brought financial difficulties and a change in the family's circumstances. Blanche died unmarried on 17 September 1869 and was buried in her father's grave in the cemetery of St Stephen's Church of England at Camperdown. The cause of her death was lung disease diagnosed in December 1865

Daily record of diarist's life in Sydney, Goulburn, N.S.W. and Brisbane, containing descriptions of family, friends, prominent people, pastimes and social events

January-April 1866, account of a visit to Lansdowne, William Bradley's station in the Goulburn countryside and home to the family of John Phillips, Bradley's manager. It includes description of the wedding of Sarah Frances (Fanny) Phillips, the constant companionship of Lizzie Phillips and Alice Bradley, the arrival of William Bradley and his eldest daughter, Emily Jane Pearse, the visits of Sir John and Lady Young and the Mann girls, daughters of Gother Kerr Mann

6-29 April 1866, at home in Sydney she continues to see the Bradley's and accompanies them to social functions at times acutely aware of her own position having 'neither beauty nor money'. Outstanding events include the dinner and ball for the Prince de Conde and the unveiling of the statue of Prince Albert in Hyde Park

9 September-31 October 1866, account of her stay at Brisbane with Mrs George Drew, when the latter's mother, Mrs Georgina Hely, and infant daughter die, and with Mrs Heath and family. She returns to Sydney by steamer completing a journey of three days.

2 November -12 December 1866, account of her return visit to Lansdowne for the wedding of Alice Bradley and Major Charles Fyshe Roberts on which occasion she is bridesmaid.

Information transferred from Manuscripts Leaf Catalogue No. 1 (6-765 C) as part of the eRecords Project, 2010-2011

Keyword subjects:
Goulburn (N.S.W.) -- Social life and customs -- 1851-1891
Women -- Australia -- Social life and customs -- 19th century